MUSICAL SOCIETIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7561, 28 May 1885, Page 5

MUSICAL SOCIETIES.

TO THE ETOTOB. Sik, —Tour correspondent, " Harmony," suspects me of pleading for the employment of professional solo-singers here. I know, myself, that this would be impossible in Christchurch, nor is it a discredit to the profession. A professional need not neces-sai-ily be gifted with a fine and powerful voice, although his knowledge of the mechanism of the vocal organs and of. the mo3t successful methods for training voices may make him, or her, a prominent teacher. My reflection, on the contrary, meant to show that the object of a musical society ia the cultivation *of choral music, no more, and that the unfortunate necessity of selecting amateurs for solos, gives birth to that discord and jealousy which ruins' musical societies. \ An evil must be traced and exposed before a remedy can be found, and that may be my apology for my frank language. I used to think, with my old-fashioned "Teutonic" views, that the conductor should be an autocrat in all questions, concerning music, and I severed my connection with the Society for that very reasoa.

But now, if I were'asked for a practical suggestion how to overcome the present troubles, I should advise the election of all soloists by ballot of the whole Society, ladies and gentlemen, once a year or more (this might be extended to the choice of music). Those new- aspirants who have, as "Harmony" beautifully,puts it, "an honest consciousness" of their powers, might be invited to sing before the assembled judges. Whilst adding a novel scene, a modern Baengerkrieg, to the attractions of the Society, this would greatly reduoe the difficulties, and make the conductor's life a happy one. The cutting up of solob is, to me, a barbarism, although it may sometimes be expedient. The singer is supposed to pourtray a character. How can a character be represented by several persons. ' When peace and happiness have been restored through my prescription, I would urge, that a fund should be raised, and I, for one, am willing to contribute for the training of a small orchestra, including all indispensable instruments. Surely a place that boasts of half a dozen brass bands should accomplish that. And any of our rich and generous citizens who intend to die might do worse than leave a hundred or two to our Musical Society.—l am, &c, H. M. LUND.,