TASTE IN MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 3, 4 July 1939, Page 6

TASTE IN MUSIC

A VISITING PIANIST

.Public taste in music has improved in recent years, according to Mr.'Clit* ford Huntsman, a pianist who is visit* ing Wellington, and who will shortly perform in this city. An Englishman who has made frequent tours of the world, Mr. Huntsman has noticed every time a much keener appreciation of music, more especially during the last year. In India Mr, Huntsman's audieneea were mostly British, but in certain places, Bombay, for instance, Paraees were very musical, and in one of the important orchestras about half . the members were Parsees. Some Indians were very talented, and played well,, especially in Bombay and in the northern cities, Classical music was popular among them, but they were also fond of more modern compositions, as tbeset reminded them ol their own music. The works of Debuwy found §reat favour. "I played with the orchestra In Shanghai," ga^d Mr. Huntsman, "and the audience there wa* practically entirely composed of Chinese. I don't think the Japanese understand as much about music as the Chinese, but th«y seemed to come to concerts b@c»u» they thought it was the thing to do. and that it would enlighten theim.** Mr. Huntsman § aid that. he was rather fond of modern French music and German romantic music, such as Schumann's, and he would certainly include representative numbers in his recitals. He will play in. Wellington in about a fortnight's tim*^, apd will also broadcast