NEW ZEALAND MUSIC AND TEACHING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12040, 11 May 1901, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND MUSIC AND TEACHING.

mi; stkwart macphkrson's VIEWS. (I'p.OM Ol'H OWX C'ORRESFOMIKXT.) LONDON'. March 22. During a recent conversation with Mr Stewart Macpherson (Fellow and Professor «f the Hoys! Academy of Alu-ie, London) about his late experiences in New Zealand while he was acting as special examiner on b'.-half of the Associated Hoard of the Hoyal Academy and Royal College of Music. Mr Macpherson let fall several observations which μ-oiii to me likely to he both interesting and useful to colonial readers. II'! hiiF been good enough In permit me lo quote them. " New Zealand music and music-leaching on the whole," paid Mr Maepherjon, "may be characterised as very fair, and in one particular case exceptionally good. 1 think New Zealand holds tier ow'n very well wiiii Australia, lint, of course, Canada, owing to tho special advantage of greater proximity to Kuropo and to the United States, and the consentient opportunities of hearing ami studying the bwt living musicians, is in front of either. On the other hand, musical students in New Zealand and Australia have very few, if any, opportunities of listening lo interpretations of standard works by vocal and instrumental performers who are absolutely in the first rank as executants. Consequently they lack a definite standard and gauge of comparison such as any London student can have for n dulling whenever he or she choosiv to iillmid a concert of the first order. This inability must of necessity handicap colonial students very heavily, for many years to come at all events." Being asked which of the New Zealand centres, in his opinion, stood highest in resued of musical proficiency— "Well," raid Mr Macphcrson, "I can answer that question without a moment's hesitation, and yet my reply will scarcely give a jn.-t idea of the relative position of the chief Now Zealand luwiis, without some explanation. Undoubtedly Wellington stood far and away tho first among all the. New Zealand cities, lint that pre-eminence was wholly due to the surpassing excellence of one particular school. If that one wero eliminated from the calculations, Wellington would at any rate not eland Mother than Christchureh or Duncdin. But the extraordinary merit of that one establishment sent up Wcilinuton at a bound a long way at tho head of all. That establishment was St. Mary's Convent School. So admirable was the work done there that I had no alternative but to pass every one of the 39 canditlntes who offered themselves, and 13 of thovo with honours. It was quilo * tmrprising experience, if not an unprecedented one, for 100 per cent, of all the candidates lo be successful, and 33 per cent, of them to pass with honours. Hut there, wan no ini°takc nt all about it. Tho work was most excellently done in every respect, but perhaps bi»l of all in the singing department. I really do not think I ever heard puch a number of pure, fresh yonnif voices of such fine quality in a sinirle school brfnre. And they had been FO admirably taught, so thoroughly well grounded in voice production by the sifter, who used to be known as Miss M 'Clean, tl'iit it wns a genuine pleasure to listen to them. If I wished to be hypercritical I might perhaps ear that some of the younger ones had gono ahead a little fester than was quite prudent at their age; but I know how oaOT and impatient young colonists are to become proficient, and it is not easy for enthusiastic teachers io resist that desire and to avoid the inevitable premature development. At all events, the results were extromely remarkable. "And yet," continued Mr Mncpherson, " the hiitl'ii'st distinction of all did not fall to one of those pupils, or indeed to AVcllineton at all, although tho second—the silver medn!—di<l. Hut the first prize, the gold medal, was unmistakably won by a ymmtr girl at Nelfon, a violinist, whoso tone and technique were simmlarly good for one so young, and iniose nil-round proficiency was equally praisoworthy." " How about the pianoforte playing generally?" "There was some creditable plavintr. and much evidence of Rood and careful teaching; but what struck m- in nearly all cases was that an almost indefinable pomctbing was wanting, due to lack of nppnrtuniti' to hear tho greatest exewnlars of the art. The students wero carefully tanyht. and thev nlaved fairly wel( up to a certain point, and then ono could not help noticing failure to grasp tho inwardness of the music—the finer nuances of phrasing and expression, such as would have beon revealed at once by the performance, of n Ant-class player. Il only needed for them to hear the thing done; but that could not be, and fo Jhore wan always that Honiething deficient. Ono man en id to mo in Invcreorgill: 'You «, we have no chance of hcnrinc the greatest players, as yon can in England: if only tome of those would make a colonial tour now nml then we should learn what we never can as matters now are.' " And ho was quite right," paid Mr Mac-' pherson. "I wish very much that educational tours of this sort could be organised. I mean really for educational purposes, a performer of the first rank to be senl out just as special examiners are tent out by tho Associated lioard, only to exemplify instead of to test. It would be a moat valuable means of instruction. I wish you could advocate this in the papers you write for. ■ You would be doing rcilly pood service if you could arouse public perception as to what is now the greatest need of New Zealand music. Such a thing ought to be feasible, and it would lie more beneficial than anything else which could be done to further the cause of music in the colonies." " Did you come across anyFpecially excellent singer or violinist among. your mule student-candidates?" "No," replied Mr Macpherson. "I cannot say that I met with any that impressed Home good voices, no dniibt. but none whose oiviierr 1 could conscientiously advise to take up singing a? a profession. Several consulted mo as lo whether they should dcvote themselves to music a= a means of livelihood and In proceed lo England to bo trained. But I felt compelled in every ca?e to discourage the idea. They had no notion of the difliculties, the disappointinentfl, the fierce competition they would have to struggle through before gaining any foothold in London or other largo cities. Only most exceptional capacity or influence would mako such a step other than a mad risk." "Yet, il was remarkable," observed. Mr Macpherson, thoughtfully, "how many eocinod to think that they had only to be heard, only to aiinouneo themselves in London, to succeed. It was not merely singers who had that idea. Teachers also shared it. Ono lady, a most excellent teacher who is doing very well and ranking a capital incomo in New Zealand, asked me if 1 would advise her lo come to London nnd slart there. Of coiiise, I earnestly dissuaded her, pointing out the ti'cmondous competition she, an unknown new-comer, would necessarily have to encounter, and what a long and bitter struggle it must needs be before, if over, sbo attained anything like the position or income she bad in New Zealand. My counsel to her wits to lcl well alone, and to be content where she was doing so EucceFffiilly. But I could sec she was much disappointed. And I am not sure (hat she is not now on her way to England." ''I suppose il is quite too American to ask, ' Ilnw did you liko iny country? '" " I am afraid I really never saw it," said Mr Maepheison, laughing, " for the fact is my time wa.s ?o fully occupied in my examinations that I hardly ever got outside the largest towns except when travelling from oiio town to another. And then I wa« hindered a good doal by the weather. As to the New Zealand climate. I must confess I thought it would be bettor if there were not quite so much wind. I was considerably impressed with the Wellington wind, of which I had heard inucV. before I went there. But, really, to tell the truth, 1 found all the other towns just as windy. When 1 left Wellington for Nelson a fritnd ?aid. ' Ah. now you are going to a peaceful nook, where rough winds never blow.' But, on the contrary, a great florin raged all the time i was there, mi I did not find the peaceful contrast which w»< promised. I was sorry not to be able to visit Natlier. but it could'not possibly be fitted in. I did a«k the three or four Xapicr candidates to meet me at Palnicrslon, but they could not do that, and hi Napier had lo he misted mil altogether, and I regretted it very much. However, in fipito of the wind, 1 enjoyed my New Zealand tour immensely, and I shall never forgot the cordial welcome and hospitality I received from everybody. All were as kind and friendly us it was possible to be, and T shall always look back to my New Zealand visit with most pleasant memories. Perhaps you will allow me to say that my visit wits made doubly interesting to me by enabling me to mako the acquaintance of many people with whom I am connected through my marriage." Il will be ronierobereJd that Mrs Macphcrpon is a daughter of Dγ Kemp and a granddaughter of Dr Greenwood. It is unnecessary that I should say more than that. Both names are sufficiently well known and honoured in New Zealand.