MUSIC IN NEW ZEALAND

Evening Star, Issue 22807, 16 November 1937, Page 6

MUSIC IN NEW ZEALAND

VIEWS Of EMINENT PIANIST IMPORTANCE OF MUNICIPAL AND STATE ORCHESTRAS New Zealand at present is not “ or-chestral-minded,” according to Mr Anderson Tyrer, the distinguished British pianist and composer, who is now conducting Trinity College examinations in Dunedin. Mr Tyrer spoke of the remarkable interest shown in orchestral music in South Africa. There there were two big municipal orchestras (in Durban and Cape Town), and a State orchestra in Johannesburg which' was a really magnificent combination. The players in these orchestras wea*o on full-time engagements, and automatically came

under the pension schemes in existence there.- New; Zealand suffered badly, in comparison. “Thete should be a’more, vivid realisation of cultural responsibility, whether in orchestral music or otherwise,” .declared Mr Tyrer, “ and city Corporations and councils should give to orchestras the same financial and practical support they_ lend art galleries and museums. Music is, after all, the greatest of the arts, and surely, with, its refining and elevating influence, it should be a vital factor in all general education, and not be looked upon as an extra subject. And a further study of music, with that uplifting influence, will help to solve to some extent the problem of the new leisure in this country. The tendency now is to seek entertainment outside the home. There is a musical urge inherent in most people, and where good music is encouraged in the home that tendency will lessen.” Broadcasting, said Mr Tyrer, could bring ' a most important stimulus to music. The raising of the standard of musical appreciation in England, for example, was almost entirely due to this. Nowadays- it -was quite common to hear the man in the street talking of the three B’s of music—Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. Before they scarcely existed for him.

Mr Tyrer thought that a national orchestra in New Zealand would come : in time. Such an orchestra, he said, would also provide a valuable central objective for students, who would certainly work to be associated with, it. Incidentally, Mr Tyrer’s views are strongly supported by musical leaders in Dunedin .and elsewhere in the Dominion, who are firmly of the opinion that there is excellent material hero awaiting an expert hand to be moulded into a great orchestra. It is felt that it would he well worth while to pay a very substantial salary to secure the services of some eminent conductor. The marked and valuable stimulus that the presence of Dr Malcolm Sargent exercised on music in Australia is quoted in support of this argument. A national orchestra in New Zealand could be stationed in Wellington, with a regular series of tours through the other centres. The institution of such an orchestra would unquestionably revitalise and advance music in the Dominion.