Worcester daily spy., 1871-01-23
For the Daily spy.
Another Word AbOut Music.


Mr.. Editor Your correspondent in Fridays
Spy complains that at Thomas's concerts and
others, "the pieces performed arc of too high an
order" Evidently this is the case if we Judge
from the treatment given the Quntette club and
Mrs. Smith, Friday evening. We thought Wor-
cester had a reputation of being able to appreci-
ate frst-class and classical music. But what
was our astonishment as well as Indignation at
finding a total absence of any enthusiasm,
whereas the pieces, two, were not, as a
whole, of too high an order. We
do not mean to depreciatc the grade
of music selected by such performers, for we
are always sure of something elevating from
either the Mendelssohns or Mrs. Smith. And yet
the selections were such as would tend to please
the most unlearned in the science of music.
Two solos were offered, each of which and
especially Mr.. Ryan's, ought to have secured at
least one encore. Mrs. Smith evidently antici-
patlng the style of the audience, by knowing
the price of admission, selected exclusively
English songs and these of the simplest charac.
ter. But the very first and most beautiful of
the three, only calls forth a feeble applause
which is easily satisfied by bowl
And thus we trace the whole programme, find
ing only feeble appreciations of the kind efforts
of the performers, until, happily, the familiar
strain of yankee Doodle" is touched, when
the applause becomes almost Unsuitable This
would seem to indicate that kind of Miterdte
patriotism was the extent of musical develop
ment of that audience.
Now, in the face of this, do you wonder, Mr.
Editor, that the Quintette club so seldom honors
us with a visit?
Moreover, we may conclude from these facts
that we must not ask for lo,cer order of music
at our concerts
In other words, we do not agree with your
correspondent of Friday morning. Give us the
highest class of real music, and the people will
be educated to it. This we have found bv expe-
rience. When attending concert of high grade
few years since, we were aStonished at being
informed that a certain beautiful air was A
sample of the highest classical music.
And we do not in other branches, always rise
so much By graduation, after all. We do not
place our children before some mil-dam in order
to educatet heir taste to appreciated the sublimity
of Niagara. Nor do we expect that they
will any the more enjoy the spectacle
OF Mont Blanc by having gazed upon mole-hill.
Place your boy in position to look at either of
these majestic mysteries of nature, and he will
be pretty sare to wonder and soon to admire,
though with degree ever 10 be increased.
The same principle is true of oratory. The
same is true OF music If there is any portion
OF our being capable of ever being touched by
musical sounds, it will be awakened at concerts
OF tile loftiest grade. Indeed, sir, your cor
respondent has shown this to be true by asking
for "rhe Last Rose of Summer" which is a
selection from Martha, one of those npieces of
too high an order"
Either the Quintette club or Thomass orchestra
arc abundantly able to furnish that which will
both educate and elevate. When Mr.. Thomas
first began his musical career with us he was
urged to introduce some of the lower class of
music. He persistenty and wisely refused, and
as an evidence of his correct Judgment, witness
the number and style of his audiences.
Let us, then, by our presence and appearance
Monday evening, show that we do appreciate