ORGAN RECITALS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9998, 15 June 1918, Page 2

ORGAN RECITALS

SHOULD THEY BE MADE POPULAR MAYOR'S VIEWS ON MUSICAL 13PLIFTMENT. Lately the vigorously debated question as to whether the city organist (Mr Bernard P. Page) should be called upon to cater for the popular taste in matters musical has been revived. The sparse attendances at the weekly organ recitals in the Town Hall has been a subject for considerable comment. A few days ago it was suggested in the "Times" that the City Council should seriously consider the problem from a broad point of view. Yesterday a "Times" reporter interviewed the Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke, C.M.G.) on the subject, and it was plainly indicated that the council has no -intention of altering its present policy. Mr Luke said that the lack of interest in the organ recitals was not peouliar to Wellington. The same conditions obtained in Auckland, to bis knowledge, and in other cities of the Dominion and the Commonwealth. We were passing through a most unsettled period, and the public mind was such that unless the people were really enthusiastic for the higher class of inusio they would not concentrate their minds on the classics. There was no doubt that competitive entertainment such as picture shows had grealy revolutionised the minds of the public People who used to, attend functions of musical interest had in many cases the concerns of the war closely allied to them, and the effeot of this was reflected in their movements outside ordinary business and social affairs. .In regard to- picture shows, whatever might be said against some of the films there were times, when the value of pictures could not be over-estdmated.

In ( Air Page the city had an undoubted first ranker, and it was very difficult for him to respond to the divided opinions of the public Personally, Mr Luke considered the matter of recitals should be left with the city organist, who had a. faculty and genjius £or. bringing forward music that should he elevating and of distinct 'educational value. If by attending the recitals those who lacked appreciation of the higher class music could be uplifted, the organist would do a good j>ublio service. With regard to popular items, Mr Luke expressed the opinion that if Mr Page included these dn his programme, it was quite possible that the attendances at the recitals would increase for a while, but there was no guarantee that there would be a permanent increase. ° People would not go to organ recitals for the purpose of 'having their ears tickled or satisfying some merely fickle fancy. On the other hand, he granted that certain hymns were morally elevating, such as, for instance, "Abide With Me" and "Lead Kindly Light." Mr Luke remarked that certain pieces had been suggested as; suitable for the recitals, but lie did not thi/ikr the 'council should take up the attitude of dictating to the organist; Referring to th«i suggestion that recitals should he hi Id on Sunday nights after church, the Mayor said he had oonsulted with Mr Page on this point. No doubt the idea was a good one, but there' was a difficulty in the way. At the present time a soldiers' entertainment was held in the Town Hall every Saturday night, and this could not be_ side-tracked. ",'. It would be an expensive business to get the hall ready for a Sunday night recital, and would entail considerable labour, thus adding to the cost of the recitals. Mr Luke added, finally, that if the present recitals made for • the upliftment of a passionate few, the labours of the organist would not be in vain.