New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-08-31
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
NATIONAL MUSICAL CONGRESS.

soUIHARD, AND JAMES PECK.
The second annual meeting of the National
,fusical Congress began yesterday at Stenway Hall Al
she business session held in the morning. the reports Of
The Secretary and Treasurer read and the standing
committees appointed. Among the leading musical
gentlemen were Mr.. Eben Touriee Of Boston, Dr. J. o.
sarnett Of Hartford Mr. I. F. Seward of Orange, NJ,
xrs g. A Emery Of Boston, DIR. f. Wentworth OF I''s'
Geld, Mass; Mr.. Benz. Jepson Of New-Haven, MT I, -
Converse Of Brooklyn, Mr. John p Morgan organs -
Trinity Church. and Samuel Jackson of Newton go,
side others who took part in the public EXERCISES rer
ladies and gentlemen assembled in the afternoon -.
an ORGAN voluntary by C. h. Schuyler, the meo's
called to order at O'Clock by L. H. sou''au 80 ~
more who made few remarks concerhnA 'I0 sS,ro,
She Congress TIE Rev Charles f. peeiu' ~ ~ -, q
Of the Strangers" then offered prayer -, ..u7o
watson of New-York followed with paper en.uou Inv
,s,i1 Ns,ea Coneress-its Duties ana It's ol9c''e'
Those unprctentious Conventions nave uoAo
missionary work in music ana 'i" ~
fou,dation on which we nope 10 l"iSo w"
.,,nI .,c,re whose breadth and individuality shall at
u, , 81 a. command the attention and admiration
:, ,h world Besides these gatherings, the Peace Jubilee
. Boston in 1869 great link in tine chain OF events
hieb led 10 the formation Of what believe viii De the
r.ost important musical organization in the world
namely the National Music Congress. This body has
several important objects. First Ii aims TO bind In one
bond Of brotherhood all tine musicians of the United
States To do this IL proposes TO aid and promote the
formation of choral societies wherever sufficient singers
can be found combine together for practice and per-
Torrance Such societies. aflating with the Congress-
will be furnished with the necessary music for practice
price. other assistance VIII De granted when ne
funds OF the Congress admit and advice viii be pI0n
given to the balance OF voices the music 10 DC
and the best method OF practice Second 10 nfge te NM
versatility of musical instruction 10y note IN Ie puc
spent the pTeteXt that public school children are
tsGght singing ana e WI Me M S Scer sg b. eGr
This instruction is all lie and slani maud wneh II
will be the duty of this Congress TO expose, and II pos
remedy The teachers thtli Icst ana Tue
really lies in the system and IN the Ignorance oil oHs
Education. IN Masac It's the children are taught
read notes in the public schools with remarkable ana
admirable facility. I""a; MusG h I wo od
ING men and women. The Germans, mHfh VISIT aau
happier than the Americans, number Their SINGING SO;
ciees by hundreds. Our City Government has ordained
that the tired apoflns men anu "Il.n s;.i s4 , ny
two hours each afternoon they choose, 10 listen TO the
pointed almost precludes the true aborng class from en-
ioying this music These en,cLtlnnents are coS,y ah
,or irstepce where w0rEhgpcn and women could
assemble and receive giatuitous instruction III
standard OF musical taste in sacred and secular
music. The present general standard Of musical
taste at very lowest eDb owing in large measure TO
the flooding OF the market with eonp0StOns nad N
grammar maudn in sentiment. and wrechcd in taste.
1t should be the duty of this Congress 70 dscountenance
these flash compositions and to cndeaV0r to create
purer taste Moreover, the market is flooded with bad
ehurchmusic books and everywhere the taste OF the
people is Initiated. This subject will require decided yet
delicate treatment. 1Lc Congress may assume, ia con
preparation chuIcI muscbook-, well as vocal and
Instrumental hooks OF instruction FQb: To encourage
the platform of the National Musical Congress. 1t
Vonrig vet only wear old hut it, present strength,
sumbers over Ol members an earnest of what it will
be in few years We shall yet see every man, woman,
and child in the country who has voice joining in
grand choral harmony, and then the mission Of the
National Musical Congress will in part be accomplished
Besiioyen's Moonlight sonata and Mr. William Mason
Orange N j. played Bailade by Chopin in fat OF.
and little piece entitled silver Spring." of his own
l. H. Southland Director Of Music at the Peabody In
csm. musical literature, musical criticism, is an in,
acutvaed popular taste. Without II is anarchy.
With comes real culture and the elevation of musical
proper in the daily thought and life OF the
certain extent the public is to blame for whatever may
be faulty in the musical press OF Ihe day II there Is
little or no demand Tor ghoneu ana Instructive artt
Beyond question that have in three or four lead
ing musical journals, and attached 10 few OF our most
writing with keen insight and just discrimination, and
serve to become part Of our standard literature
But it cannot be deuied that they reach a
ssSeridcd or al least accompsnifd by corresponding
shsnge in the method treatment of musical matters
by the average daily press. get us urge then upon those
ing themseves at least a little acquainted with
ihe estimation of elaborate works. of freeing themselves
merely personal professions pre-
judiees Of Emerging the artist completely in the art itself
separating the private interests of the individual
from the public Interest so far as they may be incom-
P1iIoe. ...,,.,,. ,,eroroo T., odnco,,r tho n,hlc
taste appreciation less Importance than the crit
c's. great composer must have proper musical at
peculiar province of those who lead public opinion
throu,h the press TO furnish such Atmosphere which
is obviously not to be done by merely accommodating
self a. the taste OF the general public. II
!: the critics duty py the public out Of those ruts to
which II continually gavitates left to ITSELF TO make
r-, ,,- I~liness OF tinse and commonplace and
appreciate the sublime anu beautiful, N Doing
this he becomes at once public bene-
factor. No amount Of merely material prosperity,
wealth. enterprise alone, constitutes great nation
There must he added TO these love for science and art
IN their highest forms and general love for them
important elements the formation OF national
character young nation, with heretofore urgently
imperative geOgF phical and political problems 20 sOve
with hundreds OF thousands OF square miles 10 prepare
for human habatiOn aud with gigantic public works to
construct IL is not at all dscredabe to rs that we have
as yet produced Shakespeare or Milton no Michael
Angelo or Brunellesch Handel Beethoven,
indeed there has been atmosphere for them. But the
time 10 be ripe for movement to prepare for
such atmosphere.
The attendance in the evening nearly as large
M the afternoon. The Rev. Dr. i. Wentworth presided
and after voluntary the organ by j. ii. Cornell. Dr.
James Peck of New-YOrk read an able paper on
"Academcal Degrees I'm Music" in which he aimed to
refue the objections urged against professors and facu
ties of music and argued forciy that great advantages
would result from the establishment ~ ClOrs Of music
and collegiate Of scientific musical instruction.
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