AUCKLAND COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15251, 14 March 1913, Page 4

AUCKLAND COMPETITIONS SOCIETY.

Sir, Although it may be somewhat disturbing to find we have two Auckland competition societies, yet anything is welcome that presents the hope that an effort is being _ made to rise above the deadly mediocrity which seems to paralyse every musical association in Auckland. Competition Society, Choral Society, Orchestral Society, and a few other societies all are Auckland's " We»rie Willies." Where i» the musical genius of Auckland? The musical society which cannot depend upon its own merits for _ publio patronage and financial support, which in fact cannot exist without guaranteed financial support, is never likely to attain excellence. Truly, St. Cecilia must at present bo sorrowing for her votaries, for the present state of musio in Auckland should surely make her weep. After the pleasant anticipations aroused by the possession of our new Town Hall, and the magnificent organ so generously presented, what have wo witnessed? The organ is tuned to so low a pitch that no orchestra in New Zealand can be provided to combine with it when an oratorio is attempted. The lowest pitch in the world was not in this case the most desirable. Although voice-producers, and even organists, maintain that the low pitch is desirable, there are a vast number of string instrumentalists, including pianoforte artists, who maintain the contrary. When a competent musician is required to fill the position of city organist similar causes give unnecessary offence to talented candidates, and as a consequence the organ stands silent for months. When it was decided to apply through tlie local government to the Imperial Government for the services of an Imperial military reed band to play at our coming Exhibition the application was declined. In this last instance it would have been easily possible to have organised in London within one month a splendid band of musicians discharged time expired from the Imperial Army. Under Imperial authority these musicians could have been enlisted for service in the territorial defence foroe in the Dominion, and would now be on their way to us in H.M.S. New Zealand to our future delight. It does not always follow that because business men may know their own business they are qualified to advise in every other business, and least of all _in music. Let the publio rejoice then- if it should prove true that a section of the hitherto-moribund Society of Musicians have determined to wake up and break away from patronised mediocrity. What have the various musical associations done for the public in the way of providing good music? What even havo the city authorities of Auckland, the education authorities, the Society of Musicians done to improve the musical education of sohool-teaohers, so that they may_ know something of voice-production and how to teach children at least the rudiments of musio and how to sing? Every schoolteacher in Great Britain must have a certificate of qualification to teach musio. J. ho members of the Sheffield Choir were taught voice-production and how to sine in their hoard schools, and every child throughout Scotland can sing at eight the folk-eon of their country when written ip the Tonic 00l Fa system. There is, therefore, every reason to encourage these musician rebels of ours if they will do anything to wake up and stimulate the public interest in education in music. C. A. Young.