A MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 931, 3 January 1890, Page 26

A MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

A week or two back we referred to the proposal which has been for some time under private con-

federation, tliat another Musical Festival should be held in Wellington toward the end of next year. Since publicity was thus given to the suggestion it has been very freely canvassed, and that not merely in what are commonly known as “ musi cal circles,” but also by people generally. The opinion expressed has, in most cases, been strongly favourable to the idea. Nor has the favour shown to the proposal been confined to mere expressions of sympathy. Some handsome offers of assistance toward the creation of the guarantee fund—that all-essential preliminary—have been received by those who have interested themselves actively in the matter. Some of these have come from places outside the Wellington province and even in the other Island. Assurances have been spontaneously offered that, if it is decided to hold another Festival in Wellington next summer, not only will aid bo given toward the guarantee fund, but also a considerable number of tickets will be definitely taken and help accorded in other ways beside. In short, the mere mention of another Festival has revived pleasant recollections of the rare musical treat —unprecedented, indeed, in Now Zealand—that was enjoyed last year, and has inspired an eager desire that it should be repeated. One circumstance may be noted as highly encouraging. Our previous article on this subject contained some strictures, admittedly well - deserved, on the “ business-management ” (that is, outside of purely musical matters) of the former Festival. We pointed out that the expenditure was excessive and extravagant ; that no proper control was exercised ; that nobody was really responsible or in actual authority, and that hence arose the deplorable and unexpected deficit, after a success in point of attendance far beyond the most sanguine anticipations. Our strictures have elicited a very gratifying rejoinder. Several guarantors who had to pay up the full amount of their respective guarantees, have voluntarily declared that they did not, and do not in the least degree, grudge that payment, because they hold that they received more than full consideration for their money in the shape of the great delight experienced in listening to the music, which, through this assistance on their part, they were able to hear, and which other, wise they could not have heard. It must indeed be most consolatory to the Committee of the last Festival to receive, as we know some of them have, such assurances as these. We can quite understand the mortification with which they must have awakened at last to the unsatisfactory financial result of their labours, and we fear that they may even have sustained some individual loss as a consequence of the musical enjoyment which they were the means of affording to their fellow citizens. We fully admit the force of the argument used fay a correspondent, that large allowance should be made for the Committee's inexperience in engineering a musical undertaking of such magnitude, and for the fact that, being the first affair of the kind in the Colony, it was almost impossible to compute with precision all the expenses that would unavoidably be incurred. All thiß, however, does not touch the point of wbat we urged so strongly on the attention of those who may move in the present scheme. It was not as censuring the late Committee but as counselling the new one, that we spoke. Giving the utmost weight to all that may so reasonably be urged in extenuation of the financial fiasco of 1888, this in no way |lessens the force of the argument that that experience should afford a useful beacon to warn future committees against any repetition of past mistakes. The multifarious duties that were thrust upon the Secretary were almost enough to drive a man to the lunatie asylum through sheer bewilderment. Much more, too, was left on the conductor’s shoulders than was fair, either to him or to the guarantors. It has been said that the brilliant musical success which he achieved was attained at the cost of extravagant expenditure. But this is no fair ground of complaint. It was not his special function to exercise any financial check. There was a large and capable Committee to de

that. His part was to secure the utmost practicable perfection in the presentation of the music entrusted to him, and he would naturally deem all other considerations subordinate to that paramount one. It was his clear duty to do so. It was the Committee’s duty to exercise such check as might be necessary on any expenditure which was not warranted by their financial position aud prospects. Through inexperience, miscon ception, and various other causes they failed to do this in an adequate degree, and in view of all the circumstances they can hardly be held blameworthy for that failure. But the next Committee will need to avoid any such failure. They will have no similar excuses to offer. They will be exppcted, and very properly so, to profit by the experience which their predecessors so dearly bought, and to take care that the undertaking is carried on, from firet to last, ou thoroughly sound and businesslike lines. We are glad to find that the hints we threw cut ou this head have met with wide and cordial approval. The view is freely expressed that if another Festival is to be held it will have to be on the basis indicated in our columns. That is to say, action must be initiated in good time; full aud trustworthy estimates must bo presented at the outset; an ample guarantee fund must be raised before a single penny of liability is incurred ; a competent business manager must be engaged, through whom all arrangements involving outlay must be made ; and a system of pre-audit must be adopted. While these constitute the conditions primarily essential to success, there are others, relating more to detail, which must not be overlooked. For one thing a clear understanding must be come to, once for all, as to what constitutes a “ professional ” musician. What entitles a man (or woman) to expect and demand payment for such part as he (or she) may take in a Festival ? , Last year there was a strange absence of any definition of the kind. Some instrumentalists who were mere learners, and who ought to have deemed it a music lesson of immense value to play in such an orchestra, and to assist in the execution of such music, actually had the assurance to demand and receive payment for their “ services ! ” As weil might every member of the chorus have preferred a like claim ! The absurd excuse was offered in one or two cases that the instrumentalists had their instruments to buy and keep in order. But they did not buy and maintain them for the Festival, and so that fails as a plea in extenuation of pure greed. Had a genuine love of music been present in these gentlemen they would have deemed it an honour and a privilege to be permitted to aid in such au interesting musical event. As it was the Committee were subject to demands which seem to us alike unwarrantable and discreditable. We sincerely tiru3t that this may not recur and that a resolute stand will be taken up against any attempt of the kind. That all professional musicians shoald be paid for their services as liberally as the available means allow is entirely right and just. But we do not believe in paying pupils for going to school. What we have said applies equally to vocal students, or vocalists who so far as their actual artistic acquirements go are not justified in claiming any status save that of students. It is deeply regrettable that when any great musical enterprise is undertaken the paramount anxiety of so many persons, claiming to be lovers of music, should be simply to screw as much money as they can out of the affair. If such a spirit wore universal a colonial Musical Festival would be impossible. Another serious question of detail must he the building in which ihe performances would take place. This is a very awkward problem. The grave unsuitableness of the Drillshed was sufficiently manifest last year. Yet what other place is obtainable ? This point will have to be considered early and carefully. It is possible that some feasible better plan may be devised, but no time must be lost if anything is to be effectually done. Our own most cordial good wishes go with the present movement. We heartily hope it will be carried out. We are aware that some people hold a two-years’ interval to be too short, and advocate a postponement till 1891. They urge that there is a better chance of a suitable building being then available, as it is incredible that a

| city like Wellington can go on indefinitely without possessing a single public hall of decent size ; that in two years hence we shall have a strong orchestra of locally-trained young performers, and so shall be more independent of costly outside aid ; and that a Wellington Festival in 1890 would follow too closely on the heels of the Dunedin Exhibit on Festival of 1889. We admit the weight of all these arguments so far as they go, but we cannot admit that they are sufficient to condemn the present scheme. Even in a year hence our local instrumental force will have been materially strengthened. The Dunedin Festival bears no comparison in point of programme with that of last year’s Wellington Festival, and we venture to say will bear none with that which will be put forward in Wellington next year if it he decided to carry out thescheme, as we hope will be|the case. And in any event there is ample Bcope for both. We doubt the likelihood of the building difficulty being less prominent iu 189 L than in 1890, and we see no use in waiting for this reason. The proposal to hold the Festival a year hence has, on all accounts, our warmest advocacy, and wo earnestly advise that an agreement should be arrived at with the Wellington Pastoral and Agricultural Association to hold it in the same week that the show of the Association takes place. This would be for the great advantage of both undertakings.