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From the Archive: July 1931

2021-06-22T16:16:00

ArchiveJuly

Violinist–conductor Philip Cathie laments the decline of the amateur player, possibly a consequence of the growth in recorded music over the past decade

Wake Up, Amateurs!

A CALL TO AMATEUR MUSICIANS

BY PHILIP CATHIE, F.R.A.M.

I am one of those who have always been optimistic about the possible effects of broadcasting and gramophones on the future of music, believing that these things must inevitably raise the standard of taste revealed by audiences, thus proving beneficial in the long run to both music and musicians.

However this may be, one unlooked-for consequence of these inventions has been the decline of amateurism which they have brought in their train––the more unexpected because one would have imagined that the increased facilities provided for hearing the best music performed by the best players would have spurred amateurs on to greater and more serious efforts. That this is not the case, however, is made evident by the reports of teachers and dealers from all over the country…

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