New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-09-02
NATIONAL MUSICAL CONGRESS.

PAPERS BY s. A. EMB2Y, JOHN p. MORGAN, AND
OTHERS-RESOLUH ONS AND OFFICERS
The Musical Congress at Steinway Hall
opened its last day's session yesterday morning with
about 20 ladies and gentlemen IN attendance q T. CON
verse OF New York presided and r W Hustled read IN
Interesting paper written by f. Root of Chicago on
the philosophy OF the Elementary Principles of Music"
Geo W. HaselWOod Of PTOvidepce X j., sang
On Native Worth" from The CredHGH, WIN
p,ano accompaniment by MI Peterslea - .
A. Emery Of Boston followed with paper on
"tbe popuiaA taels q A1ueI4e--' lie subject said
be- ssss4i,i3s al once q paramount importance wheh
We Justly estimate the intellectual moral and religious
mower OF music and remember the intimate connection
Of the popular taste with all departments Of musical
composition and performance Regarded as q people,
Americans must be consdefed musical talented In fact
Judging by what they have accomplished But now
arises important question Assuming IL 10 DO
true that nation, we are nuelcal, We hust
candidly ask ourselves If our music Dc of the best
school, &c that 1t shall exert the legitimate In
nuenoe Of true music, refining and eleyatins u.s.
For the shame / feel could wish this question
u remain unanswered America, that In all things else
requiring profound learning, lndoIaDlo enterprise ana
consumnate skill equals the world leadng III uutn, ~
yet behind al the great nations o the earh save one III
II would be humiliatne 70 rehearse thefacts-how
songs possessing absolutely no intrinsic merit nave
reached sale Of many thousands OF copies how mean
ingess combinations Of notes have proved almost for
tunes 10 their owners how illustrated ttlepages OF
whose only music was the ring Of dollar We all know
that pOpuay music trash. Old Hundred Is popular
be sure, III certain sense, and s solemn goodness,
80 strong and pure and steadfast, will
cease 70 make men better So, @ too, though
America" and scores OF other such productions truly
popular. But what Is known popular music" in
cudes OF these IL IL even unworthy ~ the
and 10 must be accepted the taste OF the
mase American people, for II tnds reaieT and larger
sale than all the rest united 1t il national disgrace
and the sooner regard IL IN ts true light the
NAV hope 70 have 10 remedted.
John MOI gam organist OF Trinity Church, then
read THE Study OF the Theory
of Music III it, legitimate Relations 70 General Educa
ton" What question If there he asked, that ehOirs
should learn, intellectually well az instinctyey, 10
refer the tones they sing their harnones and 10 follow
intelligent the leading OF all the voices paTtsf The
idea false that great amount or time Ii needed
fOr tis study We convinced that twenty minutes
/ in each we MS rehearsal Of two hours duration,
| II devoted properly 70 this purpose, would DO
sufficient 70 accomplish very great good, no depend
ence beng placed upon study Ousde OF the rehearsas
and the s gers would benefit by the rest afforded to tho
voices Look at the sad results OF the mechanical,
musical method OF conducting the exercises OF choir
AZ thty may be seen In the fate OF used mp choir
D"ys Uhder The present system In It's best app
csuVI boy enters the choir, perhaps az soprano, at
10 or IL years OF age The choir faithful In tho
performance on ms duty no has been led 10
| Yew u hy the universal practice OF choir mas
| terra The boy learns 20 read music, that II,
| TO read ms part, He hears good music, and
having musical SOUL learns 10 love IT, he knows moi
cOmpOsltiOD 40 ~ u he able " compare ono work with
another ana understand the details each even N M,
bnO Wlodgo DUNG his course chOirbOy ploud err
tend no further than harmony simple and
hC outlines OF the simplest mOdulatOry FORMS he wouh
hays learned something OF music in such manner that