MUSICAL TOPICS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 116, 12 April 1930, Page 7

MUSICAL TOPICS.

MUSIC THE STIMULUS. (By “Semibreve.”) On all sides one hears, these days, of the baneful influence of mechanical music of tho loss of interest in personal musical efforts, of the collapse or threatened collapse of this or that musical society, attributed to trie use of mechanical music. But is this so? It is time that the whole position were reviowed, so that music should be placed in clear perspective in its relation to life in general. If music had had tho sole objective of merely providing enjoyment for listeners, being at the mercy of financial interests and commercial pursuits in its provision, it would scarcely have survived its early infancy, but fortunately music had another and more important part to play in the activities of human life; it woe meant to take its part with art generally, science and literature in stimulatng the brain to increased activity, or providing relief from mental strain whenever necessary. The world in its wisdom has use ior all these in its scheme of general education. Whether designedly or not, thq > various subjects that must bo learned in their turn, do provide the brain with that rolief it must have when one particular subject has absorbed all its strength. What is peculiar to school life -fc also* peculiar to business life. _ The business man, or any man of affairs, is as much in need of relief, from- brain lag, by means of a change of Bubjeot as any student, and music is of all subjects Jhe most handy, the most useful,- and -the least bother, if it is taken seriously. If some simple form of music making such as singing, learning to play some instrument or Mother, wove advocated by doctors, when the business man has brain fag, it is certain that nervous strain would be avoided, for the brain would receive that stimulation of which it stands so badly in need. THE CHILD AND MUSIC. The child accepts music in the scheme of general education, as it accepts all other subjects, without question and without knowing or seeking to know what especial benefit it may confor on its brain activity. That the benefit is there must be acknowledged or music would not receive tho place it does in the schools today. Yet there are people who say: “Of what use is music to tho child when there is so much better music to be had on the gramophone than it can ever hope to make?” How hopeless an argument that is ! They might •as well say that, because there are roliablo adding riiachines, arithmetic should be abolished as a school subject, or because there are already some splendid authors no one needs to leam to write, or because there aro excellent orators in tho world there is no need to learn the art of declamation; in fact, they might as well deny the power of education itself. GREAT MEN AND EDUCATION. The power that education has can be readily seen in the history of tho world’s great men. Whether educated in school, college and university, or self-educated, these great men have made theinselvs great through tho enormous brain power which has been made by tho assistance of art and science. Whatever talents they possess or have possessed havo been made to stand out in strong light through the assistance of some other form of art or science which has been, perhaps, far removed from their own particular subject. A notable instance is that of the late Earl Balfour, acknowledged to be once the Empire’s greatest Statesman, a man with supreme intellectual powers, thoso powers being acknowledged by the whole world, for he of all British Statesmen had unique opportunities of demonstrating to the world his great and fine intellect. And musio was his great hobby, which he .used not as a mere occasional pleasure, but used it definitely in his whole scheme of life, - used in the proper way to aid his mental activities, by means of activo participation in its performance and the exercise of overcoming its many complexities.

Earl BMfour was not tho only great man. to. acknowledge the power of music in his life. Milton would nover have been the poet he was but for being-often engaged ip the actual performance of musio, not as an artist, but as one who wished to have the joy of overcoming any difficulties, and applying that determination to his other music making—poetry. THE STUDENT AND MUSIC. Too often the student forgets this aspect of music—the overcoming of difficulties. Yet it is, apart from the consummation of art, the one great joy of a student’s life, or should be, to be able to work at and finally overcome any difficult passage which defies a first or oven a second reading. The accomplished artist' performer is only such when actually before the publio. At all other times ho is a student, more especially wheifl preparing for a publio appearance, for then he must study tone graduations and interpretation generally. The many hours which he must spend on all phases of musical art, to say nothing of memorising, 'means that he must enjoy tho process of conquering difficulties and rejoice at labour welt done. If music'itself did not provide a stimulating influence, no player could stand up to the mental strain which so many hours of practising involves. EDUCATIONAL AUTHORITIES AND MUSIC. That the stimulating effect of musio is apparent is acknowledged by all educational authorities, and in the college where musio is a feature form masters and mistresses are eager, to have a class after singing or other music lesson, for they declare that - the pupils are more receptive then than at any other time. Such a fact demonstrates without fear of contradiction that music’s. place in life is not a matter of speculation, but is assured, and, while mechanical music has its own place In the general scheme, yet personal efforts .are needed and must, be persisted in if music is to act as a stimulus to the brain, and not merely a means of bringing to human beings some fleeting pleasure. If this view is accepted, and it should be, then should oome revived interost in musical societies, for participants therein would know that not only were they deriving and giving pleasure, but that tho very act of making musio in the weekly rehearsals is a healthy one and of great benefit to the business or domestic life. Students of music, whatever the instrument, will see that even if their practising does not result in artistio fame, yet the bonefit received is greater even than fame could possibly bo for the knowledge gained means power. And power moans ascendancy over all difficulties whenever thoy appear, for that is a power which has been gained through the practising of musio and absorbing the wonderful curative powers that musio possesses. ■ .Yenudi Menuhin, who has been aoclaimed as the greatest musical prodigy since Mozart, is almost certain to be coming to .the Dominion shortly under tho direction 'of Messrs J, and N. Tait. Menuhin iB twelve years old and has had a remarkable run of success in Europe.