4 AUGUST 1967, Page 24

Glockenfest

Sir: Mr Reid (28 July) obviously has a very proper contempt for Prom audiences. They 'cheer,' utter 'connoisseur giggles,' and 'bark unintelligible slogans' Mr Reid is, however, generous enough to concede that we Prommers 'seem knowledgeable,' and 'when the music's on, behave like angels.' I wonder how many of the audience of 22 July rejoice at their sudden rise through Mr Reid's celestial order.

What does Mr Reid prefer? The delicate spine- less applause and mesmerised boredom of the audiences in so many English concert halls and opera houses? I for one am always thrilled by the atmosphere of excited and intelligent interest among the Arena audience at a Prom.

But there is a more important matter here. One of music's most essential associations is with cor- porate festivity, and by its nature music is at all levels capable of inducing what Mr Reid calls 'ritualistic high jinks,' or what others might call 'a party atmosphere.' The opening of the Promenade Season, with all that it entails in terms of musical enjoyment, surely merits celebration. This is no 'hoary lark,' but a response to the perennial invitation of Orpheus. Shakespeare would place Prommers in the highest category of music-

lovers: for of none of them can it be said, as alas it can of some critics, 'the motions of his spirit are dull as night.'

I. H. Pritlove Brotherton House, North Grange Road, Leeds 6