MECHANICAL MUSIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20491, 17 February 1930, Page 5

MECHANICAL MUSIC.

UNEMPLOYED MUSICIANS.

SYDNEY t RELIEF SCHEME,

[FROM O'L'R OWN CORRESPONDENT. 1 SYDNEY, Jin. 31. Of about 2000 [professional musicians thrown out of work as a result of the introduction oi mechanical, music in the picture theatrcii, consequent upon the "talkies," something like 700 of this capable body of men and women are in New South "Wales. The fact that, in their plight, they are trying to help themselves, by the organisation of a Symphony Orchestra in Sydney and of baud concerts in the parks and at the beaches, has evoked the practical sympathy of the State Government, in the form of a grant of £IOOO. . ' : An interesting movement on behalf of these musicians is thai f uhdertaken by a gramophone company, in conjunction with the Musicians' Union;and a Sydney newspaper. The proposal is to make, with high-class wiiltz, march and other numbers, stringed orchestral and military band records; by the musicians, to push the Sale of 'the records throughout Australia and Nmv Zealand, and to hand over to those unemployed a substantial 103 a y on every record sold. The records, un , a tho batons of Sydney's leading musical directors, wiU be completed this week The position in which this army of pio fessional musicians find themselves to-day, after having devoted a lifetime to one of the finest of the arts, suggests that the outlook is not too bright for who are graduating into the lealm music as a living.