CHURCH MUSIC

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 16, 30 December 1932, Page 8

CHURCH MUSIC

“STANDARD VERY BAD.” LONDON EXAMINER’S VIEWS. Melbourne, Dec. 20. Mr John E. Borland, who has been examining in Australia for the Trinity College of Music. London, said that he considered the standard of church music in the Dominions was very bad compared with other countries. The only exceptions were in a few of the larger cities. He could describe the organ playing only as painful. There seemed to be a complete absence of any idea of what the organ really should be. Most of the voluntaries were rubbish played with very bad taste. Many of the frivolous tunes he had heard were more suited to picture theatres than to the church. Mr Borland said that he had been impressed by the musical aptitude of Australian children, which should go far in the development of a musical race if sufficient encouragement could be given. Ear and voice training were almost entirely neglected in the schools, and if these could be taught early enough the children would be appreciative and easier to teach in later years.

Although the children were naturally musical, they were not taught the difference between good and bad,-the nasal tone of their voices being particularly objectionable.