LISTENERS AT SECOND-HAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 14, 17 January 1936, Page 9

LISTENERS AT SECOND-HAND

“I had great hopes that the knowledge of music which broadcasting brings would swell our concert audiences ” said Sir Landon Ronald in an interview discussing musical fends during his 25 years as principal of the Guildhall School of Music, London. “It hasn’t increased them by more than 5 per cent. And it certainly hasn't increased the numbers of students at our great schools of music. Tn the old’ days people used to make mucic in their homes. You were invited to ‘bring a song in your pocket.’ Then came tho gramophone. I was among the first to insist on its importance as a teaefier of music, but it meant more listening and less making of music—among those who could afford to buy records at least. Then, just when the novelty of the gramophone had died away and people, stimulated by what it had taught them, were beginning to make music for themselvccs again and to go to concerts, came broadcasting. The indiscriminate stage of broadcasting is still with us. Morning, noon and night—music, music, music—most of it insignificant. People have become merely listeners again, and listeners at second hand. Most of them *feel no urge to listen to orchestra in flesh and blood, etill less to play or sing themselves. Look how the sale of songs has fallen away. Still—give them another three or four years. The gramophone turned many listeners into makers of music. Broadcasting may do the same when they’ve stopped listening so muFh.’'