VIGOROUS CRITICISM

Evening Star, Issue 24006, 3 October 1941, Page 7

VIGOROUS CRITICISM

FUTURE OF MUSICAL CULTURE ADDRESS BY MR 0. W. JOHNSTONE “There are breakers ahead, rocks, and quicksand, but the sea is well charted, and we still have a few trustworthy captains -who know a rock from a lifeboat ’’ said Mr 6. W. Johnstone, in addressing the Students' Club of the Dunedin Music Teachers’ Association on Saturday evening. Mr Johnstone was stressing the danger to cultural development arising out of certain aspects of New Zealand broadcasting. “ Wise parents and young folk in our democratic Dominion,” he said, “ who may do as they please so long as they do as they are told, should keep a sharp look-out for a giant octopus which is reported to be fond of the spiritual life blood of adolescents, and who, when his work is done, appears to leave a shell inhabited by a rather tawdry type of mind. The time is long overdue when certain broadcasting influences which cannot by any stretch of imagination make for good citizenship, should be ruthlessly cut not because of tho electricity used, but on account of its senility which cannot possibly make for a stiffening of the vertebrae in these days of trial and suffering, but can only cater to a low level of intelligence. Unless we realise quickly that high wages were intended for other things than buying food, wo are undone, and time will eventually teach us by taking a terrific toll in the years that lie ahead.”

MUSICAL TECHNIQUE, There was perhaps no more valuable educational study for the development of the powers of concentration, Mr Johnstone laid, and the Government which hampered the art as the present legislature was doing was stone blind. True expression was the art of intimation. We sought to suggest our thought and emotions to others. It was neither imitation nor reproduction, both of which might be merely digital dexterity or vocal gymnastics—in a word it was technique. One must, of course, possess a well-developed technique if one was to express the sensitive, the strong, tho swift, the solemn, or tho suave, but great music would not give up its deepest secrets when left to the mere technician, however skilled, and it should not be_ forgotten that much delightful music of .rare simplicity and charm came under tho heading of greatness, for difficulty and greatness were not synonymous term®. Words failed when we would speak of ineffable things, but niusio .sang to us of them. Flutes, harps, violins, pianos, oboes—individually and collectively—all told of a wonderful story loaded with all the overtones and undertones of a great throbbing humanity. This was the sea on which we must sail if wo would journey out beyond to the things of the spirit. AN ENTHUSIASTIC CLUB. While warmly congratulating members upon the great success of their first year, -Jr Johnstone urged theiu to persevere and further develop the spirit of friendliness and standard of musicianship that had characterised all their associations, v The blub had contributed £3o‘to outside causes, Mr Johnstone said, the membership had trebled that with which the club started, and 100 young musicians had taken part in the rer citals. It was difficult for those outside the club to realise, to the full, the excellent spirit that prevailed among members.- The spontaneous applause of a well-informed audience would always outweigh in value the uninformed praise of one’s friends. A glance at the quality of the works presented was sufficient to show the earnest outlook of all concerned, and when one realised that a good number of our young artists in the making were engaged all day at secondary schools and at various professions and businesses, it would readily be assumed that all such were in the way of becoming assets of which any community might be justly prou3, for no city could claim to be cultured if their music was of a low standard. ...

A social evening followed, in which various competitions of literary and musical value were.entered into with keenness, Mr O. Roy Spacktnan demonstrating tho seashore tests. Warm appreciation was oxpresesd of Mr Johnstone’s interest and guidance of the movement. Miss Rona Thomson was elected president for the coming year, and Miss Clara Rouse and Messrs William Clarke and Walter Metcalf were appointed representatives of tho students on the committee. Miss Thelma-Thomson was appointed honorary sccreta-y.