MUNICIPAL MUSIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19531, 14 July 1925, Page 11

MUNICIPAL MUSIC

CONCERTS FOR EVERYBODY AT BIRMINGHAM. A great deal of interest has been aroused by the novel and extensive musical schemes now being earned out under the auspices of the Birmingham municipality. Tho City of Birmingham Orchestra, which was established five years ago, and is now directed by Mr Adrian Boult, gives concerts on week days and Sundays, not only in the city itself, but also in the outlying districts; and there is a special scries of concerts for children, in connection with which the aid .of the teachers is called in. Tho general scope of the ambitious scheme was explained to a representative of the Observer by Professor Ernest de Selincourt. Tho concerts aro divided into four classes. There arc “symphony concerts” (eight in a season), the Saturday night concerts (six in a season), and the Sunday night concerts (weekly), the children’s concerts (six in the season s series, plus some extra Christmas holiday concerts), and, finally, a certain number of concerts in the outlying parts of tho district. “ The character of the programme at the Sunday concerts falls into two parts (said Professor de Selincourt), of which the first is given to some one great composer, and the second is of a miscellaneous character. Thus, on a recent Sunday, was a Mozarji night, and the first part consisted of an overture, an aria, and a symphony; tho second part included the new ’cello concerto of Delius, beautifully played by Miss Beatrice Harrison. Wo aro convinced that a popular audience will always respond to the best music when they aro given a chance of hearing it well rendered, and our faith has been justified. A curious, interesting, and, 1 think, important feature of our Sunday night audience is tho preponderance of men; we have far more men than, women, v roni the children’s concerts we are, unfortunately, obliged to turn away 500 to 600 every time. Tho Town Hall will accommodate only about 2200 children. A local music firm, with groat spirit, organises a course of lectures for teachers, in order that these may prepare tile children for the music they are to hear. Next year we shall probably duplicate these children’s concerts, in which case wo shall bo able to accommodate 4000 children. We have in mind a scheme tor midday dinner-hour concerts —some seats bee. and others at a nominal price. They would last for 45 minutes, and would probably bo held weekly. Our one failure so far has lam in tho Saturday concerts. So much depends upon habit, and we have not yet been able to establish a Saturday night music habit. Perhaps if smoking were allowed in tho Town Hall wo might do better*