PROPER APPROACH

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 82, 7 April 1938, Page 14

PROPER APPROACH

NEED FOR DISCRIMINATION

Everything in the way 9f music now goes over the air, including the most modern music—which a very large number of people, no doubt, promptly turn off. This should not be, at any rate for people who say, "I like music, but I know what I like, and I don't like that music."- Mrs. Stansfeld-Prior, addressing the British Music Society at James Smith's rooms last night, suggested an unprejudiced approach to the work of modern composers. She preferred the use of the word "discrimination" to that of "appreciation," so often misapplied to the approach to music in general. Mrs. Stansfeld-Prior, who returned to London this morning in the Rangitata, spent some time in New Zealand giving lecture-recitals on music, and according to Miss Valeric Corliss and other speakers at the society's meeting last night, her work had been and would be most valuable in the cause of musical culture in the- Dominion. SCOPE OF PIANOFORTE. In the remarks with illustrations, played on the pianoforte, Mrs. Stans-feld-Prior showed how music expressed the spirit of the times and she began with reference to the work of Bach, playing a minuet and trio from the partita in B flat by that composer (a work she subsequently played in its entirety), and then passed to Schubert, Tschaikowsky, Sibelius, Ravel, and John Ireland, making special reference to the limitations of the clavichord and harpsichord, and the ampler scope afforded by the invention of the pianoforte. Much of the modern music would die, but some of it would survive. It was, in any case, expressive of its age —our present restless time. Avoiding the frequent use of technical terms which might not be xinderstood by many in her audience, Mrs. StansfeldPrior made her address interesting, informative, and entertaining. She advised her hearers not to be discouraged in trying to understand modern music. Some of it was ugly and stupid, it was true, but some of it would live. An open mind should be preserved in approaching it, and interest, possibly great pleasure, would be the reward. Later in the evening the Delius Sonata No. 3 for violin and pianoforte (which the night before had been given by them over the air from 2YA) was played by Miss Ava Symons and Mrs. Stansfeld-Prior to the manifest delight of the large audience. ROYAL COMPOSERS. A most agreeable feature of the meeting was the singing by Miss Molly Atkinson of a group of songs by Royal composers, the MSS. of which are in the British Museum. These were "Mark How the Blushful Morn," by Charles I; "O Death! Rock Me Asleep," by Ann Boleyn; and "Green Grows the Holly," "Whereto Should I Express," and-"Pastime With Good Company," by Henry VIII. : After seeing Charles Laughton in the role of King Henry VIII (in the film) it was difficult to recognise the King as a writer of songs of exquisite beauty. Later Miss Atkinson sang half a dozen other songs of our own day, and sang them with grace and understanding. Her beautiful voice was used with sound judgment, her enunciation was perfect, and her sense of the humour and beauty in the various songs was keen and communicable. Mr. Clement Howe was accompanist. PROGRESS OF SOCIETY. During an interval in the concert, Miss Corliss (hon. organiser) referred with pleasure, in which the members shared, going by their applause, to the progress made by the society in New Zealand, instancing developments at Palmerston North. There the newlyformed branch of the society was meeting with gratifying response from music-lovers and progressing with great enthusiasm in its musical activities. She had heard today from the chairman, Dr. McDowall, that the membership was already well over 100, since the branch's inauguration as recently as March 10 last. Miss Corliss said that she was specially pleased that' another family of musicmaking groups had come into being with the formation of the new branch. The gramophone group had a member- , ship of 30, and there was every prospect of an orchestra being formed under the auspices of the society in Palmerston North. As a result of her appeal to Dr.; Keys, of Victoria University, members of the British Music Society and the Music Teachers' Association bad been given a kind invitation to attend gramophone recitals twice a week at the university. ■ These recitals were given with the records, and on the gramophone presented to the University by the Carnegie Trust. There are over 900 interesting records. Miss Corliss thanked Dr. Keys for his offer, which the meeting carried with acclamation, r