MUSIC AT HOME

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 241, 12 May 1933, Page 6

MUSIC AT HOME

Views of Chnsichurch Conductor Press Association —Copyright Wellington, May 10. Among the passengers who got a tossing in the Wanganella en route from Sydney was Mr. W. H. Dixon, conductor of the Christchurch Musical Society, and who was an applicant for the post of conductor of the Royal Wellington Choral Union five years ago. Mr. Dixon said that there was a good deal of unrest in the higher musical circles at Home. The steady ordered manner in which season succeeded season, without much alteration in the leaders, had been swept away. The big changes were partly, at any rate, brought about by the coming of radio music.

It was the 8.8. C. Orchestra and artists who now gave regular broadcast concerts at the Queen's Hall, London, said Mr. Dixon. That orchestra was conducted by Dr. Adrian Boult. and little seems to be heard now of the London idol that used to be—Sir Henry Wood, who was a fine conductor and a most lovable man.

Another big change was the resignation of Sir Hamilton Harty from the conductorship of the Halle Orchestra at Manchester, to take up the same duties with the London Symphony Orchestra. "It seems to me," said Mr. Dixon, "that through what I call radiocracy music is in the melting pot on account of the methods behind the broadcasting of programmes. The radio companies have so narrowed the field of performers down to their own. artists that the outlook for others is poor. It is affecting amateur effort everywhere. People ask why should they go to the concerts of local musical societies and orchestras when they can stay at home and get better results by turning a knob. "If we are to have an Empire broadcast for all listeners-in, it is going to be a bad outlook for New Zealand and Australian singers,'' said Mr. Dixon, "and there will be less and less amateur effort, and more records. Mind I do not say that many of the records do not give us beautiful music, but I am taking a long view of the general situation, having at heart the interest of all the musical societies and amateur effort generally in music. I say that the issue we are facing is a very grave one." One of the brightest "spots" Mr. Dixon encountered was to learn of the continued success of the competition societies in England, who were all under the British Federation. At last year's competition there were half a million competitors. He was surprised to hear from Mr. Fairfax Jones, the secretary, that the New Zealand societies had allowed their membership in the federation to lapse. Competitions were certainly in a healthy condition in England, and he thought that everything should be done to encourage them.