AUCKLAND MUSICAL SOCIETIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13477, 2 May 1907, Page 7

AUCKLAND MUSICAL SOCIETIES.

Sir,—Will you kindly allow mo to correct the statement mad* by your correspondent "A Member'" in'this morning's Hekalij re Mr. Watkin Mills and the Auckland Choral Society? I can inform him that what he heard as & fact is not true. Mr. Milts shortly after leaving Auckland wrote m terms of high praise to Mr. 8. .1. Harbutt concerning the Choral Society's performanco of "Elijah," as will be seen by the enclosed paragraph, which appeared in the Auckland press at the time. I am sure most people will agree that the society has been doing very good work.during tho last few years under Dr. Thomas' able conduc* torship. , Undoubtedly tho society is capable of doing better if only all the members were conscientious in their attendance at rehearsals, and if the committee had courage enough to enforce their own rules, both for orchestra and chorus. April 50 • . Another Member. [The extract from Mr. Mills' letter which our correspondent encloses is as follows — " Before leaving Auckland ] spoke in terms of praise of the very excellent work done by the chorus and orchestra in the 'Elijah' performance by the Choral Society. In the fortnight which has elapsed since the rendering of that great- work my opinion has not. changed; in fact," time has strengthened it, and I now desire to say officially that it was the best oratorio performance of any society m Australasia which I and my company have hud the pleasure to take part in. My personal -thanks are given to * Dr. Thomas, who , conducted - throughout mostably, to the ladies and gentlemen of the orchestra for general good work and artistic support, and the voices, both solo and choral: and lastly to tho chorus, who one and all sang con amore; indeed, so consistently good was the singing'throughout the work that the remarks ot myself and company wore quite justified—such as 'splendid,' 'a fine body of tone,' 'excellent attack,' etc., etc. In fact, they did themselves and Auckland infinite credit, and I shall long remember our farewell 'Elijah' performance in Auckland."]

Sir, Your correspondent "A Lover of Music" (evidently a member of the Liedertafel) very rightly takes up the cudgels in defence of his society, and I must say that I think Mr. Townend lias been a little oversever© upon it, for after all the scope of a Liedertafel is limited to unaccompanied glees and such like, and none will deny that glees properly sung are as good music as one could wish for. , I take it that both Mr. Townend and Mr. Thomson wish to convey the idea that even over tho Liedertafel, prosperous though it be, a. sort of drowsiness is creeping. Pianissimo singing, beautiful in its right place, can be overdone, and one wauls somo contrast to brighten things up'; . therefore- go ahead, Liedertafel, and ■ don't allow yourselves to > be lulled into coma. Another point in the letter.of "A Lover of Music" I should like to remark upon. He thinks that the high standard at present arrived at by tho Orchestral Society is duo to tho munificence of Mr; Brett in sending it to tho Exhibition; but I feel bound to state that in many people's opinion the society had reached an. oven higher level before that, and that the, augmentation in its numbers tended to weaken rather than strengthen, except 1 in' a few exceptional cases. This, I>believe/' Mr. Brett himself thought. Its efficiency was, in fact, the cause, not tho effect, of Mr. Brett's very generous behaviour. To begin with and to end with sheer hard work rightly directed is the "only path to success. A Weix-wisheb to Both Societies. t Sir, Beading' between' the lines of Mr. Townend's and "Subscriber's" letters in. reference to the above subject, one would easily be misled info concluding that Herr Johan AViclaert is the only conductor who has successfully piloted the Auckland Orchestral Society along its harmonious way. Both Mr. Townend and "Subscriber," and I may add Mr. Thomson (all possibly unknown in the Auckland musical world), may not be aware that Herr Wielaert commenced with this society where Mr. Alfred' Hill, conductor of the Christchurch Exhibition Orchestra, left off. In justice to Mr/' Alfred Hill, and as information to the above-named gentlemen, I may say Mr. Hill is responsible for much of the successful launching and preliminary training of this band. Furthermore, its resuscitation was duo to the presence of eminent conductor in our fair city, and the fact that at the time' he intended to; remain here. , As the time is ; opportune for the expression of opinions on this matter, I would ask why if Mr. Hill was not considered the finest conductor (at least) in this colony he should have charge of probably the finest combination in orchestra we hove heard in Australasia, and hope «° hear in Auckland at no distant date. * air British play is a jewel to be treasured :so I consider Mr, Alfred Hill as their late conductor should receive Lis share of credit. - ~ Justice.

Sir,—l have been very interested in several letters appearing lately in your columns under the above heading, and I think I am right when I say that this present contro-versy-may tend to benefit the musical side of our citv. ■-. ~),■;■ , : .

Apparently, judging by the few opinions already expressed therein, the consensus of criticism goes to prove that, with the exception of the Orchestral Society, the musical combinations in Auckland are not-pro-gressing as they ought. As ,a subscriber to the latter society, and also as a person of mors or less musical training and experience, I would like, with your permission,, to comment on a few of tho remarks expressed by " A Lover of Music" in /your issue to-day. , >•.

In the first place this writer, in referring, to Mr. Townend's letter, does not in one instance criticise any specific allegation made by Mr. Townend—nor docs he even attempt to disprove any Opinion expressed by that, gentleman—ho* is satisfied to declare, by inference, that to fairly criticise the musical ability of the musical societies in. question is to disparage those that, to the critic, appear to merit a little plain speaking. I take it that Mr. Townend's letter was, in the main, written with the object of pointing out to Mr. Thomson that there was a musical combination in the city not entirely devoid of artistic temperamentas that gentleman, had, apparently, since his return to Auckland, not heard of the Orchestral Society, which is, bv the way, an infant in age compared with the other two societies. A " Lover of Music" is also very far astray when ho attributes the Orchestral Society's excellence wholly to Mr. Brett's munificent action in sending the members to Christchurch recently. It may interest him to learn that, on the con-! trary, Mr. Brett was so delighted. with the efficiency displayed by the instrumentalists since the advent of Herr Johan Wielaert, its/conductor, and also with the ambitious numbers so artistically performedmusic, as I think Mr. Townend remarked, .such as lAucklanders had up till recently never • had the privilege of hearing and studying, nor, indeed, would have beard to-day had. it not been for its conductor's verve and orchestral knowledge and ability—that he offered to send them, en masse, to the Exhibition. The members thereupon practised for about five weeks, not months, and after eight or nine rehearsals left for the big show. Whether Mr. Brett's extremely liberal and munificent action was justified or not, eventually,- the musical public mow. Suffice it to say that the Christchurch papers stated that of the three amateur bands which performed at the Exhibition the Auckland Society was the only one entitled to be called an artistic combination." So that your readers will see that Mr. Townend's compliments are in some measure deserved, arid that tho society's high standard is not entirely due to Mr. Brett's much appreciated beneficence, being somewhat anterior to it. The society's success, of which others seem so envious, was, in my opinion, attained more by its executive's determination to have a live and very capable man at its bead, than by any other factor. *

Personally, notwithstanding a "Lover of Music's" apparent light-heartedness, I for one must agree with Mr. Townond again in his references to the Liedertafel. I assume that the object of all "musical societies" is, or should be, not so much to please their patrons as to jealously promote' the cultureof music—and by the word "music" I mean, of course, good music, not necessarily popular music—and it is unnecessary, I think, for me to aver to your musical readers that the popular taste is not particularly elevated, in this as in many other matters. So that the Liedertafel'* success, musically, cannot possibly be judged by the fact of its management having to refuse subscribers, pending the erection of a larger ball. Mr. Townend, I consider, is unanswerably and perfectly fair when he criticises plainly the class of music with which the Liedertafel entertains its numerous subscribers, and I see nothing " positively amusing" in the criticism. " I think; seeing that the facts: warrant the allegation, that the executive.of the Liedertafel should act up to its motto, "We onward fare," quoted by a "Lover of Music," and go onward, not so much in looking for greater seating accommodation as in tbo quality of the music the} provide. Then, if tho society produce grander and more, ennobling music, perhaps not 90 "ac-

r.eptahle to in natrons" 0 , the very friro. lons but ■ inipnifHiJioji pleasant norm they 'it - .present perform. its executive rii'aV experience (be same difficulty a 9 the Orchestral Society and other like combination* which .supply n das* of rainif above it-, pumas' 1 ■■■ powers to appreciate at -first, but which '■'- they eventually learn to *sj)«ct. and to love. The Liedcrtafcl rami know " somctbiu?.' about this ■Jack of vulvar ikppreri&t'ion -of good stuff, as I »oe by your" report in. last Saturday's- Herald,, jour critic, hi referring to its performance of the only item & " approaching the classical,' Dr. EI gar** cycle. remark', inter alia: "Though the* manifold b?»uties of this work- scarcely made tbe same Appeal to the*audience- that -some of th© . numbers in■' fighter rati.'" etc. ','■• This docs not disprove my ton Jmi lion. 1 think. Further than this, as the Lkd.-rtafei's tmnual subscription is exactly half i hat of tho .other two .societies, might not this., in a measure. account somewhat for the> want of space of which it complains. Finally, yon will, I bone, oxcnso tr.c for dissenting from a " Lover of Music's" <-*- pressed opinion when he, apparently -seriously, alleges that the LicdcTtafcl is- the only successful amateur society in Auckland. It by that he means that it has the greatest number of subscribers, and the biggest bankcredit, he way be right. But if he meant as a society for the culture of music and the educating of popular taMo therein, I ""■ consider that it come* far short of hi* assertion.

The Orchestral Society is not so nourishing financially: it has not, as many supporters as it would h&i'c if its subscription were half of the. amount it now is,, or if it pandered to popular taste instead of endeavouring to educate it. Also, its accounts for new music are a heavy drain on its finances, some piece* costing eight or 10 guineas.

Notwithstanding these drawbacks, the society has benefited recently by the acquisition of about. 50 enthusiastic and musical' subscribers, and 1 believe and trust that its executive is determined not to lower the standard it has attained, although were it. to do so 1 cannot sec that it would .make' much appreciable' difference, ati when tin: Choral Hall is full you are unable to gel it any . " fuller," and I am pleased to,saj that the hall has lately been crowded liming the society's performances. Lover op Good Music. , ;