Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MISS NEDDA MORRISON.
and is a big card for the Chickering house.
This young and gifted soprano
In addition to the foregoing artists, the pro-
gram for the forthcoming concerts,although has met with most cordial recep-
nor yet entirely complete, promise to be tions in the several concerts in
i-i £ NEWYQH
such a delightful menu that the only dan- which she has appeared since her
PUBLIC LI
ger is that the hall may prove inadequate recent arrival from Europe. It
to accommodate all who may wish to at- is her intention to make America
the field of her professional career,
tend.
and as there are few countries
where talent is more keenly ap-
MUSICAL APPRECIATION ADVANCING.
preciated, she should succeed in
At least two sides exist to everything. becoming a great favorite.
Miss Morrison is a native of
So in music there are people who cling to
this school or that, even though they can- Scotland, and at an early age en-
tered the Athenaeum College of
not always tell you why they do.
Some will tell you they are charmed only Music, Glasgow, where after four
when listening to a severely classical work years of unremitting application
by some one of the most inspired of the she gained a scholarship as well
masters. You believe them, of course, but as high awards in the various
when you chance to see them at a musical branches of her profession. She
gathering and note with what apparent made her debut in that city in
pleasure they listen to some graceful and opera, oratorio and concert, and
dainty melody, you wonder. Later, when later pursued her musical studies
you see how bored they look as they listen still further at the Royal Academy
to the ponderous strains of a classic so- of Music, London, under William
Shakespeare, where she received
called, you wonder the more.
a
number of medals as marks of
The classic music, no doubt, has a place
distinction
for her proficiency in
to fill, but it is a question if it is the kind
singing,
opera,
and elocution, as
of music best appreciated.
well
as
pianoforte
playing and
It certainly is good for students to make
harmony.
a study of this sort of music and for them
At the St. James and Queen's
to listen to much of it in concerts that are
Halls and Imperial Institute in London, Mr. Shakespeare as an accomplished singer
designed to be educational.
It is also well for the general public to her talents were recognized by most en- of great talent and feeling. We are des-
listen to the classic forms of music, but thusiastic receptions on the various occa- tined to hear much of Miss Morrison in
they will come to enjoy it the more quick- sions on which she appeared. She comes concert and oratorio during the season of
ly, and the more, if not compelled to listen to this country especially recommended by 1897-98.
to too much of it at a time.
Some of the classics, to the untrained best, and when fully understood will be the most celebrated artists, such as Lloyd,
ear, are very wearisome; others may be most appreciated.
Green, Santley and others appear regular-
enjoyed upon first hearing, even though
Speaking along these lines a writer and ly and make known the ballads of native
the sense of musical appreciation in a per- a musician remarks: "There are a good composers. The inauguration in this city
son is scarcely developed. The effort to many persons who pass as musicians, hav- of some such enterprise as this could be
appreciate the higher forms of music ing comparatively little knowledge of the made a great success if taken in hand by
is much like taking disagreeable medi- higher forms of the art. They do quite as those music publishers whose specialty
cine—add a little sweeting and it will much to retard real progress as the knowl- largely is high class ballads. It would be
not seem "half bad."
edge-lacking public. But in this respect union for a common cause, and that a
The general public appreciates best music is not different from other branches worthy one: to elevate the musical tastes
music which will do more to please than of art. Such persons are, however, the of our people and inculcate a love for good
prove a tax upon the mental parts. There worst existing foes to right advancement.
music in ballad form,
is much good music which, while written
o
"True musical appreciation is advanc-
BURMEISTER IN NEW YORK.
in classic form, is enjoyable in every ing, somewhat slowly, to be sure, but the
Mr. Richard Burmeister, the celebrated
way. Public performers should take more right way is being followed. Each year
pains to introduce oftener music of this finds the number of earnest men and pianist, composer and teacher who for
sort into programs.
women added to the ranks greatly multi- some years past was connected with the
Musicians who have come to have a full plied. Best of all to note, the public is Peabody Conservatory of Music in Balti-
appreciation of the classic forms are apt to growing rapidly to appreciate something more, will hereafter reside permanently
forget how many there are who fail to see better than piano pieces and ear-tickling in New York. Mr. Burmeister enjoys an in-
ternational reputation as a leading artist;
the least bit of beauty in what they find so songs."
he has appeared in the principal cities of
much.
©
Europe and America with the greatest suc-
These musicians wonder why it is their
WHAT NEW YORK NEEDS.
performances are so little appreciated. It
What New York badly needs just now to cess. At his last appearance, as soloist of
is because they have not taken into consid- offset the demoralizing influence of music the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the audi-
eration the fact that there are many of hall songs is a series of ballad concerts at ence gave him a rousing ovation. Mr.
their listeners who have not yet passed the popular prices, such as have been in vogue Burmeister is welcome to the second city
kindergarten stage of musical develop- in London for the past thirty years, and of the world; his exceptional talents and
ment.
well and widely known as the Boosey bal- unquestionable ability will receive from
If classical music is to be the sort most lad concerts. It would be the means of our people that consideration and support
commonly appreciated, then musical per- generating appreciation for the high class they fully merit.
©
formers must exercise some pains to lead ballad, and would moreover encourage na-
A comic opera more than 100 years old
the masses in what is unquestionably the tive composers—who are at present com-
soon be revived in Paris. It is called
right direction.
pelled to turn out "pot boilers" if they will
"A Night with Frederick," the music hav-
It is the same with music as with all wish to make a living—to aim higher. At ing been composed by Coupigni. The
things, the highest forms are always the the Boosey concerts in London, some of hero of the plot is Frederick the Great.