CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 304, 24 December 1896, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

HIGH CLASS MUSICIANS AND NELSON AUDIENCES. ' :

jlo the Editor op '.'the EveninoMail." Deai- Sir,—Judging, from- thf> attendances at the entertainments given by different companies' here for the fast' few months it would be reasonable to assume that intellectually and musically we are a very peculiar lot of folk, or, as a friend remarked, " a set of humbugs and nothing else." Nelson somehow has or had the credit (how or why it is difficult to say) of being in these matters as woll to the front (inaybe a little more so) as any town of its size in N.Z. Yet what do we find? Within the year we have had a variety of entertanments' which can be classified into refined, intellectual, neutral, imbecile, and, to put it mildly, not refined. Which have drawn the largest audiences and taken the most money ? Most decidedly the three last named, while tho first two have barely paid expenses, and this not because they were dull or dry, as in other places they were thoroughly appreciated. The only handy explanaton is this —That -ye are so wrapped up in our own self-esteem, such a perfect and lovely mutual admiration society, that we have no room for appreciating anything or any one else. Our local shows are well patronised. No objection can bo made to that when of an elevating or purely amusing tendency ; but when we act as though no one eke in the wide world was worth twopence, and us if we had learnt everything, it is quite time, if we do riot wish to bo entirely ignored by good'eompanies, to make an alteration. There was another opportunity before us. One.of the most talented companies we have had for many years was in Nehon giving an entertainment of the highest class, both refined and mstructive, well within the scope of the majority of people (outside Nelson at any rate) to thoroughly enjoy ; yet it was not patronised anything like what it deserved. The first night's performance should havo secured a full house for the second, bnt to our discredit there was no improvement. Don't the scores of music pupils or thoir parents residing in Nelson wish to learn anything or to know what refined and artistio playing of the very best desaription is ? It seems not. All the great majority apparently require is the ability to finger a musical instrument of some sort. This is an absolute necessity. To understand music, to aim at a high standard of excellence, is quite another thing, and doesn't trouble them in the least.—Yours, etc, DEAD MAECH.