VALUE OF MUSIC

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 16 June 1932, Page 10

VALUE OF MUSIC

WORTH SOME EXPENSE ATTITUDE OF AUTHORITIES A strong plea for more support for music and its cultivation from the Government and local authorities was made by T’emio Moiseiwitsch, llio noted pianist,' at Christchurch. Mr Moisciwilsch was telling a “Times” interviewer of a promising rehearsal he had had with the Wellington Orchestra prior to a public recital on his return to that city, when the subject came into In's mind.

“If only people would recognise-the necessity of spending a little money oil music, instead of haggling as to whether or not. the expense of a city organist is justified, as they arc in Wellington, a lot could ho done,” lie l said “There they have the services of an accomplished musician, who represents all that the ’authorities arc doing for music in the city: and because times are a little harder than usual they arc arguing whether the expenditure of the miserable few hundred pounds is justified.

“Since you cannot have a Minister of Arts, as they do in Belgium and France, it would he a great thing if you could have as one of your local councillors in each city a man who could look after the cultural and artistic side. Then you would have a much more balanced progression. Culture cannot he achieved without balance. Building, commerce and agriculture are essential, and must be looked after, hut they are only items;,in the whole. “11l places like Vienna and Berlin they would starve before robbing the cities of their orchestras. Things are not nearly so had here, so why pick on a small tiling like the salary of one man? Vienna is going through the mostlapnalling times.' It has been robbed or all its rich places, such as Czecho-Slovakia and Hungary, and is now the most pathetic nation in the world; vet the Royal Opera House is packed every 'night. Artists would rather go there and play for nothing than to some rich countries where money is filing at them, hut where there is no genuine appreciation.

“Every capital city should have its own orchestra, and one departure.should be the giving of children’s concerts. England has been doing that for only six or seven years, blit the results have been wonderful. The orchestra is the salt of music, and some of the greatest music in the world "has been written for the orchestra. Nothing is more majestic or more inspiring.”