Greenroom Gossip

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1539, 23 October 1919, Page 32

Greenroom Gossip

MUSIC AND THE STATE.

MR. ALFRED HILL’S VIEWS. Mr. Alfred Hill, who was conductor of the Christchurch Exhibition Orchestra, was in Wellington last week for private reasons. He is now Assistant-Director of the State of New South Wales conservatorium. This institution (Mr. Hill confided to a representative of “The Post”) is doing a remarkable work in elevating musical taste in Australia.- It was the first of its kind in the British Empire to be taken up by the State —not without fear and trembling at first. Now it is nearing the point of paying its way, and presently will be showing a profit. It has 1000 students and 60 professors. In addition to the thorough teaching the conservatorium imparts to those who make music their profession, or who embrace the art for its own sake with no idea of pecuniary return, it is doing a great work in educating audiences. Pan may play his pipes solitary beneath some drooping willow in the glade if he will, But as a general rule musicians like an audience. But. audiences are not always of one spirit nor of one mind. They also need educating—and, given the power, the master musicians can do this and move them as he will, play upon them as on an instrument of ten strings. That is the kind of work M. Henri Verbrugghen is doing in Australia through his string quartette and through his orchestra. The mind of this one man dominates these two powerful musical forces — as Mr. Hill sees it. Started with State aid (although private monetary assistance was also available at. the time), the conservatorium first set up for New South Wales a high standard of musical taste. It was M. Verbrugghen’s office to keep that standard aloft, and he has done so valiantly, and with wonderful results, according to Mr. Hill. Through the quartette, which gives virtually a weekly concert, and the orchestra, which plays not only in Sydney but in its suburbs, and beyond — Melbourne, Newcastle and Brisbane included —Australians now have every opportunity of cultivating a high taste in music. - Mr. Hill, being a native of this country, knows the trend of New Zealand musical taste, and has personal knowledge of the sympathetic character of New Zealand audiences, through having been conductor of the great Exhibition Orchestra. He is very anxious that the Verbrugghen Orchestra should come to this Dominion for its own sake, but more so for the sake of the people of New Zealand. The orchestra will set up here a standard. It will enable people who do not have opportunity of hearing such great combinations as Beecham, Wood and Richter conducted to be able, after hearing it, to say, “Now we know what good music is, how it moves, delights, exalts us; and we will no more call good that which is not good.” It is understood that an effort will be made to induce the Verbrugghen Orchestra to come to New Zealand. But as it is a “State-owned” concern, the matter may be one largely of negotiations between the Dominion and the Government of New South Wales, backed by such guarantees as will make the visit a success to the extent that the orchestra is secured against any loss on the venture. Mr. G. D. Portus, who, with Mr. Hill, is responsible for the launching of this fine movement, states that a strong Wellington committee is at present arranging a guarantee of £6OOO for New Zealand. Mr. Gladstone Hill, a highly capable organiser, has been appointed manager for the orchestra’s tour of the Dominion, which is scheduled for the Christmas vacation.