THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 115, 16 May 1936, Page 8

THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

I "Bands are sordid persons who re--1 quire to be paid/in advance," ex- | plained the suite of the Duke of Plaza iToro. His grace, too, might have been | informed that this could be said of ! most of the grea,t orchestras in the cities of the United Kingdom, the Continent, and the United States. ; These organisations consisting of professional musicians, every one of them from conductor to trianglist require to be. paid and are paid for their services. This is not so with I many-orchestras in smaller centres. In them by far the greater part of the players are amateurs and professionals playing without fee or other kind of pecuniary recognition of ithe services, content to do so for the sake of music itself.' Wellington is one such centre, and its Sym-j phony Orchestra is largely, a voluntary band of instrumentalists; even so it is unable to make ends meet. This condition has been brought about by lack of sufficient and i practical support, from subscribing members and the general public. The Symphony Orchestra is making a last, it might be called an almost pathetic, appeal for funds. It has furnished overwhelming evidence of its competency to perform, the orchestral works of the great masters and given respectful hearing to those of some modern composers. Every endeavour has been made to minister to the needs of the musically learned and the preferences of that larger element in concert audiences that enjoys! pretty melodies and the thrills of massive crescendoes. The programmes presented have been' well diversified and competently performed. But for all this a special effort is now being made, and the citizens of Wellington are asked to' help to the utmost of their power to enable the orchestra to continue its admirable 'work in the cause of musical culture. Financial aid, according to a statement . published in bur news columns today, is an urgent matter. The orchestra has I given abundant proof of its worthi-l ness of the assistance for which it J now asks from the Wellington public.