VALEDICTORY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8364, 26 February 1913, Page 8

VALEDICTORY

: MR AIAUGHAN BARNETT. APPRECIATION BY CHORAL SOCIETY. Appreciative references to the work of Mr Maughan Barnett as conductor for the Royal Wellington Choral Society were made by Mr J. G. W. Aitken at the society’s annual meeting last evening. Mr Barnett, he said, had been largely responsible for the success of the society; he had put heart and courage into every member of the chorus. Mr Barnett had found pastures new, and had discovered a place that was probably more like the Garden of, Eden than Wellington. (Laughter.) They hoped and trusted that the retiring conductor would find even more pleasure in his work at Auckland than at Wellington. (Applause.) But in his now field he could scarcely use more diligence than he had used in Wellington. Mr R. T, Caldow suggested, amid applause, that the society should place on record their intense appreciation of the services rendered by Mr Barnett. The meeting sung- “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” and carried a motion, by acclamation, in the terms suggested. WHY SUCCESS CAME. Mr Barnett, who was received with applause, said that at the moment he hardly realised he was leaving the society or leaving Wellington, as he still had one or two months longer with them. The society had been phenomenally successful, simply because everyone with any responsibility' had carried out his duties to the utmost of his ability. Drones did not exist in the society; they had been weeded out, and had it not been for the loyalty and hard work of everybody concerned, the society could not have attained its present fine position, which it thoroughly deserved. Quite apart from the friendships, in addition to this other aspect, he would always feel to the end of his life, that he had been connected with a society that had made history. When the history of music in this town was written, the society would hold a very prominent position in that record, and he would always look upon it as a great honour to have been its first conductor. ORCHESTRAL MUSIC. Speaking of music in Wellington, Mr Barnett declared that there was one part of the society’s music which required working up, and it was possible that the society, while keeping up the standard of choral work, might devote a good deal of attention to this other part in the future. He meant the development of orchestral work. That was really the problem at the present time. A REAL NEED. Orchestral music was as necessary as choral, and unless it progressed with choral music, this society, would be kept back. He took this opportunity of impressing upon them and everybody interested in music, the absolute necessity for doing a great deal in the direction of developing orchestral music, and there was only one method likely to prove a success—unless some of our wealthy citizens undertook the financing of an orchestra, which he thought they might do by subscribing, say £3OOO. There seemed to him more hope of the orchestra being developed on suitable lines through municipal cooperation. Apart from this, the society had been made a success by members through what he might call exercise of personal persuasion, in sale of tickets, etc. Had he remained in Wellington, he would have approached the council in regard to the orchestra. He had every praise for members of the orchestra ; there were very few professional players, and it was a wonder what business men and amateurs could do in the realm of music. He would defer saying "good-bye” to a later occasion. (Applause.) As a mark of appreciation of Mr Barnett’s long and valued services, it has been decided to tender him a farewell concert- at an early date. THE NEW CONDUCTOR. Mr R. T. Caldow stated that the committee was unanimous in choosing Mr C. Hellemann as successor to Mr Barnett, and they believed the appointment would prove to be a very good one. Mr Hellemann’s church choir of sixty-eight had rendered some very difficult works in oratorio, and it was stated that as an organist he was hard to beat. He (Mr Caldow) hoped that the good sense of the city fathers would .be such that they would put Mr Hellemann at the top of the tree. The new conductor would probably be here in the second week of April, and would give a series of organ recitals, soon after his arrival.