Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MUSIC STUDY'S TRAGIC SIDE.
SCHOOL FOR ORCHESTRAL MUSIC.
The truth is mighty uncomfortable reading
The scheme that is now on foot for forming
at times, but nevertheless it is refreshing a permanent orchestra in New York encour-
when there is a purpose behind it. Some time ages me to speak of an idea that has been in
since L. Liebling made the following tren- my mind for some years—namely, the forma-
chant remarks in a German paper anent the tion of a school for orchestral music and or-
army of people who journey abroad to Euro- chestral playing.
pean shores for a "mifsical atmosphere," at
Every gallery of pictures in the world is to
the same time expecting to win fame and for- some extent a nursery for young artists—the
tune. "Superficial writers," he says, "and guardians of these places encourage art.
those concerned, do not see the tragedy which Why should it not be so with an orchestra,
is constantly being enacted before our very especially an official one? New York has a
eyes, here in Berlin, by the legion of foreign great opportunity. There is not in the
students, who come here each autumn, remain world as yet, to my knowledge, an institution
a year or two, cast a glance into the wonder- devoted first and last to the development of
ful world of music, strive frantically to become orchestral music.
inhabitants of the enchanted sphere, realize
At the Royal Academy of Music in London,
its inaccessibility, sigh from the depths of a where I spent my student days, the orchestra
sickened heart, sink helplessly into the quag- was looked upon as a sort of harmless neces-
mire of disappointment and mediocrity, and sary, just as certain long-eared animals are
fade from out of the throng that stumbles on by farmers. And certainly any student who
blindly, only to meet a similar fate in the end. talked seriously of devoting his life to orches-
The poor blinded moths flicker about the tral playing was considered little better than
light until they are burned. What youth, such creatures. Solo playing was then, and,
energy, health, enthusiasm, love, hope and— as far as I can see, is now, the end and aim
money, are wasted each year in the never- of every executive student. On the other
ceasing, gigantic struggle!
hand, what does the world say? What does
"We thousands are all working to reach an the composer say? What does the art critic
eminence, on which only three or four can say? Take all else, but leave us the orches-
stand, on which not more than a dozen have tra; for the sake of that we have endured all
stood, since music first became an art. Dot- things, even the musical star, his long hair
ing mothers, fond fathers, loving brothers and and his everlasting egotism.
sisters, are left behind and half-forgotten, in
Yes, New York now has the opportunity to
order to gratify an ambition which, in most form a school of music in which the orches-
cases, amounts to nothing more than the tra shall not be last and lowest, but first and
mere selfish desire to shine forth from the highest—a school of music wherein orches-
rank and file of our fellow-creatures, to taste tral music from both the composer's and per-
the seductive notoriety. Few of us feel the former's point of view shall be developed
heat of the sacred flame, burning into and to its utmost; a school which to the lover of
destroying our peace of mind, when we do music shall be as the art gallery is to the
not play, or sing, or compose.
lover of painting. By this I mean that it is
"Those who feel no such inner spur, commit not to be a place where one or two exciting,
a crime against their family and themselves, expensive and little understood concerts are
when they devote their life to following a pro- heard during the year, but a place where
fession which can offer them nothing but the good music may be enjoyed every day; where
leavings of others, of greater ones than they. all the masters' worthy works may be heard
Let them become good wives and intelligent truthfully, unostentatiously and systemati-
mothers; striving merchants and sensible cit- cally performed, and a score hired to follow
izens. Why follow a pursuit in which there them with; a place where the young com-
is hardly any money to be gained, and which poser who proves himself worthy may hear
demands nothing but sacrifices, without re- his studies in the as yet little known art of
turning any benefits? Some of us are not fit orchestration given a fair trial; where young
to do anything but bask in the sunshine and performers may receive a thorough training
dream. The possession of those characteris- before going forth to form other orchestras
tics does not always denote that we are ge- elsewhere.
niuses. -They denote that either of our pa-
This scheme would need a building for its
rents, or we ourselves, deserve severe and effective trial, also a staff of professors. But
constant whippings."
it would be able to look to students' fees as
•
©
well as door money as a help to its support,
The success which has attended the season and, further, it would relieve the manage-
of grand opera just closed at the Metropoli- ment from the heavy burden of paying every
tan Opera House is said to have been a sur- member of the orchestra.
I have here sketched out the scheme
prise even to the managers. They knew that
they had not a band of singers who would in roughly and hurriedly, but I think any lover
any way compare with the noble army of last of music must see it is worthy of serious con-
year. They also knew that this town is very sideration. New York is a great commercial
fastidious in the matter of its music, being center in a great and growing country; the
willing to pay high for the best, but insisting need for good orchestral players is growing
on the very best. Yet in spite of everything great and rapidly all over this great country.
the series has been very remunerative. Un- Let New York take time by the forelock and
doubtedly this goes to show that the opera is show the world that it means to cater to the
needed as a feature of the gay season. It is artistic as well as the material needs of the
an opportunity that is required by fashiona- nation, and by this novel, bold and neces-
sary work prove itself to be in truth a great
ble society.
musical center that even European musicians
must look to as containing something besides
the dollars.
Alfred Walker.
©
THEODORE THOMAS IN NEW YORK.
On the programs of the various concerts to
be given here by Mr. Thomas, there are a
number of compositions the performance of
which will possess special degrees of interest.
Such works as Richard Strauss' " D o n
Juan," his " Thus Spake Zarathustra," Gla-
zonnow's " Ballet Suite," Rimsky-Korsakow's
"Scheherazade," Cesar Franck's " Les
Eolides" and his " Le Chasseur Maudit"
represent the highest expression of modern
music. Some of them have never been played
here; others so recently that the unavoidable
test of comparison will add zest to their per-
formance.
There is a possibility that a symphony by
Mr. Harry Rowe Shelley will be played by
Mr. Thomas. This is to be desired not only
in recognition of Mr. Shelley's standing as a
composer, but in rebuke of the apathy shown
toward home composers by local orchestras.
Of the extra concerts announced, one is to
be devoted to French music, and Raoul
Pugno, the pianist, and Alexandre Guilmant,
the organist, are to be the soloists. Cesar
Franck's "Variations Symphonique" for
piano and orchestra and Saint-Saens' Fifth
Concerto will be introduced to the American
public by Mr. Pugno, and Mr. Guilmant will
be heard in three of his organ and orchestra
compositions.
©
Paderewski has been suffering from an at-
tack of influenza, and this has delayed the
completion of the long-expected Polish opera.
He is, however, now better, and, although
his projected tours through Scandinavia and
Spain have been abandoned, he will play soon
at the Gewandhaus concert, Leipsic, under
the conductorship of M. Nikisch. He will
re-visit England in May, and his British agent,
Mr. W. Adlington, has then arranged a pro-
vincial tour for him.
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