The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-21
(For the Dispstch.l
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The Mission Oh 6nc . MTA"rs.
Some day this mouth the !" Nozart " will
hold their g first annual meeting.
One year since organization Can the
Association look back, survey their efforts,
and feel satisfied with the result OF their Ia
bors? Let us see what they have done:
1t will not be necessary to preface that
the object OF the Association is not only 10
c,nuse 5ut also to instruct their patrons !;
in other words, to cultivate music, inn
prove the taste, and raise the musical sta'lo-
ard of the peopie of Richmond.
The public have supported them WONDER
fully. Pecuniary aid has flowed INFO their
Golfers at an astonishing rate, considering
the hard times, so that the management
have had ample funds ut their disposal, anu
onphf 70 feel battered at the interest the
neople take in their enterprise ana taee os>
fidnnce they have in their 1.-THE managers
endeavors. From personal acquaintance
with most OF the managers Qnuslcai anu
hus;nesSl / feel convinced they are III
earnest, and do all they can TO a9Vance lne
interests OF the " MozdTt|; but am SOFT!
tn say I do not consider them on the r'Sn.
road to advance the interest OF " MaSlc.
Let us anaIyze their Iabors:
They have given musicale every week,
consisting OF orchestral pieces and instru-
mental and vocal solo performances. The
orchestral rieces have been, with avery few
executions. light, hackneyed overtures and
dances fwaltzes and polkaS). In forty-eight
concerts the mozart" has brought but one
sinole composltion of that illustrious mas
ter Mozart 1.-THE overture Of Don JUAN!
Nor has there been any noticeable improve
ment in the execution OF this hight music.
The orchestra has improved in number and
noise. but not in anuSic. There are no pl-
amos, no fortes, no phrasing-in short, no.
thing but organ-grinding and ballroom
music. I say this not in the spirit OF fault
finding, but because take an interest IN
the Mozart and in the advancement OF music
The solo performances have been good.
bad and Indifferent, but on the whole
pleasing feature and variation In the con-
certS.
To sum up, we cannot but say that the
management OF the " Mozart" has been
success in pecuniary sense, but in respect
to the cultivation and advancement OF mu-
sic and Improvement OF musical taste
complete failure, and that "the year y has
been lost.
I do not feel myself competent to pre-
scribe 2 remedy, but leave that task for
ADLER pens and heads than mine: my object
is only to start the bali iii motion, and |
hope others will take it up and discuss it
more ably and thoroughly than l can.
The Mozart will in few days start on
lis second year with fair prospects, plenty
OF means, an enthusiastic membership, and,
last but not least, an experience OF bow
not 10 do ii.
At the risk Of being thought pre>ump-
tuous. beg to advance Il few suggestions:
Let the motto bc---Not only to aD'uSe, dut
also 10 instruct. 4 serious drawback Is the
qrecLiy performance; the orchestra, con-
tanning many amateurs, having but one re-
hearsal the night before, cannot Go justice
10 q composition: "music0tcf every two
weeks would give the orchestra three re-
hearsais, and enable them 10 {" study their
lessons"
Throw daHcc-music" overheard; it
belongs in the ballroom. and !leases only
those that would prefer to participate &C
lively.
Introduce slowly bat steadily the higher
and nohier works of the great masters, aud
initiate the public 10 tile sublimity Of the
art. They will soon learn 10 admire and
appreciate. Be careful in the selection.
Choose at first those pieces that are easily
comprehendcd and enjoyed, and advance
gradually. Do not be afraid that the public
do not understand and will be bored. Did
not the audience greatly enjoy and appre-
ciate the concerto for piano and orchestra
by MendeISSohn q few weeks ago?
Look ut Boston, New York, Philadelphia,
and Baltimore. Compare the music in those
cities is it was but Il short time-say about
twelve or fifteen years-aSo and as 1t is to-
day. The improvement is wonderful, and
mostly due to the efforts OF their phllhar-
monte societies. Emulate their examples,
and soon operate and theatrical managers
i Il, 81 Gov. I'm iSl1 nan 81
people. Operate performances with six
musicians, and dramatic ones with four men
in the orchestra. Music is like painting,
literature, etc. The uncultivated minds de-
light in daubs OF gay colors and dime
novels, and cannot enjoy and understand
the beauties OF Raphael, Shakespeare, By
ron, Longfellow, etc.
But, Mr.. Editor, have also word to
Whisper in your car. You have duty to
pelform-a duty YOU owe TO Your numerous
patrons. Use your powerful musical pen
for the advancement OF the art. W hereVer
you lind merit, erey 50 humble, praise 1t;
but also point out any defect in mild way
without favor to position or persofI; and,
above everything, put down all charlatanry
that tries TO control and pervert public tasfe
TO their own and base purposes.
ANADMIRER OF COOP Music.
rive should hesitate to publish the fore
going had it not come from one member OF
the Association through the hands OF
second who thinks it ought to be printed.
For our part, we enjoy the MusicdteS so
much that we do not wish to crlticise any
thing that we witness there, unless it be
the occasional audience which " encoreS "
the least meritorious performances and
neglects the most meritorious.]
THE MAN WHO Stops His PAPER.-Philip
Gilbert Hamerton, in his admirable papers
on "Intellectual Life" thus talks to the
man who " stopped his paper"