NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

Evening Star, Issue 23099, 27 October 1938, Page 19

NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —As one who is keenly interested in orchestral music, i should like to endorse the suggestions made last night by your correspondent “ Dulcamara.” The most notable defect in New Zealand’s musical status is the fact that we have not an orchestra that can compare with tiiosc in the chief cities of England and America, and it can be safely assumed that a really adequate national orchestra, under a distinguished conductor, could stimulate widespread interest in orchestral music. There are a number of small orchestras throughout New Zealand that liaye been doing courageous work, and it is time they were welded into a permanent band composed of the best mstrumenlalists available in each department, i should like to go further than your correspondent, and suggest that a full orchestra of about a hundred instruments should bo assembled, so that the greatest masterpieces could be played in a fitting manner. Such an orchestra was recently hoard in Sydney, and with Dr Malcolm Sargent conducting gate performances that were hailed as the finest heard in Australia.

Too long have we listened to orchestras with only about half the correct number of ’cellos and basses, and so lacking in other departments that bassoon parts have had to be transcribed for violas and so on. It is beyond the capability of any one town to organise an orchestra such as we hear on the best recordings, and I feel sure that if New Zealand were thoroughly combed a really satisfying combination could be brought together. Then would our young solo pianists and violinists be able to practise concertos with a hope of being able to play them publicly, and then also would our devotees of symphonic music bo able .to discard their gramophone records for at least a few nights in the year. Nothing would be more fitting, as* the musical contribution to our coming centenary, than the permanent establishment of such an orchestra.—l am, etc., Marche Slav. October 27.