Until recently music has been largely an imported commodity. Most of our musical life centred round the visits to this country of artists from abroad. In other words, it was imposed on, rather than growing within, the community.

In order to clarify the present situation, when we are being thrown back entirely on our own resources, let us examine the change that has taken place. For this purpose I bracket all visiting artists, although, naturally, they have differed vastly in the amount each has contributed to musical life here. The fact remains, however, that we have depended on them for much of our inspiration and general impetus. We have adopted their views, and worried them quite unfairly for advice and opinions. We have regarded their short seasons as awe inspiring performances and themselves as oracles. As each one left us we have slumped, musically. And then, after a judicious interval (determined by the impressario), the next artist was announced with bigger and bolder headlines.