New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-18
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
CONCERTS IN COLLEGES.
THE CONCERTS AT vAssAR PRECEDED Thosh Al
uARyARp-THE vAssAR CONCERTS


THE CONCERTS AT vAssAR PRECEDED THOSE All
uARyARp-THE vAssAR CONCERTS.
Tn IN, Edftor OF The Tribune.
SIR: The writer of the article Concerts ana
Colleges which recently appeared IN HE lhib-
| USE, after giving due praise to the plan latey
adopted by Harvard College in order to provide con-
certs for its students, very justly says There Is
M more potent means for higher culture than good
music. But what we especially wish TO call
attention to is the fact that the beneficial inilu-
ence which President Eliot has thus encouraged
ought to be extended to the undergraduates OF ole
colleges and the communities adjoining them. pu'
as the writer of the aforementioned article taxes
occasion TO include Vassar among those colleges
that should "proft by the suggestion" he ap-
pareny is not aware of the state of musical matters
at Vassar.
To those readers of THE TRIBUNE who take inter-
est in the DEVELOPMENT Of musical culture In tins
country il will be no news if | mention that every
season series of concerts from six to severn IL
given at Vassar, THE TRIBUNE having during INC
past years repeatedly spoken with appre-
catiye commentator of the character OF the pro-
rrammes of these, which are invariably selec'eu
from the best compositions copy from The IRiB-
rSE OF S73 one of these notices. very goou
musical idea has been elaborated AT 'assar' "here
matnees are given by the young ladies, each matinee
benR exclusively devoted to the works OF some par
ticular composer. Prof Ritter Introduces the per-
Torrance with historical and critical observations
rron the composer in question" 1t is true Vassar
cannot boast like Harvard, OF the substantial
assistance of neighborng art amateurs, in order to
cover the expense of full orchestral concerts now
ever. there exists an inexhausti5le store of line
works by the greatest composers for the pano-forte
and string Instruments as well songs suited to
the dimensions of small halls, and, indeed, 1t needs
a no less degree of musical education and taste, III
not more to appreciate and enjoy these works as
well as symphonies and Ovcrtures Vassar has had
concerts of vocal, organ, and piano music, by tle
music teachers and advanced pupils; classlcal
soir6cs of chamber music by the best NeW-lofh
artists; here Madame Raymond Ritter gave her MS
torica concerts, the programmes of when created
surprise among art authorities in Europe, while they
were held up as models even by the learned Dr.
Chrysander. To these concerts Nassar extends US
bnsWtalitv TO the citZ'ns of POnghkecp5ie IN the
most liberal manner thus rendering ITSELF FOCUS OF
art culture the inhabitants of THIS portion OF the
STATE This was done long before idrvardS present
plan Was spoken of. The plan of musical education
as presented by at Nas3ar has repeatedly served
as an example to'other colleges, and has even Deeh
held up as such by European authorities. Inc Iflp-
sic .JDarHdl II Music said some time ago, mus
i'm Vassar College tnd the very same system mas
been not only attempted. bur already partly cait,e
out, under the direction of Prof. Ritter as that
which Joachim and Stockhauscn are now lTylhe 10
establish in the Academy of Art 1T Berlin win tlo
aid of a subscription from the Government. me
LoHdOR Choir, IN a recent number sad IIoL
Ritter is still carrying forward his Work NJ NaSslr
College with an amount of vgDr and success when
ought to excite jealousy among the AUTHORITIES OF
ladies' colleges IN this country" Nas'ar College NlS'
il am we'll informed, the first college IN America
that created a chair OF musical proiessorship We
AT Vassar are always happy to receive kind suggest
lions from such "A highly respected source as nv
TuBUNE; bnt We shall feel doubly 80 when encolr-
aged by the cco-nition of what we have already
accomplished. T. L. hlIIEh'
Tassdr CotIeye, Nov. IL. 1876.