Music Trade Review

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THE 7VTUSIO TRHDE
abusive, cynical style, and that it gives him
the appearance of being wonderfully learned
if nothing is ever good enough to satisfy
his exclusive taste that he forgets to look
upon the reverse side of the medal, and little
he cares what broken lives and ambitions
lie about the bloody field through which he
has run his juggernaut.
The critic has a greater responsibility than
people know. He must satisfy his public and
protect it against the horrible ravages of
mediocrity, and he must guard against the
ruin of people who come within the range
of his pen. He must be able to judge at least
what is the difference between a man who
plays like Lamond and a dog that "should
be shot."
Perhaps, after all, the musicians bring up-
on themselves a good deal of suffering be-
cause they will not and can not be made to
see themselves and conditions from a sane
standpoint. The way that an aspirant for
musical honors goes to work about the mat-
ter is in most cases enough to irritate those
who regard things from a calmer and more
artistic side. If a pianist presents himself
with all the aplomb of a Paderewski, he
must expect to be measured from that height,
and if he falls short he must expect that the
press and the public alike reprove him for
his presumption.
Some day musicians will find out the folly
of "fixing up" press notices. A press no-
tice that presents the entire opinion of the
writer should be entitled to more consider-
ation, even though there are some disagree-
able references, than those that present noth-
ing but sickening praise throughout, which,
with very few exceptions, prove that they
have been doctored, and that while nothing
has been added, there has been enough left
out to make the entire notice a—well,- a
falsehood, to put it mildly.
How far is it good to educate the lower
classes is a question that is agitating a good
many minds and not without cause. It is
probable that the lower classes of America
are more worthy of elevation through the
medium of music or art than are those of
Paris, from whom anything may be expected
in return for feeding their emotions, which
at the best is the result of a musical training.
Just what happened in Paris when Fan-
nie Bloomfield-Zeisler played is as yet not
quite clear to many. In the first place there
were many of us who believed this was a
good piece of press-work, but, indeed it was
a bona Ude demonstration, not against the
lady, not yet against the American, 'but clear-
ly and decidedly against the piano concerto.
Some of the guilty ones were tried in the
police court of Paris and in answer to the
question "Of what do you complain?" said
"We will have no more concertos; they shall
not be forced upon us any longer, especially
by blows. It will not be permitted that be-
tween two symphonies we should be com-
pelled to suffer half an hour of acrobatic
pianism which has nothing to do with
music."
That such strange things can exist in a
civilized country is doubted by many who
still'believe that there was some ulterior
REVIEW
motive, but this is not the case. It is pure-
ly and simply what is stated.
Pugno himself, who is the idol of Paris,
has been the victim of exactly the same
feeling, and he had an interesting experi-
ence in so far as he put on his hat and coat
and came to the front to make his farewell,
when the balance of the house arose in such
indignation, and amidst the embraces of
Colonne, the acclamations of the true pub-
lic, and the arrests of the disturbers, Pugno
played with a success that was overwhelming
and what his reception was may well be
imagined if the phlegmatic American can
realize the warmth of a French demonstra-
tion, especially under such conditions.
Mr. Franko has prepared a r exquisite pro-
gram containing the very rarest music pos-
sible to obtain. A genuine treat is in store.
There is nothing quite so desolate as the
passing of a place which has been entirely
devoted to amusements of the higher order.
When the last concert was given in Music
Hall of Boston it was an occasion of genuino
sorrow, and there were few dry eyes in the
house, notwithstanding the acknowledged
iciness of New England's exterior. Now
comes the news that St. James Hall, Lon-
don, is t o go, although not yet having
reached the half century mark. S t James
Hall holds many memories dear to the Eng-
The tour which Edward A. MacDowell lish heart; indeed, dear to any lover of the
is making in the West has many earmarks great in literature or in music, for here it
of the MacDowell traits, in so far as we was that the immortal Charles Dickens gave
never hear anything about where he is or his farewell reading, and here was heard the
what he is doing. Still, he is playing in the wonderful art of Rubinstein, Clara Schu-
West and with very great success, During mann, Joachim, Vieuxtemps, Wieniawski, in
the Christmas week he was in San Fran- fact, of all the artists many of whose names
cisco, where he played his own concerto with have been forgotten.
an orchestra under Paul Steindorf. He was
The art conditions of this country are sad-
also announced for two recitals. Mr. Mac-
ly interfered with by the so-called protec-
Dowell is giving much prominence to his
tive unions which are more correctly the
own compositions, which, by the way, are
prohibitive societies. No matter how one
very popular in the West.
may feel on the subject of unions or labor
Sousa and his great organization have questions in general, these matters should
sailed for Europe, where Sousa goes to have no place in art, and the attitude of the
gather all the laurels that he left out of his protective unions are more prohibitive to
sheaves when he was there before, also the art in America than any other feature that
new ones that have been waiting for his could be presented. We need good musi-
magic touch to drop into his palm. Sousa cians whether the unions think that they
has engaged that charming violinist, Maud have within their ranks the material or not,
Powell, to make the tour with him in Eu- and it is disgraceful to think that the or-
rope and when he returns to America he chestras of America shall be governed by
will probably bring back with him the artist whether the union will or will not permit us
of whom America should be most proud, as to go abroad for those instruments that we
she stands at the head not only of the vio- cannot adequately fill in this country. Now
linists among women, but among the musi- it is Van der Stijcken who knows where he
could improve his orchestra, but he is not
cians of the world.
permitted to do so. Talk about the tyrannj
Now it is Felix Weingartner who is seek-
and oppression of wealth—it is not a drop
ing laurels in new avenues, although twenty
in the bucket beside the other side's oppres-
years ago he was on the point of becoming
sion.
a pianist when fate ordained that he be-
come a conductor. He appeared as pianist
The players in the Cincinnati Orchestra
in London at St. James Hall in a sextet of richly deserve that Mr. Van der Stiicken
his own composing. A group of his own
should desert them altogether and go where
songs were sung by Therese Behr, a well-
he can get what he wants without asking
known German singer, and Weingartner
the privilege and receiving insults of those
played the accompaniments himself.
who exist only because he makes their con-
In the field of pianism it must not be for- dition possible. For downright base ingrat-
gotten that several of our noted conductors itude it takes the united efforts of orchestral
are exceptional ones; Emil Paur, for in- players who exert their power because for
stance, and Walter Damrosch, who, by the some unheard reason they have it.
way, will prove this talent by appearing as
Emilie Frances Bauer.
assistant with the Mannes Quartet at its
next concert at Mendelssohn Hall. Dam-
DE PACHMANN EXPLAINS.
rosch will also begin his course of talks on V\E PACHMANN, during an interval of
Wagnerian opera at Daly's Theatre Jan.. 13,
*~* a concert in Berlin a couple of weeks
with the assistance of the grand opera art-
ago, referring to the remarks about his facial
ists. There will be no standing room, as
these lectures are among the most fashionable expression and gestures, said he could not
render pieces without fully entering their
amusements of the season.
spirit, and that his feautres only portrayed
At Daly's Theatre the first concert of the
his inward sensibilities. If this was disa-
series of Sam Franko, which have interested
greeable to the audience he must ask to be
all the true music-lovers of ISkw York, will
excused.
The Berlin critics, who are usu-
occur on Tuesday afternoon when Arnold
ally
cold,
are superlatively appreciative of
Dolmetsch and his wife, both artists on the
De
Pachmann's
playing, especially of Cho-
antique instruments, will mak;e their Amer-
pin's music,
._. . _
ican debut.