CHORAL SOCIETIES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLIV, Issue XLIV, 8 March 1924, Page 10

CHORAL SOCIETIES

ARE CONDUCTORS NECESSARY?

I . In thanking the members of Welling- ' , ton Harmonic Society for re-electing lmn to the position of conductor, Mr H. lemple White stated that he had recently read an article by Mr. Albert Sammons; .the well-known English violinist who rather questioned the utility of conductors. He admitted that conductors, ; were necessary where there were imperfections in the members the orchestra or choir, but if they were all perfect m their art, he thought the conductor was hardly necessary, and was indeed often a distraction. The* speaker was inclined to agree with Mr Sammons, but, fortunately perhaps, the members of the society were far from perfect. (Laughter.) He was sure they would agree wrth him in that. As conductor he was not in a position to criticise the concerts. That was for the members of the annual meeting und for the critics of the newspapers" ■•nt. the members had really been very patient under his constant criticism at practice, week by week, and he took it that such was the cause because they wished to improve themselves in the form of art they loved. They were doing good work in a most charming form of musical art. Part sinaing was' really nn bnghsh institution, which was not Poetised nearly so much in other rnuntnes as in England, and by continuing their work they were fostering , fiat art. "*"" j