New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-17
TIE yEv COLLEGE or MUSIC.

The mysterious Minus VI tno puipOSOo anu
preparations of the unknown bcnefactor who
is getting ready to give us FREQ college OF
music in this city leave no doubt that the
scheme is well advanced, and that money in
abundance will be supplied to put it in opera
ton. The endowment, We are assured, is likely
to be the largest ever given to musical In
stitute in any part Of the world and If money
alone could create great school of art
we should feel reasonable certainty
that New-York would soon rival Paris
and Leipsic rs center OF musical
culture. SO much depends, however, upon in
tclligent direction, that we confess we look
upon the promised gift with no slight appre-
hensiOn. 1t is offered as blessing; it may
easily be converted into curse. Instead OF
advancing art it may encourage charlatanism,
debase the popular taste, and make us tie
laughing stock of the world. SO much money
expended on one branch of aesthetics will
either do great good or incalculable harm,
and wo dcvoutly hope the kind-hearted and
public spirited founder will put his money
into the hands of trustees or directors who un-
dcrstand art as we'll as finance, and who
realize what it is that our people really need
After all, it may be questioned whether our
progress in music is retarded SO much by
the want of schools as by the ignO-
rance and Indifference of tic general pub
lic The country is full of singers and pianists
who have acquired in ono way or another,
some ut home and some abroad good
musical education, yet are doing nothing for
art, and earning neither wealth nor credit by
tho exercise of their special gift, merely be-
cause they find no market for their best work.
Any of our readers could name at this
moment twenty or thirty musical performers
in Ncw-YOrk alone whose names are forever
on concert programmes, and whose ability as
cxecutants is beyond question; but how many
of them are making any permanent impression
upon the public, or doing anything to improve
the general taste or raise the standard of musi-
cal culture The quality of their performance
is not regulated by their previous education
but by the applause of tho cOncert-roOm, and
so nine-tenths of them sink at once to the
level of the community ont of which they get
their living. Perhaps what we really need is
Conservatory which shall instruct audiences as
well as performers; teach young people the
technically and theory Of art, and at the same
time show tho world the value of such lessons
in practice.
Incidentally we know the new college prom
Uses to attempt this, but in the wrong way.
The pupils are to give public performances,
with the proceeds of which it is supposed the
institution can be supported. This is mis-
take from every point Of view. The effect
would be equally bad upon the pupils, the pub
lie taste, and the exchequer of the college.
But if there could be established in connection
with the Conservatory o regular annual series
of the best classical cOnccrts-and per-
haps operate performances likewise-with
the finest orchestra and chorus that
could he brought together; if it could
be assured that here from week to week-oF
why not from day to day i-the masterpieces
of music should be executed in perfection
under an able director and at q moderate
charge to the public, music in America would
receive new impulse. We should have en-
lightened audiences and ambitious performers,
an appreciative reception for deserving works
of art, field for the employment of whatever
talent the classes of the Conservatory might
develop, "a standard for the measurement of
lH,mbugs, and the nucleus of a truly musical
public. All the rest would DO easy.