MUSIC IN BLENHEIM.

Marlborough Express, Volume XIII, Issue 1020, 27 April 1878, Page 7

MUSIC IN BLENHEIM.

Sir, — I do not believe there are many persons who can be said to be entirely unmusical, nor do I think that the inhabitants of Blenheim are as incapable of appreciating good music as it is customary to. represent them, although tbey are certaiuly far behind other union ial towns, or even Euglish villages, in opportunities for increasing tbeir knowledge ot it, owing to the waut of a really popular musical society of some kind. Had they had those opportunities the talented Opera Company which has recently visited us would have obtained something like the success it so well merited, for while speaking of the inteuse iuterest recently taken in the Opera Compauy in Dunedin the Otago Witness says : — "No doubt this is owing to tue taste of the people having beeu educated to appreciate really good music by the local Choral and other societies;" It is therefore much to be regretted that those who have hitherto interested themselves iu ail that i3 directly or indirectly connected with progress and the education nf the rising generation should not contemplate the tne formation of a popular Musical Society here, aud should rest satisfied with encouraging those recreations ouly, the taste for which, though quite unobjectionable, is not so worthy of eu- ' couragemeut in our cuildreu as that for the cultivation and enjoymeut of music. The reasons why music takes the place of honor and raukd first among the fine arts are probably well known to your readers, it is also in all highly civilised countries held to be a fib accompaniment to an improved educational system, is a source of never-ceasing public and private enjoyment for both old and young of both sexes and of all classes of socieiy, aud is appropriate to all times aud places ; nob like horse-racing, obtainable once or twice a year, cricket only in tine weather, or billiards aud cards requiring gambling to give them zest ; unlike paiutiug or the drama, ib haß no iuflueuce for evil, and requires no picture gallery or theatre to make its influence felt, The cottager may not have the clief d'ceiivres of Raphael, Murillo, Landseer; or Turner in his parlor, or a performance of King Lear in his kitchen, but his liking for music being stimulated by a local society, he may at any time have harmony aud intellectual and refining enjoyment at his own fireside, at the 'expense only of a few twopenny copies of the Musical Times or Uhoralist. Ib is a recreation also which may eventually, as in Germany, better occupy the time which in English-speaking countries is devoted to the public-house and. to habits of intern* perance. I believe there are sufficient materials in this locality to form a strong permanent society, having for its object as a commencement the familiarising of tbe people with Handel's Messiah, with the music 'of which every Euglish village choir and every English village audience is now familiar. It would.be absurd to say that this musio is too difficult which thousands of young people have learnt to sing in England. Such a society would have up-hill work perhaps ab first, and uo doubb strenuous efforts would be made to induce it to pander to the taste for an inferior class of music, but in the end they would as iu Nelson and Wellington meet with due appreciation and support, aud like those towns we might have a performance of selections from the Messiah every. Christmas week, becoming every year more appreciated. The profits, if any, might be applied to increased hospital accommodation or comforts or other charitable parposes. A system of family season tickets, at a reduction in price, would go far "towards insuring the success of the unoertakiug, and as a safeguard against the possibility of the society ever falling into the hands of any one section of the community which might at auy moment from political or other reasons become unpopular, 1 would strongly urge the advisability of in the first place forming a very numerous committee, comprising not only musical people but all those who are desirous of seeing their children interested in such matters in the future. Several public halls will soon be it liberty, the proprietors of which would serve their own interests by making, favorable arrangements with" a society of this kind ; and seeing, sir, that the Marlborough Express has always been the most powerful advocate of progress in Marlborough, I feel convinced that your advocacy alone is wanting to insure for this subject the succeas which ib so richly deserves.— J. am, &c, Obatorio.