A MUSICAL MOVEMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13394, 18 September 1907, Page 5

A MUSICAL MOVEMENT.

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

A meeting, convened by Mr Ellis Wood, at the request of several musical people, was held in Build's Arcade Cafe last evening, to discuss the question., of forming a Philharmonic Society, or Musical Association of instrumentalists und vocalists. There were six-and-twenty persons present, the sexes being about equally represented. Mr Wood reminded those present, that in past years musical societies,! vocal and orchestral, had been successfully carried on in Tunaru, and ho spoke hopefully of the probabilities of establishing a new one. Personally he was not so familiar with vocal as with instrumental music; but from what he had heard, he understood that a combination of the* two would Ke the move popular. He told of towns at Home, no larger than Timaru, whicli possess successful musical societies, with choruses up to 70 or 80 and orchestras of 20 and 30 in number.

Mr Orwin, whilst in favour of establishing a musical society, questioned whether this was a suitable time of year for starting one. He feared that in the warmer season of the year the practices would be poorly attended: and suggested that the project be postponed till, say, March next. ;\ Mr Wood said that the Society, to be successful, must depend on music lovers, to whom, the seasons were all the same; and 2\lrs Gow said that it was much pleasar.ter .to attend evening practices in fine weather than in winter, when wet and cold and muddy ways supplied good excuses for absence,—a remark that was endorsed by general applause. On the motion of Mrs Gow, seconded by Mr Mcßac, it was unanimously resolved that a Philharmonic • Society be formed. On the motion of Mr Orwin, a provisional committee was then formed, consisting of Messrs Mcßa-e, HoJdgat?, Wood, Mesdames Gow and Renuio and the mover, to make some necessary inquiries, and re-i port to a. future meeting, as to the most effective means of making the society a success.

Mr Mcßae accepted the office of secretary pro tern. Mr Brookes stated that Nelson, a town of about the same population as Thnarn has a t-ociety of seventy or eighty, and a good orchestra of twenty, which gives four concerts yearly and is subsidised by the City Council. He suggested, and the suggestion was approved, that each person present should canvass for members «,nd report their success at the next meeting. In his opening remarks, Mr Wood said that one of the essentials for success was readings in every member to play "second fiddle." If everybody wanted to play "tVst-fiddle" they would never get on. Whith.-r it wiv: violin or jewsharp. each member should be readv to accept any duty assigned, for in an orchestra each part was as important /as another: