Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
TELEPHONE
NUMBER.
1745.-EIQHTEENTH
STREET.
The musical supplement to The Review is
published on the first Saturday of each month.
T H E "musical" novel as a factor in rais-
* ing the standard of musical knowl-
edge and culture, has been the subject of
some discussion in recent issues of the
Times of this city. The point is well
^
the interest manifested in this
jeot^ could be turned into more profit-
able channels were readers of so-called
musical novels to be more catholic in their
reading and not confine themselves merely
to this exact form of literature, but to in-
clude in their repertoire such works* as
would help to increase a knowledge of a
better appreciation of music. Many read-
ers, tempted by the hope that the long
sought for musical atmosphere would be
found in certain novels from "Chas. Au-
chester" down the long list to "Evelyn In-
nes" and "Miss Traumerei,"—all pretty
stories more or less cleverly told and
many worthy a re-reading—are realizing
how utterly valueless they are in fulfilling
the object the reader had in mind when
purchasing them.
It has well been said that there are two
ways, bo.th necessary ones, and fortunately
both partaking of the nature of "the prim-
rose path" of cultivating an intelligent ap-
preciation of the best music. The first
step is to hear all the good concerts one
possibly can, a plan very easy to carry in-
to effect in this our day and generation.
But this alone is quite insufficient, and we
come to the second step in our plan, and
we think the most important—the reading
and re-reading of some or all of the many
good books on music which have made
their appearance in the last few years—
books written not for the musician but for
the music lover.
How much more satisfactory this than
wasting one's time in ascertaining whether
or not certain novels are steeped in a mus-
ical atmosphere. Let us look up some of
the many of the delightful books now be-
fore the public—books that are written, not
for the musician, but for the music lover—
and a reward will be forthcoming that is
proportioned to the careful and intelligent
use of the books themselves.
Music is an art governed by certain fixed
rules; rules which may be evaded to a cer-
tain extent, or modified or improved by
composers of true genius. Still a sym-
phony, for instance, is not such unless it
fulfills certain laws governing its construc-
tion. Hence the simpler rules governing
form, rhythm, melody, harmony, etc., and
even some of the principles of orchestra-
tion, must be understood before the con-
cert-goer is capable of judging of the merits
of a composition—old or new; provided he
wishes to assert an opinion better worth
while than it is pretty, or that he was much
Should there not be a certain consistency,
pleased by it.
even in the wildest of romancing? Granted
By reading works not too technical, but that the "structural changes" might pro-
which tend to convey a comparatively duce the voice, could hearing a few airs
clear idea of music and musical form, a played on the fiddle produce the singer;
greater enjoyment of the concert or opera give the requisite knowledge of breathing,
is possible, because the secrets of musical phrasing, tone-production and delivery, to
structure and expression are being mas- say nothing of sentiment and musical feel-
tered.
ing, which are largely gifts of nature?
The growing culture of our country,
Perhaps it is absurd to seriously discuss
particularly in the field of music, is signifi- the matter at all, and I do so only to point
cantly manifest in the growing demand for out this newest glaring instance of the way
and appreciation of such works as treat of non-musical literary folk bungle when they
the development of music, the orchestra chance to touch upon musical themes.
and all descriptions of musical subjects.
*
It demonstrates that the people are evolut- T H E following general outline of the ses-
ing from unreality to realities, from fiction
'
sions of the Music Teachers' National
to fact—that this form of literature is no Association during its twenty-third annual
longer a se*aled book to an army of music convention to be held in Cincinnati, June
lovers who formerly looked upon such 21, 22 and 23 will be read with some in-
works as dry and uninteresting.
terest :
*
The first morning session will be de-
Q PEAKING on this subject of "musical" voted to addresses of welcome, the Presi-
^
novels, some of the blunders made by dent's address, reports of the Secretary
the authors when referring to musical sub- and Treasurer, and a short business ses-
jects are really humorous. Ernest Shriver sion, after which there will be two addresses
recently instanced an illustration in con- on topics of general musical interest, by
nection with a sensational short story enti- two musicians of national reputation. Ad-
tled " The Cry of Fate, "which appeared in journment at noon.
Jerome K. Jerome's English magazine, the . The afternoon will be devoted to an
Idler. A young man is informed by a spe- organ recital on the great organ in the
cialist that he has a throat disease that will celebrated Springer Music Hall, followed
kill him in six months, with the extraordi- by a miscellaneous concert to be given
nary information added that in three either in the Odeon or in Music Hall, ac-
months structural changes in his throat cording to the number of members present.
will give the doomed man " the most won- This afternoon concert will embrace the
derful tenor voice that has been heard this performance of a group of piano composi-
century." His prediction proves true to tions of American composers by a pianist
the letter; the hero of the story, through of national reputation, the singing of two
his singing, gains fame and fortune and groups of American songs by prominent
dies on schedule time. There is a love epi- vocalists, and the performance of two en-
sode interwoven of which we need take no semble numbers for piano and strings.
account.
The evening concert will present or-
The whole thing is wildly fanciful, and chestral works.
The second day's session will begin with
perhaps, open to criticism on general
grounds, but even supposing that the main departmental meetings of the teachers of
motive of the tale is admissable, (and it is the different branches of musical instruc-
no worse than hundreds turned out by tion, in different rooms, each division by
story-writers straining after the astonish- itself, and conducted by a teacher of na-
ing and the weird) there is a serious defect sional reputation. These sessions will ap-
in the way the strictly musical side of the peal to every professional musician, for the
matter is handled. The specialist (who exchange of ideas in teaching was con-
meanwhile, is getting great professional sidered the raison d'etre of the Association
satisfaction from watching the progress of by those who are responsible for its ex-
this rare case) immediately upon discover- istence.
ing the trouble, takes the young man to a
The latter part of the morning session
violinist (not a voice teacher) who gives will be devoted to addresses and discus-
him "lessons" by playing "concert airs" sions upon topics of general interest to all
to him upon the violin. By the time the classes of musicians, by men whose names
"voice" has arrived, which it does prompt- are household words in the musical world.
ly at the end of the three months as the Adjournment at noon.
doctor had predicted, the learner is all
The afternoon concert will be of the
ready to step upon the platform and devote same general character as that of the pre-
the remaining three months of his exist- vious day, beginning with an organ reci-
ence to ravishing the ears of the musical tal, which will be followed by piano solos,
public and gathering in the guineas, which vocal solos and chamber music.
he proceeds to do. From the moment he
The pianist of the afternoon will be Mr.
could sing, "till the time when he stood Hans von Schiller, of Chicago, assisted by
before the vast multitude at the Albert Messrs. Esser and Bruecker, (violin and
Hall and sang to them in a way they had 'cello), also of Chicago, in the performance
never heard before, his progress was a tri- of a new trio for piano and strings, by
umphal march." And mind you, he had Hugo Kaun, of Milwaukee.
never sung a note in his life before he had
The evening concert will consist of or-
met that specialist and that violinist!
chestral works, the performance of a piano