Music Trade Review
Issue: 1898 Vol. 26 N. 14 - Page 5
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MUSIC IN POLITICAL ECONOMY.
It has been asked in political economy
whether the agencies of transportation, the
liberal professions, the commercial ones, the
public offices, music and the other fine arts,
have a productive character, or whether they
do not maintain a legion of drones.
There is a character of production pertain-
ing to music, though an indirect one. Musical
taste developed in a nation is an excellent
economic agent, which adds to the harmony
of the world in more than a musical sense.
Music cheers and refines man, thus keeping
him, at least momentarily, from corroding
passions; it contributes to his health and
longevity through the proper use in singing
of the respiratory organs; it is efficacious in
the treatment of insanity and other diseases;
it serves to encourage the weary, footsore,
and heartsick soldier.
Music is a living source of social pleasure;
it soothes the violent impulses of man, digni-
fies his religious and civic ceremonies, and
educates his esthetic tastes;—in a word, it
makes him better and happier. Train your
children in music; their life and that of their
fellow men will be made pleasanter. A child
educated exclusively in literature and the
sciences does not become so healthy, moral,
and cheerful a citizen. The well and happy
citizen adds to the peace and power of the
nation, and so creates conditions of produc-
tivity.
Is the engineer who plans the locomotive
less productive than the workman who puts
the parts together? Is the architect who as-
certains the proportions and selects the ma-
terials of an edifice less useful than the brick-
layer? And is the musician useless who helps
man to lift himself above himself and indi-
rectly enables him to do more and better
work?
Some philosophers call music a useless art,
in the blind and brutal spirit of the old Dutch
settlers, who used to regard school expenses
as an unnecessary burden, and the school-
master as a leech. Better reasoning would
lead to the conclusion that the cultivation of
art proves the nobility of man, and his superi-
ority over animals and savages.
The civilized man produces and consumes
the things which are indispensable to his ex-
istence, and in conformity with his tastes.
All his needs and tastes, artistic ones for
example, may not be inborn; but neither is
the need of soap inborn. Not many centuries
ago that article was unknown. Once, a watch
was a rare object of luxury; then, men and
women dispensed with stockings, laces, silks,
and underclothing. Industrial progress and
the development of wealth have brought into
common use many things formerly regarded
as luxuries. Sugar, spices, coffee, glass and
carpets are no longer regarded as extrava-
gant. If men could get along with bread,
meat, and the simplest clothing and tools, no
doubt they could procure a greater quantity
of such objects by neglecting art entirely.
But civilized people do not live by bread and
meat alone.
, Humanity has immaterial needs. The cra-
vings of the artistic senses are so keenly felt
by some highly developed organisms that the
expression "hungry for music" ceases to be
HAROLD McQEE.
Master Harold Mc-
Gee, the present solo
soprano boy of the Ca-
thedral, Garden City,
Long Island, is the
happy possessor of a
very rich and sympa-
thetic mezzo-soprano
voice. He has held
his present position a
little more than a year,
and it is to be hoped
that he will retain his
gifted voice for some
time to come. By
faithful, earnest and
constant study, as well
as strict attention to
his duties, he has won
the admiration and af-
fection of all his fellow
choristers, as well as
those in authority at
the Cathedral. One of
Harold McGee's chief
powers lies in the high-
ly dramatic passionate
force that he is able to
put into his vocal
work. One should hear
this lad sing "With
Verdure Clad," Hay-
den, to thoroughly ap-
preciate his great abil-
HAROLD MCGEE, Solo Soprano Boy—Cathedral Choir, Garden City, L. I.
ity. He is a resident of the Borough of having first seen the light of day in the City
Brooklyn, has just passed his fifteenth year, of New York.
a metaphor with them. The character of the
pastimes of a nation is an indication of its
moral and mental culture. Man requires
more varied and ennobling recreation and
amusement as he advances in civilization.
Granting that artistic pleasures are not ab-
solutely necessary, they would still remain a
great blessing. Humanity owes its thanks to
music for so much that makes life worth liv-
ing, and musical art, therefore, should be
recognized as a valuable agent in the science
of political economy.
Louis Lombard.
O
OFFERS A PRIZE OF $250.
The Musical Art Society of New York, in
pursuance of its aim to foster a taste for what
is purest and best in "a capella," choral
music, desires not only to give adequate per-
formance of the masterpieces of this charac-
ter already extant, but also to encourage fur-
ther development of this field.
The society therefore offers a prize, given
by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Butler McCagg, and
which it is proposed to make an annual one,
of $250.00, for the best composition for
mixed voices, unaccompanied.
The conditions for the first competition
are: Any resident of the United States or
Canada for five years can compete. The
work shall be for a chorus of about fifty
voices set to sacred words. The composer's
name is not to appear and the composition
must have a suitable motto. The prize work
will be performed by the Musical Art Society,
but the composer is to retain all rights. The
time of performance should not exceed fifteen
minutes.
The compositions offered will be submitted
to the three following judges, and should be
addressed to the president of the society, Dr.
Frederick E. Hyde, No. 20 West Fifty-third
street, New York. The judges are to be
George W. Chadwick, Asger Hamerik and
the conductor of the Musical Art Society.
All competing compositions must be in the
hands of the president before September 1,
1898.
The Bos.ton Symphony Orchestra carried
by storm the large audience at the Metro-
politan House Thursday night of last week.
Such remarkably fine playing has rarely been
heard in the city. The concert closed the
most successful season ever given here by the
Boston musicians, and demonstrated how
firmly they are now established in the esteem
of the local public. Conductor Paur and his
gifted band are to be congratulated.
0
Paderewski is slated to play in London to-
day, April 2d, at the opening of the New
Erard Hall. He will be heard later in
Dublin.
©
Pol Plancon is studying German in order
to sing Wagner roles. He had better be care-
ful.
There is Alsace and Lorraine, you
know!
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MUSIC IN POLITICAL ECONOMY.
It has been asked in political economy
whether the agencies of transportation, the
liberal professions, the commercial ones, the
public offices, music and the other fine arts,
have a productive character, or whether they
do not maintain a legion of drones.
There is a character of production pertain-
ing to music, though an indirect one. Musical
taste developed in a nation is an excellent
economic agent, which adds to the harmony
of the world in more than a musical sense.
Music cheers and refines man, thus keeping
him, at least momentarily, from corroding
passions; it contributes to his health and
longevity through the proper use in singing
of the respiratory organs; it is efficacious in
the treatment of insanity and other diseases;
it serves to encourage the weary, footsore,
and heartsick soldier.
Music is a living source of social pleasure;
it soothes the violent impulses of man, digni-
fies his religious and civic ceremonies, and
educates his esthetic tastes;—in a word, it
makes him better and happier. Train your
children in music; their life and that of their
fellow men will be made pleasanter. A child
educated exclusively in literature and the
sciences does not become so healthy, moral,
and cheerful a citizen. The well and happy
citizen adds to the peace and power of the
nation, and so creates conditions of produc-
tivity.
Is the engineer who plans the locomotive
less productive than the workman who puts
the parts together? Is the architect who as-
certains the proportions and selects the ma-
terials of an edifice less useful than the brick-
layer? And is the musician useless who helps
man to lift himself above himself and indi-
rectly enables him to do more and better
work?
Some philosophers call music a useless art,
in the blind and brutal spirit of the old Dutch
settlers, who used to regard school expenses
as an unnecessary burden, and the school-
master as a leech. Better reasoning would
lead to the conclusion that the cultivation of
art proves the nobility of man, and his superi-
ority over animals and savages.
The civilized man produces and consumes
the things which are indispensable to his ex-
istence, and in conformity with his tastes.
All his needs and tastes, artistic ones for
example, may not be inborn; but neither is
the need of soap inborn. Not many centuries
ago that article was unknown. Once, a watch
was a rare object of luxury; then, men and
women dispensed with stockings, laces, silks,
and underclothing. Industrial progress and
the development of wealth have brought into
common use many things formerly regarded
as luxuries. Sugar, spices, coffee, glass and
carpets are no longer regarded as extrava-
gant. If men could get along with bread,
meat, and the simplest clothing and tools, no
doubt they could procure a greater quantity
of such objects by neglecting art entirely.
But civilized people do not live by bread and
meat alone.
, Humanity has immaterial needs. The cra-
vings of the artistic senses are so keenly felt
by some highly developed organisms that the
expression "hungry for music" ceases to be
HAROLD McQEE.
Master Harold Mc-
Gee, the present solo
soprano boy of the Ca-
thedral, Garden City,
Long Island, is the
happy possessor of a
very rich and sympa-
thetic mezzo-soprano
voice. He has held
his present position a
little more than a year,
and it is to be hoped
that he will retain his
gifted voice for some
time to come. By
faithful, earnest and
constant study, as well
as strict attention to
his duties, he has won
the admiration and af-
fection of all his fellow
choristers, as well as
those in authority at
the Cathedral. One of
Harold McGee's chief
powers lies in the high-
ly dramatic passionate
force that he is able to
put into his vocal
work. One should hear
this lad sing "With
Verdure Clad," Hay-
den, to thoroughly ap-
preciate his great abil-
HAROLD MCGEE, Solo Soprano Boy—Cathedral Choir, Garden City, L. I.
ity. He is a resident of the Borough of having first seen the light of day in the City
Brooklyn, has just passed his fifteenth year, of New York.
a metaphor with them. The character of the
pastimes of a nation is an indication of its
moral and mental culture. Man requires
more varied and ennobling recreation and
amusement as he advances in civilization.
Granting that artistic pleasures are not ab-
solutely necessary, they would still remain a
great blessing. Humanity owes its thanks to
music for so much that makes life worth liv-
ing, and musical art, therefore, should be
recognized as a valuable agent in the science
of political economy.
Louis Lombard.
O
OFFERS A PRIZE OF $250.
The Musical Art Society of New York, in
pursuance of its aim to foster a taste for what
is purest and best in "a capella," choral
music, desires not only to give adequate per-
formance of the masterpieces of this charac-
ter already extant, but also to encourage fur-
ther development of this field.
The society therefore offers a prize, given
by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Butler McCagg, and
which it is proposed to make an annual one,
of $250.00, for the best composition for
mixed voices, unaccompanied.
The conditions for the first competition
are: Any resident of the United States or
Canada for five years can compete. The
work shall be for a chorus of about fifty
voices set to sacred words. The composer's
name is not to appear and the composition
must have a suitable motto. The prize work
will be performed by the Musical Art Society,
but the composer is to retain all rights. The
time of performance should not exceed fifteen
minutes.
The compositions offered will be submitted
to the three following judges, and should be
addressed to the president of the society, Dr.
Frederick E. Hyde, No. 20 West Fifty-third
street, New York. The judges are to be
George W. Chadwick, Asger Hamerik and
the conductor of the Musical Art Society.
All competing compositions must be in the
hands of the president before September 1,
1898.
The Bos.ton Symphony Orchestra carried
by storm the large audience at the Metro-
politan House Thursday night of last week.
Such remarkably fine playing has rarely been
heard in the city. The concert closed the
most successful season ever given here by the
Boston musicians, and demonstrated how
firmly they are now established in the esteem
of the local public. Conductor Paur and his
gifted band are to be congratulated.
0
Paderewski is slated to play in London to-
day, April 2d, at the opening of the New
Erard Hall. He will be heard later in
Dublin.
©
Pol Plancon is studying German in order
to sing Wagner roles. He had better be care-
ful.
There is Alsace and Lorraine, you
know!
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