THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1918. MUSICAL ART IN NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17402, 24 August 1918, Page 6

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1918. MUSICAL ART IN NEW ZEALAND.

The people of New Zealand probably pride themselves on being lovers of music. Fevr, indeed, aro the homes in which the sound of the piano is not heard. Under normal conditions, Dunedin, with a population of about onefifth that of the average provincial town in Great Britain, boasts two amateur orchestral societies, many brass bands, a military mixed band, orchestral clubs, two choral societies, a male choir, an operatic society, and many small choirs. It has also numerous capable soloists, both vocal and instrumental, who are not attached to any of these organisations. Our young people take themselves and their musical studies very seriously, as is evidenced by the results achieved in the examinations of the Trinity College and the Associated Board, and in other standard examinations. Similar conditions exist in the other large centres of the dominion. In such favourable circumstances it might be expected that a great outburst of the creative would follow this stimulation of the art impulse in the vigorous first-fruits of a new nation planted among the most ideal conditions conceivable of climate and of natural beauty; —especially when that nation is conscious of being sprunc from an intellectual, fine-fibred, cultured stock, of the noblest and most chivalrous aspirations, and of the most glorious traditions, not only in the sphere of social evolution, but in the domains of art and science. It may be that the racial sensitiveness to ridicule Is opposed to the development of this side of our national genius. It is certain, however, that nothing wiil eventually avail to keep the shoots of the exuberant spontaneity of the youthful vitality in New Zealand from bursting through the crust of prejudice and bearing both blossom and fruit which shall be the pride of the nation. Yet a deep-rooted modern distrust of British Art, especially musical art, is found in existence. A popular impression seems to obtain that musical inspiration is the natural monopoly of the foreigner with the unpronounceable name. It is a wholly erroneous impression. Our national place in music is as proud as our place in literature, our place in art as great as our place in science, and in all these as glorious as our place in the history of freedom. With all these splendid traditions behind us, with all the world before us, and with the virgin vigour of a new' nation to sustain us, why, it may be asked, should not the song of young New Zealand ring round the earth with a clear vibrance which would announce the birth of a new note? All that is needed is that the young lungs shall be urged to try, that the first efforts shall be sympathetically encouraged, not met with ridicule or damned by that assumption of superior contempt which keeps silenc§ with a sinister insinuation that " charity alone forbids."

A year ago a scheme was inaugurated in Christchurch for the encouragement of our own composers, in the form of a Festival of New Zealand Music. The second of these annual festivals, which was held recently, wa-s an event of distinct importance, but its occurrence seems to have excited none but local interest, except, perhaps, in the sense that the Minister of Education sent a sympathetic message—probably upon solicitation—in which lie referred to the value of musical education and to the part it plays in the moral elevation of a people. Local appreciation of a programme of national importance is of small account. The full value of such a scheme can never be felt until local significance has been extended to national appreciation—until the other largo centres lia.ve made the movement part of their national life. Should we consider the highest aim of Zealand literature to consist in the recitation of old-world poems, however famous? Should we look upon the copying of pictures by standard European artists as i the highest form of New Zealand art? j The highest national musical expression, j is hardly to be found in th<j execution '

of standard compositions, more or less shop-worn. There is as much need to aim at the development of a New Zealand school of music as of a national literature or a national art; and there should be equal possibilities of success. The dominion lias already produoed the Clutsams, Alfred Hill, and Charles Willebv, whose reputations are world-wide. Yet these composers had scant encouragement in their native land, and we have a very doubtful claim to bask in the reflection of their successes. There is no lack of talent among our young people, and, save for the human element, the atmosphere in which they move is an ideal stimulant to the creative impulse. No country in the whole world possesses a more distinctive character than does New Zealand. Our scenery, our flora, our fauna are quite different from anything else on earth, and if environment makes for artistic distinction, as it undoubtedly does, the New Zealander has the benefit of a long lift upon the trail that leads to the dazzling snows of lofty Olympus. Who will lead us into the strong city? Nothing is more sure than that Dunedin could organise a successful annual festival if the initiative were undertaken by representative citizens, advised by the professional element. The task has been satisfactorily accomplished in Ghristchurch, where it presented more difficulties than would be likely to confront organisers in Dunedin. The leading musicians in this city are sufficiently imbued with native common sense to know that Art has manv facets and may present quite different images to different wooers. The establishment of an annual New Zealand Musical Festival in this city would be beset by no insuperable difficulties. The movement would be truly patriotic—a genuine attempt to create and foster a national spirit; not need it be relegated to that crowded limbo of uncrowned hopes, " after the war." Our leading citizen might possibly see his way to suggest a means whereby the city would be enabled to play a prominent part in the musical development of New Zealand for the New Zealanders.