Music Trade Review
Issue: 1899 Vol. 29 N. 1 - Page 3
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THENEWYORK
PUBLIC LIBRARYY
146536 WITH
MUSICAL SUPPLEMENT,
IV
A8TOB, LFNOX AND
TILOSN FOUNOAT»N«
1100,
With which is incorporated THE KEYNOTE.
V O L . XXIX. N o . 1.
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 3 East Fourteenth Street. New York, July 1,1899.
MUSIC IN THE SCHOOL.
If there are discords in the life of musical
people,
it is not because of the music, but
JV/I USIC rises through rhythm and mel-
in
spite
of it.
*** ody to harmony and symphony.
Music
may be taught in school so as to
Good music in the school brings the pop-
be
a
mere
glossing of the life, or it may
ulace up to the enjoyment of all the com-
reach
to
the
fountains of character. No
fort, peace and joy of music, in so far as
art
can
be
spread
out so thin, as none can
music has a common interest for mankind.
run
so
deep.
It also brings music as an art into the
every-day life of the world by making it
the habitual companion in their impres-
PEAKING of "the neglect of the Ameri-
sionable years of those, who are to be the
can composer" Philip Hale says: Do
Americans of the future.
not accuse me lightly of any want of true
We are beginning to beautify school- patriotism. I am an American, but not a
rooms with reproductions of works of art, jingo, not even a German-American, who
reprints of the master-pieces. Too much 55peaks English with a rich, fruity accent,
cannot be said of the benefit to be derived and complains because conductors do not
from placing these where children can see produce his overture to Iphigenia in Hobo-
them day by day, but even this is hardly to ken, or his symphonic poem, In Cincinnati's
be compared with the influence of the Rhine-land.
daily singing of historic songs, the weav-
I am a Yankee of the Yankees. I am of
ing of selections from master-pieces into an eighth generation of Yankees, born, bred,
the heart and the voice of children, to be educated, in New England. I have certain-
taken by them into after life.
ly as good a right to speak about "Ameri-
Albert E. Winship well says: "The can music" as have the sons and daughters
problems are how to get the most of music of parents who were born in foreign lands,
into school, and the most out of the music of fathers some of whom were never natu-
of the school. Let us have music in every ralized, some of whom died without the
school in America. It is almost as absurd ability to speak or write English. It is
to have a school without music as to have not to me a pleasant thought that the three
a school-room without sunlight. When chief orchestral conductors in this country
music is in the school, it should be so are Germans; that the language spoken in
taught as to be a factor in character mak- orchestral rehearsals is German; that nine-
ing. Sunlight in the school-room will not tenths of the players in the chief orchestras
insure health without proper ventilation are foreigners by birth. This does not
and appropriate exercise; indeed, it can prevent me from acknowledging the fact
ruin the eyes if it is directly faced. So that few American musicians, American
music will not make character simply by born of American parents, are at present
competent to fill leading positions in the
admitting it to the school-room."
Music is of service to a greater number Boston Symphony, the New York Philhar-
of persons than any other art. More ap- monic, or the Chicago orchestra.
There are several reasons.for this: lack
preciate it and execute it, more are influ-
of
opportunity, the absence of a "musical
enced by it and use it for the pleasure and
atmosphere,"
the disinclination of the
good of others. The poorest get from it
comfort and enjoyment, and the rich joy American to make haste slowly, the poor
and peace. The laborer at his toil, the pecuniary reward given, except in few ex-
millionaire at his dinner, the servant and ceptional cases, to players of certain
the servantless housewife in the kitchen, orchestral instruments.
and the society queen in the drawing
Fashion, I regret to say, has at present
room, all find music their tonic.
much to do with the choice of a conductor.
Music rests the body, balances the mind, I doubt whether Mr. Higginson, the
and pacifies the soul. It is said that one founder of the Boston Symphony Or-
cannot be hypnotized when he is singing. chestra, would entertain for one moment
The violently insane do not sing. An an- the idea of an American conductor at the
gry man cools off if he begins to sing. head of his orchestra. He believes, for he
There are no angles in a song. The ten- is a man of conservative tastes and
dency of music is to make one beautiful. opinions, that a first-class orchestral con-
SINGLE COPIES 10 CENT'
ductor must be a German. It is a pity
that this idea is not confined to the village
of Boston. It is a pity that many of the
villagers accept this idea blindly and
passionately.
Nobody disputes the technical qualifica-
tions of the three conductors now in power.
I am not speaking of persons; I am speak-
ing of the principle.
There are several men in this country,
good Americans, men of marked natural
ability, men who have studied faithfully
and intelligently in foreign cities, who, I
firmly believe, would be most admirable
conductors, if they only had greater oppor-
tunities. But how can they learn this trade?
Our laj-ge cities have no permanent opera;
few of them have any orchestra. And
even if there were sub-conductors in the
chief orchestras, would these Americans be
chosen to fill these subordinate positions?
You will find in London a man by the
name of Henry J. Wood at the head of a
very large orchestra. Many concerts are
given under his direction. Time and time
again have such critics as Mr. Runciman
and Mr. Blackburn held up his hands by
their encouragement and praise. To-day
he has more than local fame. His skill is
known to the best informed in cities of the
Continent. He was obliged to work his
way; but when he proved himself worthy,.
his claim was not refused because his name
was Wood, and not Von Holtz or Dubois.
Nor am I protesting against foreigners
because they are foreigners. The best
available player of horn, oboe, bassoon,
kettle drums, should have the vacant posi-
tion, whether he be Russian or Italian,
French or American, German or Zulu,
Belgian or Filipino.
But the American should have an equal
chance—provided he be worthy to fill the
place.
musical sensation of the moment in
T HE Paris
is the mass by the Landgrave of
Hesse, sang at the Madeleine. The illus-
trious composer is said to be a sort of
modern Palestrina, with Beethoven inter-
mingled. The organ accompaniment is re-
duced to a minimum. One or two pas-
sages are overlengthy, notably the con-
cluding portions of the "Credo," but the
work is majestic and the sacred melody
very touching.
THENEWYORK
PUBLIC LIBRARYY
146536 WITH
MUSICAL SUPPLEMENT,
IV
A8TOB, LFNOX AND
TILOSN FOUNOAT»N«
1100,
With which is incorporated THE KEYNOTE.
V O L . XXIX. N o . 1.
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 3 East Fourteenth Street. New York, July 1,1899.
MUSIC IN THE SCHOOL.
If there are discords in the life of musical
people,
it is not because of the music, but
JV/I USIC rises through rhythm and mel-
in
spite
of it.
*** ody to harmony and symphony.
Music
may be taught in school so as to
Good music in the school brings the pop-
be
a
mere
glossing of the life, or it may
ulace up to the enjoyment of all the com-
reach
to
the
fountains of character. No
fort, peace and joy of music, in so far as
art
can
be
spread
out so thin, as none can
music has a common interest for mankind.
run
so
deep.
It also brings music as an art into the
every-day life of the world by making it
the habitual companion in their impres-
PEAKING of "the neglect of the Ameri-
sionable years of those, who are to be the
can composer" Philip Hale says: Do
Americans of the future.
not accuse me lightly of any want of true
We are beginning to beautify school- patriotism. I am an American, but not a
rooms with reproductions of works of art, jingo, not even a German-American, who
reprints of the master-pieces. Too much 55peaks English with a rich, fruity accent,
cannot be said of the benefit to be derived and complains because conductors do not
from placing these where children can see produce his overture to Iphigenia in Hobo-
them day by day, but even this is hardly to ken, or his symphonic poem, In Cincinnati's
be compared with the influence of the Rhine-land.
daily singing of historic songs, the weav-
I am a Yankee of the Yankees. I am of
ing of selections from master-pieces into an eighth generation of Yankees, born, bred,
the heart and the voice of children, to be educated, in New England. I have certain-
taken by them into after life.
ly as good a right to speak about "Ameri-
Albert E. Winship well says: "The can music" as have the sons and daughters
problems are how to get the most of music of parents who were born in foreign lands,
into school, and the most out of the music of fathers some of whom were never natu-
of the school. Let us have music in every ralized, some of whom died without the
school in America. It is almost as absurd ability to speak or write English. It is
to have a school without music as to have not to me a pleasant thought that the three
a school-room without sunlight. When chief orchestral conductors in this country
music is in the school, it should be so are Germans; that the language spoken in
taught as to be a factor in character mak- orchestral rehearsals is German; that nine-
ing. Sunlight in the school-room will not tenths of the players in the chief orchestras
insure health without proper ventilation are foreigners by birth. This does not
and appropriate exercise; indeed, it can prevent me from acknowledging the fact
ruin the eyes if it is directly faced. So that few American musicians, American
music will not make character simply by born of American parents, are at present
competent to fill leading positions in the
admitting it to the school-room."
Music is of service to a greater number Boston Symphony, the New York Philhar-
of persons than any other art. More ap- monic, or the Chicago orchestra.
There are several reasons.for this: lack
preciate it and execute it, more are influ-
of
opportunity, the absence of a "musical
enced by it and use it for the pleasure and
atmosphere,"
the disinclination of the
good of others. The poorest get from it
comfort and enjoyment, and the rich joy American to make haste slowly, the poor
and peace. The laborer at his toil, the pecuniary reward given, except in few ex-
millionaire at his dinner, the servant and ceptional cases, to players of certain
the servantless housewife in the kitchen, orchestral instruments.
and the society queen in the drawing
Fashion, I regret to say, has at present
room, all find music their tonic.
much to do with the choice of a conductor.
Music rests the body, balances the mind, I doubt whether Mr. Higginson, the
and pacifies the soul. It is said that one founder of the Boston Symphony Or-
cannot be hypnotized when he is singing. chestra, would entertain for one moment
The violently insane do not sing. An an- the idea of an American conductor at the
gry man cools off if he begins to sing. head of his orchestra. He believes, for he
There are no angles in a song. The ten- is a man of conservative tastes and
dency of music is to make one beautiful. opinions, that a first-class orchestral con-
SINGLE COPIES 10 CENT'
ductor must be a German. It is a pity
that this idea is not confined to the village
of Boston. It is a pity that many of the
villagers accept this idea blindly and
passionately.
Nobody disputes the technical qualifica-
tions of the three conductors now in power.
I am not speaking of persons; I am speak-
ing of the principle.
There are several men in this country,
good Americans, men of marked natural
ability, men who have studied faithfully
and intelligently in foreign cities, who, I
firmly believe, would be most admirable
conductors, if they only had greater oppor-
tunities. But how can they learn this trade?
Our laj-ge cities have no permanent opera;
few of them have any orchestra. And
even if there were sub-conductors in the
chief orchestras, would these Americans be
chosen to fill these subordinate positions?
You will find in London a man by the
name of Henry J. Wood at the head of a
very large orchestra. Many concerts are
given under his direction. Time and time
again have such critics as Mr. Runciman
and Mr. Blackburn held up his hands by
their encouragement and praise. To-day
he has more than local fame. His skill is
known to the best informed in cities of the
Continent. He was obliged to work his
way; but when he proved himself worthy,.
his claim was not refused because his name
was Wood, and not Von Holtz or Dubois.
Nor am I protesting against foreigners
because they are foreigners. The best
available player of horn, oboe, bassoon,
kettle drums, should have the vacant posi-
tion, whether he be Russian or Italian,
French or American, German or Zulu,
Belgian or Filipino.
But the American should have an equal
chance—provided he be worthy to fill the
place.
musical sensation of the moment in
T HE Paris
is the mass by the Landgrave of
Hesse, sang at the Madeleine. The illus-
trious composer is said to be a sort of
modern Palestrina, with Beethoven inter-
mingled. The organ accompaniment is re-
duced to a minimum. One or two pas-
sages are overlengthy, notably the con-
cluding portions of the "Credo," but the
work is majestic and the sacred melody
very touching.
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