MUSIC A POPULAR ART

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3477, 9 June 1934, Page 10

MUSIC A POPULAR ART

IS IT TRUE IN NEW ZEALAND?

In an interesting jocular speech, quoted by the London Daily Telegraph, Sir Thomas Beecham recently declared ,that "music is the P9P u l ar art in Britain. That may be news t° you, but it is a fact. There are 5000 choral societies in this country—more than in the whole continent of Europe. They comprise about 375,000 people, singing. It is a grim thought, but it is a fact. There are more" real concerts in this- country, there are more small societies, there are more people eking out a strange existence in 'this way than in Germany. There are more people meddling and interfering with music in one form or another than in any other country. Two years ago I was in New York. I asked for a chorus to so some choral work. After three weeks' exploration of places that included even the Bowery, the promoters came to me and said: '.lf you want a chorus you will have to bring it from Toronto.' In London, within a' week, I could have had six choruses, ready and trained and accomplished for any work. Music, is the most popular art. It is listened to by millions, it is listened to with some care and attention. It is practised in this country by hundreds of thousands of people. For every person interested in painting and sculpture there are fifty -interested in music."