MUSIC FESTIVAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20643, 15 August 1930, Page 12

MUSIC FESTIVAL.

AUCKLAND'S GALA WEEK.

OPENING TO-MORROW.

Preparations for tho celebration of Music Week, which will commence in Auckland to-morrow, are now practically completed, and there is even- prospect that it will bo one of the most successful undertakings of its kind that Auckland has witnessed. No effort has been spared to make tho festival thoroughly worthy of the public interest and support which it is claiming. Many interesting and varied programmes have been arranged for the week's season and it is hoped that the public response will be generous. The introduction of gramophones and radio sets has served a great purpose in making good music available to many, but it is thought that there is a corresponding danger that they will encourage people to be listeners rather than performers. Tho purposu of Music Week is to correct this state of affairs and to restore prestige to tho " flesh and blood" musician. _ A special feature of the week's activities will be tho importance placed on the work of promoting a love of music among children. On Tuesday a special concert will be given in the afternoon by secondary school pupils, and in the evening 15 primary schools will be represented in massed clioir singinp. On Thursday afternoon 500 children from the Auckland Roman Catholic primary schools will givo a concert, and a concert of Maori music will bo given on Friday by the pupils of the St. Stephen's and Queen Victoria Schools. The opening of the festival will take placo in the Town Hall to-morrow ovening, when a programme will l>o given by tlio Municipal Band, under the baton of Mr. Christopher Smith. The outstanding item on the programme will bo Beethoven's " Lenoro" overture.