THE PHILHARMONIC CONCERT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 98, 10 May 1901, Page 2

THE PHILHARMONIC CONCERT.

I REPLIES TO CLARION. I TO THE EDITOR. Sir—l have always rtfrainfd so fir fr m t iking no' if e of correspondents ' who are a=hamol to sign their name, i but have to take shtlter under a non de plume. It is easy fo strike from behind a wol l . But if "Cl.rion" has the coni- ge let him declare himself and not le l . mch talents as he possesses ba hidden. However, on behalf of the Philharmonic Sosie'y, I must rep'y. In the firs' p'.i'ce I quite agree wi'h "Ul irion " in that intelligent criticisms by the press do muoh good. But if the critic be not a comp9tent musiral judge he had better not attompt to ent'jr too minutely into it. I have attended stme entertainments in this town which have been dese ving of save-e ciiti"ism, yet in your report have b.en found faultless, whilst others deserving of praiso have bfen condemned, and I consiier myself just ai compe'ent to judge the=e matte s as your reporter and pe.baps more so.

" Clarion " shows his ignorance in ' conceited vocal muiic in expecting a young Society to produce the simo results as an old cs ablishei Society, for if h were a musician he would know tlat th i very things he mentions as wanting in the performance of "The Reverg > " cin only be obtained by long ani constmt p aefciee. According to a newspaper critiqu j on one of tho Auckl u d Sjibty's performances they were lacking in s lme of th ise point,. If then a Society hoisting of it< fifteenth or twenty - fifch concert is not found fiulikts, h.w can anyono expic 1 ' a Soc'e'y of one year slanting to do so. Ia my opinion the members acquitted themselves admirably for such a young Society. Ooe as well judge the performance of a young beginner with that of an advanced pupil. lam at a loss to know why Clari-n has inflie'ed Lia opinions on the readers of your paper, for after a 1 it is only his opinion. Perhaps wh&n ha has obtained a wider theoretical asd ptv.ct'cal knowledge of choral music and Societies, he will be bat er able to give an intelligent mu'ical c'i icism.' I also at;ree wi'h " Clarion " tint it was unfair to lewe out such instruments as the horns, t-umpe 1 ", drum-', etc. But parhips " Oiiiio:i " can tell me whereto find tlnm in New Plymouth. I admit it would have improved the rendering with tbe assistance of flute and roods, but no doubt your readers at e aware fiat) there is such a thing as je .lous'y or pe'ty grievances among orchestral musici ns, and it is to ba regreited that thesi fielings are allowed to prevent the true rnusici j .n showing himself by ignoring the:e fteliogs and ass'sting one another amicably. Nevertheless the s'ring par's were complete " Clari n" was evidently out of his element and appeared to be uncomfortable because he could not hear the big drum. With reference to the c'ion from " San Toy," it was given ao:ording to tho metronome tune marks; if he wishes to alter these he had bitter consult the compcs'r. However, I advise " O'arion " not to it'ead another Philharmonic concert, as he w ll not hear any musical fireworks, but attend a diffdreut cla"-s of entirtainment, where ho might also heir tin big drum if nothing else. New Plymouth has bstn stagnant in musical matt rs too bng, and it is such people as " Clarion'' who are the petent to criticise why «as ha not conducting <i Choral Society before I arrived find thus save me the annoyance of the initial parfo-mances. However, I can only inform " Clarion " that the ' Philharmonic Society is prospering and will continue to prosper without his assistance. Apologising, Mr. Editor, for occupying so much space and thanking you in anticipation for kindness in inserting this.—l am, etc., A. E. Fletcher.

TO THE EDITOR,

Sir, —In your is ua of yesterday there appeirs a le'ter feigned by '• Clarion," a supposed criticism on the late Philharmonic conc-irt, and especially about tha leader of tbe orchestra. Permi", me to t tte as one of tho citizens of this town who was instrumental in 8" curing the services of our p pnlir bandmaster, Mr. A. G. H-iigh, I think your correspondent's letfcar id quite uncalled for, ai Mr. ITaigh from his testimoni ils and performances, which I have seen and heard,is qui; e able to lead any orchestra that this town h s ever had. But from the tenure of your correspond'n 's letter it is ea?y seen that he is connected with a crowd of so-called amateu.s who have been nothing else in this toivn than a drawback to music and music.il institutions since my sojourn in ytur town. What we want in all our musical institutions of this town he ilthy rivalry, not this low dete3'able underhand work of writing under a nom, do plume, when they aro not abla themselves to do what is wanted. In conclusion, allow me to state, surely if Mr. Haigh was worthy of a place in the finest orchestra that as yet has appeared in New Zoi'and (I allude to the Duncdin Exhibition orchestra), I think he quits able to fill his pla e in any orchestra we have had hero. If jour c TiespDtsdeut had he»M on th" warp -th a y ar or two ago, what a field h'j would h-sve bad for citicis n. I trust y -nr correspondent t.hp ni xtime he writes will not be so ab-ent-mindfd as to forge' to sign h's proper name.—Youiv, e'c., D. McKinnon Bain.

s f j TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—Pielse allow me a short Hp ce . in your v hnblo paper in answer to i your corrosp iti'icnt ''Ol irion." Fi s'ly • '■ Clarion" must b-i euthvly igtiorao' " r of music or 110 lias some grudge again t the gent'eman 11a cned as loader of the oichestm." I only a-k your readotv , and ''J larion " t> car fuliy r ad th ! j'idge's cri'ici j m of ! 110 playing of tiv Now Plymouth City Hand at tho i'o.coot Wang mii Hand Content and ther ho will find that the gaii'lamim 11 md is Hio'padt'i'of f : ie orori'fitra muni; be a oinduntor and musician of anqiw- ' '.ion!bio ab'li y to p'a -e his buid in I the sp'endid pos'tlou which th-y .were p'accd, and against the talent they had to run against, Surely, Mr, Editor,

this is enough to sV.ow that the gentleman l.amed is quite capable of appreciating music of a lively andj sparkling nature.—l am. etc., j San Toy.