Sir, - I write concerning the RTE Authority chairman Farrel Corcoran's remarks after being "particularly moved" by the stirring performance of the Ride of the Valkyries during the National Symphony Orchestra's visit to Hong Kong recently. He stated:
And to see such a huge turnout of young Chinese people in this hall raises all sorts of questions about how we manage music in Ireland, and about the old traditions of elitism and snobbery which are so hard to break down (Irish Times, August 13th).
Right on, Mr. Corcoran, help to break down at least some of this elitism and snobbery associated with classical (meaning first class) music. Roll over Beethoven, Mozart, Wagner, Delius, Greig and all the Greats' CDs, to the programmes that young people listen to on radio. Open a chink in the curtain of young Irish people's needless ignorance of good music by titillating their dormant musical taste buds with a little quality music each day.
Install some young mouldbreaker in RTE to revolutionise the predictable bland, "music" on the daily play list. As it is, the only snatches of classical music many young people hear are those used as jingles in the ad breaks. If classical music is not played in their homes, in schools or on radio and TV, how will they hear it to appreciate what they've been missing?
The enjoyment and appreciation of all good music, including; contemporary and classical, is a priceless quality to foster in young people. Perhaps then, in their later, often careworn years, these same people may discover that "there is one thing the world with all its rottenness cannot take from us, and that is the deep and abiding joy and consolation perpetuate in great music. The debt of humanity to its great music makers can never be paid, and though most of them went hungry of the things of this world, their need is not to be reckoned in gold" (from Delius as I Knew Him, by Eric Fenby). - Yours, etc.
Main Street, Ennistymon, Co. Clare.