THE STATE ORCHESTRA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17361, 7 January 1920, Page 8

THE STATE ORCHESTRA.

CIVIC RECEPTION HELD,

NATIONAL VALUE OF MUSIC.

MR. VERBfiUGGHEN'S VIEWS.

A civic reception was accorded the New South Wales State Orchestra in the council chamber of the Town Hall yesterday. The Mayor, Mr. «J. H. Gunson, presided. Members of the council were present, together with Sir William Herries. A representative gathering of Auckland citizens also attended the function.

Mr. Gunson, in welcoming Mr. Verbruffghen, the conductor, and the members of the orchestra, said ho believed the community as a whole, and the citizens of Auckland 'as a'body, were glad after the stress and strain of the war to hate their attention turned to r musical treat such as they anticipated from the New South Walee Orchestra. People might be classified into two sections. Thero was the music-loving community, the followers of music, who loved music for music's sake, musicians themselves, From that section there would be the most cordial and hoarty welcome. The other section was not directly associated, with music, nor were they of a musical turn of mind. Nevertheless, as patriotic citizens, they took an interest iu everything that made; for the uphfunent, betterment, advancement. and education of the nation.' Therefore, at tho present time these two sections could bo grouped toretner, and, ; he felt justified in saying that the whole |

city and districts extended to Mr. Verbrugghen and tho members of the orchestra a very cordial welcome. Breaking New Ground. They were breaking new ground in New Zealand, continued Mr. bun mm. This was an age when there seemed to be a demand far tho nationalisation of many interests and industries, but bo far nothing Jjad been heard of the nationalisation of musical interests, except in New South Wales, where they had taken that bold step. The result had been the establish

in? of the finest orchestra outeido the

United Slates and Europe. Auckland welcomed Mr. Verbrugghen not only because of his musical attainments, but also because he was a native of galiaut little Belgium. (Applause.) In the assistant conductor, Mr. Alfred Hill, they had an old New Zealander, and it said much for this country that tho establishment of the orchestra had been so ably assisted by oil© who they claimed to be a New Zealander of first rank, who had composed much music, and was no doubt as much appreciated in New South Wales as he was here and throughout the Dominion. The visit of the orchestra would do much towards educating the people. From a national point of view, therefore, the services of the orchestra would be readily acceptable throughout the whole Dominion. (Applause.) The Government's Interest. Sir William Herries- extended a welcome as a member of the Government. He said i the Government was watching with great interest the experiment made by New South Wales in establishing the Conservatory of which the orchestra was the natural consequence. New South Wales had taken a great step in advance, and the Government would watch with interest the effect that' the tour would have upon all classes of the people of New Zealand. (Applause.) Mr. Verbrugghen, in acknowledging the welcome extended to. himself and the orchestra, said they all felt, by the enthusiasm with which their "rejected visit had been received, that it was almost a flOtV to come to New Zealand. In addi»v. **- °y had one or two other New Zealanders among their number. He felt the visit was possibly of very great importance from a musical point of view. The value of music as a factor in general education was being recognised throughout the world at the present time to a much higher degree than ever before. Musio was the youngest of i all arts, and many people believed it had i not yet gamed the position .if .i,fluene e it was bound to acquire in the future. Music' was a refmin? factor, and was a universal! and certain laneuaee by means of which ' men of various races were abl to communicale with each other on a much' hi"her plane than that cf the ordinary' vernacular. Wherever there were human hemes there was music. The Maori mtisie Was full of chancer, nnd had been successfully usod by Mr. Hill. PossiK, upon the brcsis and upon the characteristics of the. Maori music there could he built up a national school of music—n New Zealand school of musical composition. Tho Human Aspect. But there was the wider aspectthe

( human aspect. Language was often a bar to understanding, but people were able to express their individual and national ideals through music, so that they could be understood throughout the world. The | Not? South Wales Orchestra was a very' heterogeneous assembly of people, vet they would be able to express what they wished to exnress eo that their audianew could understand. Ho believed that 1 »v a deeper and keener appreciation of music and a more general cultivation of it, there would come closer relations be- 1 tween the exeat countries in the South, Sens. (Applause.) i The first concert by the orchestra wil lie given this evening in the Town Hall. A comprehensive programme, including Tschaikowsky s famous Svmphony No 6 •Tathetiaue." will be rendered. Madr.me GotMens-Viceroy will sing "Softlv Sighs"(Weber), and "Depuio lo Jour (Charpen-1 t-er). with orchestral accompaniment. The! box plan <'s open for to-night's concert only at Richardson's, Queen Street, I