The China Mail, 1929-11-13: ORCHESTRA AT THE QUEEN'S THEATRE

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ORCHESTRA AT THE QUEEN'S THEATRE
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(To the Editor of the "China Mail")

  Sir,－As a good deal of criticism has been levelled at the management of the Queen's Cinema in the past, and the quality of music supplied, I think it only fair to point out that a tremendous change for the better has take place within the last few months.

  The applause which followed "Poet and Peasant" a few nights ago was spontaneous and proved in no uncertain manner that Hong Kong movie fans are capable of showing real appreciation when the occasion demands.

  Mr. Bahaninikoff is to be congratulated on getting together and conducting an orchestra capable of giving us really first-class music.

Yours, etc.,       

Music Lover.

Hong Kong, Nov. 12.

The China Mail, 1925-05-30

The China Mail, 1925-05-30

UNMUSICAL HONGKONG?

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MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA REQUIRED.

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SINGAPORE EXAMPLE

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Excellent Chance for the Colony's Amateurs.

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The setting afoot in Singapore of a municipal music scheme raises once more the question how much longer Hongkong is going to lag behind in the matter of the provision of facilities for the many who enjoy listening to good music.

A recent visitor to the Colony, a musician of no small attainments, who had been very favourably impressed with Hongkong in nearly all respects, confused to great surprise, in the course of an interview with a "China Mail" representative, that there was no municipal orchestra or band here.

In reply to his question as to whether there had been no attempt made to test the demand for the entertainment such an orchestra could give, the reporter informed him that a military band had been put at the disposal of the community for a period last summer and had attracted large numbers over at Kowloon, although it had proved a financial loss for the Kowloon Residents' Association, under whose auspices it had been conducted. The band's selections also had been much appreciated in Statue Square.

The musician, who had had some experience of municipal music at Home and had been in the Colony long enough to gauge the local temperament to a certain extent, was of the opinion that such a scheme could be tun here with little, if any, financial loss, for the reason that the band would be always open to accept engagements. More suitable for Hongkong would be a party of amateurs under a professional conductor, he thought, and in that case the expense involved would be limited practically to expenditure on instruments and salary of the conductor.

He had understood when in Singapore that the authorities were confident the scheme along those lines just started there would put but little tax on the municipal pocket. An ex-military man was to conduct and the majority of other members were recruited from the Police Force. If the talent among members of the Police Force in Hongkong was not sufficient his suggestion was that the scope should be extended to other services. If it was the expense which was keeping the Hongkong Government from setting afoot such a scheme the lead of Singapore would be a better one to follow rather than that the expense of maintaining an entirely professional band should be borne, for he understood that the municipal band at Shanghai, consisting of professionals, had involved heavy loss.

Asked if there was any criterion on which to form a more definite opinion of the music receptivity of Hongkong people, the reporter recalled the concert given by the band of the East Surrey Regiment at the City Hall on April 2 when a very large audience sat out a long programme to the end and obviously enjoyed every minute of it. The works of Beethoven, Tschaikowsky, Wagner, Becker, Ansell and Sullivan had figured in the programme that night. There would be little difficulty in obtaining the services of a very capable leader, the reporter thought, and the opinion of the musician interviewed was that if this was so there was no reason from the observations he had made why a scheme should not be put in hand and prove most successful.

Hong Kong Daily Press, 1870-07-02

Hongkong, July 2nd 1870.

The Hongkong Choral Society certainly deserve well of the community for their efforts to make periodical amateur concerts one of the institutions of the place. In distant parts of the world like this, the opportunity which the generality of people have of hearing anything like good music are necessarily of the most limited description. The love of music in Hongkong has none of the facilities which at home enable everybody who desires it to hear the best music performed by the best performers; but still there is no reason why from time to time a little good music should not be available to the public even out here, and it may be hoped the efforts which are being made by the Choral Society will end in the establishment of a Philharmonic Society, somewhat similar to what which has been formed in Shanghai. The plan which is there adopted might be well worthy of consideration here. The Society consists not only of the performers, but also of the audience - the subscription, which is low, being also the price of entrance to the concerts, of which it is understood four will be given every season, though,  as a rule, about six are given. By this means, the Society numbers some two hundred subscribers, and sufficient funds are, therefore, obtained to pay for the assistance of a talented professional gentleman, who conducts the concerts, as well as to meet the other expenses which have to be incurred. If such a plan were adopted in Hongkong, it would probably be found equally successful. If the subscription were placed at ten dollars, there would, in all likelihood, be at least a hundred or a hundred and fifty people quite willing to pay that amount in return for half a dozen concerts in the course of the season, and thus the Amateur Philharmonic Society would be placed upon something like a permanent footing. and there is no valid reason why in the course of a few years this Society should not be in a position to do greater things than the mere organisation and performance of vocal concerts. The idea of converting the concert-room in the City Hall into a miniature St. Martin's Hall, with a well arranged orchestra and chorus, surmounted b a really good organ, is not too chimerical to commend itself to an enthusiastic mind. It is very true that "you must first catch your hare," but if you picture to yourself the subsequent delight of eating it, the chase will lose none of its interest, xxxxx as there is a definite object to be attained in the catching. If, however, this object in the present case is ever to be realised, this is, if we are ever to have a genuine concert-hall with all appurtenances and means to boot, we must begin, not with the organ, but nearer the beginning. It would, of course, be necessary to introduce some more instrumental music; but if efforts were made with this object, it would probably not be found very difficult. The idea was entertained, before the last two concerts were given, that instrumental music would not be so much appreciated as vocal, but this is proved to be a mistake, ad the discovery will no doubt induce more instrumental amateurs to come forward. The concert which  is announced for Saturday next, is, we notice, to be mixed, so that it is evident attention is already being paid to this point; and it is probable that if in addition, some such plan as above suggested were put in force, an Amateur Philharmonic Society might be organised, such as would be no less creditable to the amateurs than pleasing to the general community.