FOLK SONGS.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16834, 28 June 1926, Page 4

FOLK SONGS.

LECTURE BY MR ROBERT PARKER. At Wellington Mr Robert Parker commenced a scries of six lectures on "Songs and Writers," under the auspices of the Workers' Educational Association. Mr Parker chose Ihe subject of "Folk Songs" for his introductory leelure, and remarked with regret that the standard of songs chosen in New Zealand generally was a very low one, but a distinct effort was being made to improve Ihe quality of the music taught to the children in the schools. It was a matter which had been very near his heart for nearly fifty years, and ho had always felt that boys and girls were able to appreciate good music and should have every opportunity of hearing it. "The earlier types of song," said Mr Parker, "arc known as traditional —folk music does not spring from the heart of the people alone, but from the brain of someone who must be at work with musical power, though perhaps unconscious of it. When and how that understanding b.egan is largely problematical, but they are now ours iO use and enjoy, and folk music includes love songs, lullabies, and pastoral ditties, which are a- melodic harmonies. The first systematic collector of folk songs was a'Sussex clergyman, Rev. John Broadwood, who gave years of time and thought to this work, and in 1843 published 400 examples." The lecturer said the two important points to be considered were: What is the value of this raditional music, and what is its use for educational purposes? Its gieatest value was that which could not be brought, in that it offers something simple and good which can thaw intellectual ice and touch our hearts with its charm. "Its use in education is to give the children an appreciation and knowledge oft what is clean, whole some and lasting, and if this opportunity be used during school life, a charm and delight in good- music is created which will provide happiness in after life," said the speaker. A most important factor to be considered in the education of our young people was what use they would make of their leisure. Not all folk music is fit for children to sing—some of the songs were poor and stupid, the words being mere doggerel, and it was in this regard that Sir Charles Stanford had dono so much to raise the standard of folk songs, for the words he selected are choice and British in their origin. _____