Description
Object description
whole: the eight images occupy the majority. The title is partially integrated and positioned in the upper fifth, in black
outlined white, and in black, held within a decorative blue inset. The text is separate and placed at the centre and upper centre, in
black. Further text is separate and located in the lower centre, centre left and centre right, as captions, in black held within blue
insets. All set against a white background.
image: six photographs of various musical performances, such as concerts and a choir rehearsal. The upper right image is a half-length
depiction of the conductor, Sir Henry Wood. The upper left image is a full-length depiction of four silhouetted figures, playing various
musical instruments.
text: MUSIC
THE MOSAIC OF THE AIR
TM
Music has always been regarded in Britain as a social pastime rather than as an art to be persued with any intensity of purpose. One of our
characteristics is to be incurably amateur in disposition. Just as we have excelled in team games so in music, we have excelled as a nation
in those aspects of music that require voluntary co-operation and the team spirit. One of the strongest bases of British musical life has
been the local group of music makers spread over the country in organizations of all types and all enjoying complete freedom of action.
Those British composers who may claim their place with the great ones of the world were themselves natural products of a happy music making
community. Our great tradition of choral music is an excellent example of this.
The great revival in British musical life and appreciation belongs to recent years, beginning with the London 'promenade' concerts of Sir
Henry Wood, first conducted in 1895 at the Queen's Hall and still given nightly during the summer for a period of eight or nine weeks.
Since their inception musical life in London has become increasingly rich. The London Symphony, The London Philharmonic, the subscription
concerts under Malcolm Sargent, and the National Gallery concerts started by Dame Myra Hess have catered for an ever growing and
enthusiastic public.
The advent of C.E.M.A. in this war is notable in that it has taken good music to all parts of the country. The personal presence of good
artists has captured the imagination of the public more certainly than recorded music could ever do, although it is not to be denied that
the B.B.C. with both its 'live' and recorded programmes has taken good music into every home. The increasing popularity of provincial
orchestras goes further to prove that the listening habit is becoming more an intelligent awareness and a desire not merely to remain at
home as a listener but a desire to go out and participate in, what has always been for the enthusiast in Britain a communal activity.
Promenade Concert
Sir Henry Wood
Choir rehearsal. New Cathedral Liverpool
City lunch-time concert
Pictorial Review
No. 71
JUNE 29, 1946
Crown Copyright reserved
Army Education, M.E.F.
C.E.M.A.: A wartime creation
First strings of a British Orchestra
Music while you drink
Physical description
Pictorial Review No. 71.