Welsh Journals

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development, and I do not think it is too much to say that the department is now firmly established and flourishing. It is gratifying to report that in the past year there has been an increase in the number of students, particulars of which may be tabulated as follows:- (a) Students in the Music Department 40 (b) Teachers' Training Department: (i) attending lectures 40 (ii) sitting professional examination 25 (c) Candidates for final examinations in the College Certificate courses set up two years ago 13 Number of successful candidates 11 There has been a substantial increase in the num- ber of students studying string-playing. The stand- ard of playing in the college is constantly improving, and many students are now sufficiently proficient to take part in the weekly concerts. This enables us to extend the scope of the weekly concert programmes so as to include quartets, quintets, etc. The work of students in the Teachers' Training Department has been highly satisfactory, the students showing a real enthusiasm and taking keen interest in their work. To these students, music is an optional subject, and in this connection, it is worth noting that the number of Training Depart- ment students registering for music has increased from 6 in 1921 to 40 in 1925. The weekly concerts have reached a total of 93. These, together with the open lectures, 20 of which have been given by me during the session, are having a far-reaching effect in cultivating the tastes and widening the musical outlook of the students and others who attend. During the session there has been a good deal of music making at the college, including:- An impressive performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion and other lesser choral works; Two Carol Evenings, in December; Three orchestral concerts, including a children's orchestral lecture-concert on March 20th, at which 600 children from the local schools were present; A visit from the Halle Orchestra (70 performers) with Sir Hamilton Harty as conductor; A visit from Sir Hugh Allen for two lectures; A miniature Welsh Festival in which, happily, the Music Department, the Cymric Society and the Welsh Folk-Song Society co-operated. This ex- tended over two days, and included valuable lectures by Dr. Lloyd Williams and others, and folk-song illustrations by a number of highly competent folk-song singers. Six notable concerts under the auspices of the Musical Club. These concerts gave our music students the opportunity of hearing Mr. Harold Samuel, the London String Quartet, and many other famous artistes. The growth and consistent labours of the Orchestral Society are a special feature in the year's work. The Orchestra now numbers about 35 players, who re- hearse weekly. We have players in all departments of woodwind and brass, whose progress is only arrested by the want of a capable teacher. I hope this difficulty may soon be got over. The prinoipal works studied included the accompaniments of St. Matthew Passion, the Hymn of Praise and other smaller works, Symphonies by Beethoven, Haydn, and Schubert, several suites for strings by classical and modern writers, as well as a number of orchestral novelties. On May 20th the Bangor Orchestra, with the assistance of a few Aberystwyth and Liverpool players, were engaged for the Eryri Festival at Carnarvon and acquitted themselves with credit to all concerned. The Chamber Music Class is a weekly fixture of great value. Here, examples of chamber musio are studied in detail, and students who are deemed to be sufficiently advanced are encouraged to perform works within their powers in the presence of the whole class. As usual a good deal of attention has been paid to extra-mural work. A Musical Club has been established at Carnarvon. The work of the past year in that town included four public lecture-con- certs and seven concerts to the school children. During the year violin classes have been established at Carnarvon and Holywell, and it is hoped that these will be extended to other towns and villages in North Wales during the coming session. To sum up: We look forward hopefully to the future. Within the college, the subject of music is constantly growing in importance and interest as an integral feature in the college curriculum. The work of the Choral and Orchestral Societies, and the weekly concerts are making a definite impression on the minds of the general body of students, and giving them a standard of judgment and criticism which should do something towards raising the general conception of music in the districts in Wales where they will be settled later. There are healthy and encouraging signs also beyond the College walls. Throughout the North Wales counties one can observe- I.-An increased enthusiasm for instrumental music (tiny orchestras are springing up here and there). 2.-A desire for greater knowledge evinced by the establishment of violin classes, school orchestras and the interest shown in the Council's lecture-concerts, etc. Literary and debating societies and other bodies are beginning to regard a musical lecture or lecture-concert as an indispensable feature of their year's work. 3. — Choral societies and especially chapel and church choirs are mobilising their forces to better purposes than heretofore. 4. — The County Festivals are becoming more and more firmly established, and eisteddfodau are slowly showing signs of an awakening with regard to better choice of competition music. The necessity of re- form in this matter should be urged by us as leaders on every possible occasion. I need only add that the one Tutorial Class in music within the college area is progressing favour- ably, and that several applications have been re- ceived for one year classes in the coming session. In contemplating the future I regard the following as perhaps the most urgent and practical directions.