PUBLIC’S TASTE FOR MUSIC

Southland Times, Issue 23461, 18 March 1938, Page 6

PUBLIC’S TASTE FOR MUSIC

LOWER STANDARD TODAY “The public does not seen to want good music; it prefers the lighter kind,” said Lieutenant A. McMaster, band master of the Battalion Band, in replying to a toast at the band’s social last night. It would not improve the band if it were always playing light music. He had prepared what he thought was a good programme for one concert, but the audience would not listen to it. He intended to keep the band on food music. , In reply to a later toast the Mayor, Mr John Miller, said he was glad to hear that the band master was going to give the people, whether they liked it or not, good music. Something in the temperament of the people today called for excitement rather than an appreciation of the fine arts. Mr A. R. Wills, conductor of the Civic Band, said tfiat he had had the same experience as had Lieutenant McMaster. The standard of musical appreciation was lower than he had ever known it, and he thought they tried to pander to the public taste. If they kept up the standard they would educate the people to like it. “Some years ago,” he said, “we took £25 on a Sunday afternoon in the Rose Gardens, but we do not get anything like that now. At one time we used to find half-crowns in the collection; we would get a shock if we saw one today.” Mr Wills said he thought that the motor-car was largely to blame for the decreased interest taken in band concerts. People who at one time would attend concerts now went motoring instead.

“It is the bands’ duty to play good music and educate the public up to it,” he said. “In late years we have been playing down to the public’s taste.”

“We have always got to have bands, but in recent years a falling-off in support has been apparent,” said Mr D. Farnie in proposing a toast to the Battalion Band. The lack of support, he said, was most disheartening to those working to keep bands in existence.