Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-01-23
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY MORNING. JANUARY %. 1885
MUSICAL SNOBS."

The Richmond Examiner uae 0"Pi"'
tcle on the subject Of Musical Snoos, az
they are called. who, with Ut any knowledge
or appreciation OF the science VI vocal ana
instrumental melody, h1k 10 near u'etih-
guisbed perflrnera, and effect the most e1-
travsgaut transports just as IT they really
fel, ia their scuk the full power of the hsr-
monies which fall upon their ears. The
truth is, there is not in many American COM
nunites one person in q hundred who Is sui
fciently acquainted with artistic pertecuons
in this line of execute n, or who Is sufficiently
imtued with the requisite inspiration, to be
qualified either to enjoy or judge perform
ance Of the kind by master: tor what ENJOY
mept can there be in listening to sounds
which one does not understand, and which
are rendered exquisite only by their con-
formity to the picest rules Of art. An ltiiian
Opera eDa ted by the most accomplished ana
celebrated singers is no musical banquet 10
any one " no is ignorant OF the language IN
which the sentiments OF the song are tx
pressed, unless he is possessed OF the liVeiiest
sensibilties to be acted on by the concord
of swee, Sounds" For such person to ~
off into estacies at Italian osdences or to at.
tempt in such elated moments to critciae
what be applauds, lie simply to make snob
Of himself. Now, when Thslberg, OF Parodi,
or any other musical celebrity gives con-
cert, there is OF course crowded house-but
not mauy auditors Of either sex are really
affected more than skin.deep, il rs much as
this, by the inimitable executions oil the
great performer. Aud yet there's rart al
teuton in the crammed hall-a sublime ex-
preston Of beatitude suffusiDg hundreds OF
taces-and impassioned Outbursts Just as II
the very soul was about to melt away uhder
the bewitching Influences OF the hour. For
the most part this is mere afectatIou-or, 10
TO say the least. it is the display of a grat'fca-
ton which il almost UNNECESSARILY IN excess
of the reality 1t is however, very harm
less sort of extravaganza, ard Is only worthy
to be noticed as Que of the striking iolhes of
the day.
We do not mean by any thing that we
have said to question the merits OF auy OF the
eminent aud popular musical percentages,
foreign or native, whose entertainments IN
the way OF operas and concerts have contrib
u,ed so much to the en!ivenment Of our PEI
pie. Their professional talents We do not
pretend to impeach. On the contrary, 10
such of them as We have heard from time TO
time we have endeavored to pay the hum
Lle homage Of our admiration in such terms
as we could express it in, although on
eyery such occasion We have labored uG-
der the disadvantage of an inartistic ear,
and critical acumen sadly at fault IN the
technicalities and profundities Of their SCI
ence.
But We bad forgotten the structures Of the
Examiner which suggested these remarks,
and to which we now return. SAYS that
journal: - Petersburg Int.
"The Musical Suob 10 generally person
of rather feeble powers OF mind who has
vague impression that all persons OF cu!tiVa.
ton aud refinement have q knowledge OF
music and patronizs the operas and con-
certs, and that in order TO maintain re-
spectacle position in SDobdom il is absolute
" necessary for him to affect al ecstatic ap-
probation and enjoyment OF musical enter
tainments, about which he in fact knows
nothing whatever. 1t is a cheap way OF
earning a reputation for culture, and Is ad-
mirably suited t. the capacity OF his intel.
lect. II is true that the Musical Sno6 knows
nothing Of foreign languages, indeed he is
miserably deficient in his own, but the de-
gree OF bis enjoyment is always IN proper
ton to bis ignorance Of the words which
some charming caDtatriCs is tOrturing into
very questionable harmony. lie almost
swooDs with rapture when she sings in Ger
man or Italian, and if he could only hear an
opera 10 Sanscrit or Japanese, the agony OF
his enjoyment would be too much for his fee
BILE body. He knows the names and histories
of all the Prima Dannas and all the celeora-
ted vocalists who have ever condescended to
sing for his enjoyment and that OF Snobdom'
lie criticises with minute accuracy the dill
ference between MAlibran and Santag, Pare
di and Jenny Lind. His knowledge OF ten,
or, alto, contralto and soprano Is wonderful
beyond belief"