Greymouth Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1949. Visit Of National Orchestra

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1949, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1949. Visit Of National Orchestra

Monday evening next, for the first time, the people of Greymouth and surrounding districts will have an opportunity to sec, as well as to Hear, a concert performance by the National Orchestra under the conductorship of INIr Andersen Tyrer. It will be a musical and cultural occasion in the history of the district. Now in its. third year, the National Orchestra of 70 members has become known and appreciated by concert audiences and radio listeners, and as it develops its work it must tend to increase its significance as a factor in the expansion of musical awareness and the general culture of the people.

For the past two years the orchestra lias been extraordinarily successful with its concerts in the main cities. As a result there has been a persistent demand that it should extend its itinerary to include the smaller centres. There have

been requests from Greymouth that it should visit here. For that reason —as well as, others equally, if not more, important —it would indeed be regrettable if it were not accorded the patronage that its undoubted ability deserves. ’ Few people, if any, have not the capacity to enjoy good music. Indeed, it has been stated that, in the course of the National Orchestra’s brief life, it has attracted a great many adherents who had formerly eschewed symphonic music as something beyond their comprehension.

Actually it. is not necessary to understand music to enjoy it; great music, like great personalities, can be sensed before it is really understood. Unfortunately there is a widespread tendency to associate the word “culture,” particularly in the musical sense, with the activities and aspirations of a section of the people usually termed highbrows. This is a false view. Culture in its true sense is a thing of the people. It is ihe mark of a community given to graceful living, the cultivation of the arts and the dissemination of a wide-’ spread appreciation of the true meaning of life.

The visit of such a valuable national cultural possession as the National Orchestra may be taken as an occasion for reference to the decline of the precious art of listening. Too much use of the radio has been blamed. In some homes the radio is on from morning to night. All family conversation is carried on against a background of music or serials. Some people will not work unless to the accompaniment of blaring jazz, jingles about a pig, or the crooning of so-called song-hits debasing the loftiest of human . emotions. Even entertainment is attempted with the radio still on. In these circumstances the brain becomes desensitised to listening and people come to value less and less the beauty of good music, the sound of the human voice, and the thought and inspiration behind them. Familiarity, even with masterpieces of music, breeds contempt, especially when people eat the masterpieces with their meals. The very output —and intake —deadens the sense of appreciation. The remedy lies in a more selective use of the marvellous invention of radio. By listening only to items that are stimulating and appreciated,, perceptions may once more be sharpened and enjoyment of musical, oratorical, and dramatic treats be renewed.