MUSIC LIBRARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22210, 10 September 1935, Page 12

MUSIC LIBRARY

A PUBLIC POSSESSION

WIDER USE DESIRED CULTURE POSSIBILITIES It is rather open to doubt whether tho music-loving public of Auckland fully realises what a cultural asset the city possesses in the Lewis Kadv Music Section of the Central Public Library. This collection, which is believed to bo the only one of its kind in New Zealand, has now been in existence for seven years. It is freely used by a certain proportion of Auckland musicians, music students and others interested, but the library authorities believe that, considering the extent to which the art is practised in the city, very many more people of all ages might and shoula tako advantage of it. They particularly wish that this should be recognised, because upon the use made of the collection depends the amount of money that can be allocated each year from tho library funds for the purchase of new works. The music section was opened in June, l'J'2B, with a. stock of over 1000 volumes, of which nearly 700 had been presented by Mr. Lewis Eady. In 1930 a further large collection was presented by the executors of the late Mr. John F. Bennett, and the catalogue now contains over 3000 items. Wealth o! Musical Scores The collection is housed in a room of its own on the first flooi of tho library building immediately under the tower. It may be divided into two sections, namely, the literature of music and musical scores. Literature comprises about one-third of the whole, and includes important works of reference not generally found in private collections. There are over 200 volumes of biography, memoirs and reminiscences of and by famous composers and musicians, and more than 100 on theory, technique and other aspects of music. The scores, which are of great potential value to musicians and students, | include those of 160 operas, 70 i operettas, 75 secular cantatas, 110 oratorios and sacred cantatas, 110 orchestral works, 20 concertos, and 110 items of chamber music, with nearly 1200 volumes of vocal and instrumental works, without counting sheet music. There are full scores, miniature scores and numerous varied arrangements. Taking the collection as a whole, practically all tho better-known composers are represented, together with many of lesser repute. It contains, for example, all the pianoforte works of Beethoven. Last Year's Statistics In addition to the choral music already mentioned the library possesses about 170 part-songs, formerly belonging to the Municipal Choir. These are available for loan to musical organisations and a number have recently been borrowed by the Napier and Gisborne Choral Societies.

The whole collection, except works of reference, such as Grove's Dictionary of Music, is open to borrowers who subscribe to the lending department of the general library. During last year 2660 scores and 1328 volumes of literature were borrowed 1 in this way, together with 777 copies of magazines. Nine periodicals are filed, and of these five are bound. In the course of the year there were 6090 visitors, who consulted 11,521 volumes. It is not the primary desire of the library authorities to obtain more subscription revenue from the collection, but only to see it used for reading and study to a degree commensurate with the ftlace which music holds in the life of the community. If this use expands as it should, music will have a greater claim upon the annual budget of the library service, and it will be possible to enlarge the scope of the collection, particularly by purchasing scores by modern composers ■whose work may not be readily accessible to students. At the end of April the authorities sent out a circular to practically all musical organisations and teachers of music and to others likely to be interested, explaining the resources of the collection and appealing for support. This has produced some effect and it is hoped that as time goes on, and particularly as economic conditions improve, the library will come to play a really important part in the musical life of Auckland.