MUSIC WEEK IN INVERCARGILL

Southland Times, Issue 23782, 1 April 1939, Page 11

MUSIC WEEK IN INVERCARGILL

PROPOSAL PRAISED BY VISITOR PROFITABLE USE OF MORE LEISURE TIME “There is no doubt about it that New Zealand is going to face soon more difficult problems than it has had to solve previously and the development of the community spirit will be a step in the right direction.” The remark was made in an interview with The Southland Times yesterday by Mr R. H. Court, of Sydney, when referring to the proposal to hold a music week in Invercargill. At the annual meeting of the Music Section of the University Association of Southland recently Mr Charles Martin suggested that it should arrange a music week in the city, perhaps next spring. . ~ , ... “During one of my periodical visits to New Zealand several years ago the Press in Invercargill published some comments by me about what was done in Sydney to make the music week there a great ’ success, Mr Court stated. “I am gratified to find that Mr Martin has started something on. the lines suggested by me on my last Visit. With the increased leisure people throughout the world were now enjoying it was essential that educational authorities should realize, and no doubt they did, that the people must be educated culturally. Otherwise they coula not use their increased leisure.. This was realized in many countries in the world and educational authorities elsewhere had made wonderful strides. School orchestras, choirs and children s percussion bands were being included in the educational curriculum. “GREATEST ALLY” “We lost one generation in music because of the development of mechanical means of the reproduction and broadcasting of music,” said Mr Couit. “At one stage the radio was musics most serious competitor, but now it has become its greatest ally because, by means of the radio, the people have heard a greater variety of music and a much greater quantity than previous generations ever enjoyed. Consequently, the desire for self-expression has come about. The young people of this generation think no more of a radio than they do of a telephone or an electric light switch. Naturally, they desire an outlet for what they have absorbed and with this in view I say without hesitation that the future . of music from a community point of view is greater than ever before.” It occurred to him that Mr Martin, in his activities in organizing the proposed music week, had given a lead to the rest of New Zealand. He was quite willing to give him every assistance by explaining how the week in Sydney was carried out. If they were going to help the people to understand! and appreciate music then they were doing a service to the community. A “harmony, health and happiness week” in Invercargill by combining a music week with a health campaign was suggested by Mi - Court, who urged cultural development for the profitable use of increased leisure. Man had a soul to feed as well as a body. If they could educate young children to appreciate music and be able to express themselves they were assisting to make the world a better one.