“ORGAN RECITALS”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9999, 17 June 1918, Page 3

“ORGAN RECITALS”

To the Editor “N.Z. Times.’

Sir,—Allow me through your columns to offer Mr Page a few suggestions re the above controversy. With a view' to solving the problem of providing popular (so-called) music in conjunction with the classics I would gladly offer the tallowing programme for Mr Page’s perusal ,-

1- —“Nocturne Celebro” (Chopin). 2- —“Yaka Hula, Hickey Dula” (Froth). 3- —Finale 12th Symphony (Haydn). I-—“ What do you Want to Make Those Byes at Me For?” (Blank). 5^ Impromptu O.P. 80 No. 1 (Schubert). o.—“ Way Down in Tennessee” (Uncle Tom). (Grand Finale, "Hotch Potch,” European National Anthems) Very Popular. I am sure there will be no need to complain of the attendance at the Town Hall should similar programmes be presented.—l am, etc. , MOZART.

(To the Editor "N.Z. Times.’’) Sir,—Further to my short letter in your columns of - the 16th inst., and in view of tho Mayor's apt exposition. of the real situation, I would like to _ add to the argument py way of simile. Music is tho outward expression of the mind of tho human, and the organ is •auxiliary to that. Tho organ nt best is only a mechanical imitator. However, it rnnv bo a public utility, though not a -puolio draw. The simile that camo to my mind arose from tho mists of tho distant past. I had a relative, a youthful bride and w-idow all in one, of a civilain who was killed in tho Sepoy rising. Her solace was attendance at the Plymouth Academy, and it happened that I was her constant oomI'anion. It did not occur to my juvenile mind at the time, but strangely, after sixty years, this organ argument recalled tho remembrance that tho usual attendance at that beautiful and expensive civic academy was about six students. Suppose the authorities happened along and discovered that six did not constitute a crowd, and that a punch-and-judy show would succeed where the Academy failed, the incident would sufficiently have symbolised the proposal to introduce popular music into the recital programmes,—l am, oto., HENRY BODLEY. Wellington, June Isth, 1818.