Music Society

The motion debated at the next meeting was "This House considers dictatorship to be the most efficient form of government". Mr. J. M. Pickard, proposing, listed three possible forms of government and declared that British democracy was so advanced and successful because it was inefficient. Opposing the motion, Mr. C. J. Parker quoted numerous examples to show the faults of dictatorships. Seconders were Messrs. C. J. Territt and M. J. Poynor, and the motion was carried.

The last motion of the term to be debated was "This House believes that to obtain peace we must prepare for war." The proposer, Mr. J. W. Lowe, vehemently denounced disarmament, which he thought could lead to war. He was ably seconded by Mr. J. G. Fairclough. Mr. T. D. F. Anderson, opposing, maintained that preparation for war led to war. Mr. I. Kirkus seconded the opposition. The motion was carried by a large majority.

The last meeting of the term took the form of "talk yourself out of this" situations and impromptu debates. Messrs. J. M. D. Kirk and R. J. Hawkins successfully found explanations for being discovered in peculiar situations. Mr. J. M. Atkinson was not so fortunate. All these victims were examined by a panel of three.

At an extraordinary meeting of the Society held near the end of term a new Constitution was drawn up and will take effect next term.

Our thanks are extended to the retiring President, Mr. D. L. Brown, for the work he has done for the Society. T.E.H.S.

Mr. D. G. Cummin, Collins, Brisby and myself were invited to take part in a debate at Ampleforth College on 27th November. After being most hospitably entertained by the Head Master, we went into the Upper Library, where Collins and I proposed that "This House considers all those who uphold the policy of Unilateral Disarmament cowards or fools". N. Lorriman and D. T. Havard opposed. On being thrown open to the House, the debate became extremely lively, as the system of questioning speakers was used to the full. At the final count the visitors carried the motion by 77 votes to 27. So ended a most enjoyable evening : our thanks are due to the Head Master of Ampleforth and Bro. Francis Stevenson, O.S.B., for their kind invitation. D.L.B.

THE MUSIC SOCIETY

Chairman: MR. F. WAINE. Secretary: J. R. ANFIELD. Choral Secretary: W. E. JONES. Orchestral Secretary: J. C. BRISBY. Gramophone Librarian: J. G. AINLEY. House Representatives:

The Grove: J. C. G. WHEELER. The Manor: D. K. HIRST. Queen's: P. HUNT. The Rise: I. Knucus. School House: G. W. A. R. ALDERSON. Temple: I. T. HUNTER. Additional Committee Member: A. HARDMAN.

The great event this term has been the move of the Music Department into 29 Clifton. The centralisation of music teaching, practice, 21

rehearsals, meetings of the Society and concerts has had a most stimulating effect on everybody connected with music.

Two meetings of the Society had in mind forthcoming concerts in York, for which they were designed as preparation. One evening Mr. Waine gave an introduction to the Brahma Piano Concerto in B flat which was being played by Julius Katchen at a Lemare concert. J. R. Anfield gave a lecture on Dohnanyi and his music, with special reference to the Variations on a Nursery Theme, which featured in another Lemare concert.

T. P. N. Fawcett showed himself to have the right qualities for an informal lecturer, a well-stocked mind and a light-hearted critical approach. His lecture on Gilbert and Sullivan was a model of its kind.

Mr. Hayes found the half-hour allotted to him insufficient to do more than skim the surface of Britten's opera "Peter Grimes". Nevertheless, the short introduction he found time for and the musical illustrations he played were sufficient to whet the appetite of many members for another lecture by him on a kindred subject.

Hirst's lecture on Chinese music was, like Fawcett's, carefully prepared and well put over. Unlike Fawcett, however, he had chosen a subject so out of the ordinary that in the short time available his audience scarcely had time to acclimatise themselves to the strange idioms and sonorities of the music of this ancient civilisation.

Brisby packed enough material into his half-hour with the Junior section to last out a term of lectures. His subject matter was forcefully and wittily presented, and he rounded off his lecture by performing with I. T. Hunter (piano) a violin sonata by Handel.

At the final meeting the acoustics of the big music room were more thoroughly tested with chamber music, for which the room of such gracious proportions is admirably suited. Jack Glasby (piano), Ronald Easey (violin), Bernard Roberts (viola) and Helen Procter ('cello) delighted an attentive audience with a series of solo items, culminating in the C minor piano quartet by Faure. The Society was very lucky to be able to call on the services of this enthusiastic quartet—we hope they will come again.

F.W.

THE INFORMAL CONCERT OF THE MUSIC SOCIETY

A joint meeting of the Music Society was held in the Memorial Hall on 5th November, when an informal concert was given by members of the School. A well-balanced programme had been arranged.

The concert began with an orchestral piece appropriate to the night, "Music for the Royal Fireworks", by Handel.

A number of piano solos were played, the most notable being Anfield's rendering of "Rhapsody", by Dohnanyi.

The octet, which consisted of seven singers and Anfield as conductor (who also sang), gave us four songs, in which the excellent

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