THE BEST MUSIC

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 30, 22 January 1929, Page 7

THE BEST MUSIC

PERSONAL NOTE ESSENTIAL WIRELESS STILL CRUDE AUSTRALIAN TEACHER’S VIEWS “The personal note of musical and vocal performances in mass, or singly, must ever be in demand, and anything ‘canned’ can never supersede it.” This is the film conviction of Professor R. H. Laurence-Toole, R.M.S.M., of the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music, who, with his wife is visiting Auckland. Professor Laur-cnce-Toole is spending a two months’ vacation in the Dominion, and is interesting himself in musical conditions here. “It occurs to me that wireless is bringing music to the threshold of the masses, but not in a desirable form,” added the visitor. “There is so much that is still crude in aerial music that it will be some considerable time, if ever, before big orchestral and vocal efforts will be reproduced without a considerable amount of foreign noise detracting from the quality of the performance.” N.Z. NEEDS A CONSERVATORIUM. Giving his impressions of New Zealand, the professor said ho would like to see a more intensive interest in matters musical in the Dominion, particularly with a view to introducing national operas or orchestral and symphonic concerts, which should be State-aided. “I realise that New Zealand desires a higher standard of music, but it is not sufficiently insisted upon. A conservatorium of music on lines similar to those of the N.S.W. Conservatorium would, at this juncture, mean a considerable uplift for New Zealand in the world’s artistic. outlook.

“I have observed a certain amount of apathy towards high-class music in this Dominion, but that is easily understood, when one considers the call on the people’s time in relation to domestic and commercial affairs. It is apparent, however, that New Zealanders are a music-loving people. One has only to witness their support of even the poorest attempt at highclass art. But that, I think, is not enough. GOVERNMENT’S DUTY. “The Government, more especially at such a time as the present, when a change has taken place, should be urged in the interests of the younger generation to insist on high-class music being made a part of the curriculum of their education. A series of school matinee concerts would assist. Something, I understand, is being done, but not sufficient to inculcate into the minds of the children the desirability of getting a complete knowledge of orchestral and choral works of the great masters. This idea has been carried out in a practical form in America, and incidentally in New South Wales, for some years with much success, and the example might well be followed by New Zealand, more especially as I observe that the young are well catered for in all materialistic needs. The spirit of music should permeate their artistic leisure.

“I think New Zealand must eventually become a big musical nation, if for no other reason than its somewhat long winter, which creates a desire for indoor entertainment. There also appears a real desir, among New Zealanders for nothing but the best that is obtainable. In a word, New Zealand deserves to have a conservatorium that would, cater for this desire. — Auckland “Star.”