MUSIC FOR CHILDREN

Evening Star, Issue 19198, 15 March 1926, Page 2

MUSIC FOR CHILDREN

CHORAL SOCIETY PROJECT PROPOSED FREE CONCERTS. A suggestion that extra performances of the society’s concerts should he given to school children with a view to assisting in the musical education of the rising generation was made by Mr A. Fairburn at the meeting of the Auckland Choral Society (says the ‘ Herald ’).

The opinion was expressed by anumber of those present that the children should bo given an opportunity of hearing performances made up of educational and classical music, reference being made to ‘ Hiawatha,’ a poem which most children learned at school, and ‘ Tho Messiah,’ usually given by the society at the end of the year. Tho trend of the discussion was in tho direction of raising and maintaining a high standard of public appreciation of good choral music, and ns the society is practically the only body in Auckland engaged in presenting the larger choral works it was felt it could do a real service to the community by fostering in the children a love of all that was good and lasting in music. Tho society is putting on ‘Hiawatha’ this year and in July will present Gounod’s : Faust,’ Air Arthur Gordon having been specially engaged for the latter production, and it was thought that these miglit present opportunities to interest the children. One suggestion mad was that the Messiah ’ might be presented, on the Sunday afternoon preceding the usual Christmas presentation of this work by the society, when tho children would be able to attend under proper supervision. it was agreed that if the society was to give free performances such as suggested, it would bo necessary to have the use of the Tmjjn Hall under more advantageous terms than governed its use lor the regular productions. The matter was finally referred to tho incoming committee for favorable consideration.