Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-07
The People Want Popular N nsic.
IT, ,1,a Ed;toro Of the ANIMAL.


To the Editors of the Appeal:
Being fend Of the drama, when we'll pre-
sented, usually attend Leubrie's Theater
when am in the city, and have often been
struck with what appears 10 me to be great
mistake on the part Of the orchestra, or OF
the person who has the selection OF the pieces
they play. The leader or manager seems to
think the more incomprehensible the sounds
are TO the audience the better the music, on
the ground, perhaps, that the unknown and
unknowab is the most attractive. Maybe
it is music. | am mo musician, but l can
tell when sounds please me and affect my
feelings. Ny heart has often warmed to the
"Slar. Spansled Banner" "Dixie," "Annie
like character; but then they were played go
we could understand and appreciate them,
without any fantasias, ertroUa9ansas, infernos,
or other diabolical interpretations Music as
now rendered appears TO the Hninitlsted to
be all the composition OF either SHINE. Del
Squeekin or IN. Squallinski" The baud
starts of with a grand flourish, every instru-
ment apparently on its own hook. -Prsses,ly-
some fiddle or horn will seem to be inspired
with the idea that he has hit upon a tune,
but before the audience can tell what II is it
slips through his fingers like an eel. The
next fellow grabs at it and misses, then they
dl AIy, cACcpt INC Jig hootet anu al A4ioS,
get mad and 60 it on their own hook, every
one for himselt-squeak, squeak, chee-wee,
toot, toot, tee-dle, am, ha-um, too-roum,
grand hourish-aud they call this music. 1t
makes one wish to snatch their iddles from
them and break them over their pates.
But some say this is music, scientific mu-
sic, and is understood and enjoyed by all
musicians. Granted that it is SO, how many
in popular audience are skilled and educa-
ted musicians? One in fifty would be over
the mark; but let us ssy one in ten and then
ask the question:: Does the orchestra play
only for the musicians, or for the body OF
the audience? Let any one observe the andi-
eDcs during the rendition of this ear piercing
confusion, called scientific music, and they
will sec that no interest whatever is mani
tested. The audience are converting with
each other or looking for their acquaiut-
ances through their pera-glasses. But let
the band strike up some familiar piece, en-
deared TO nearly all by happy associations,
and play it in old-fashioned familiar style,
go that it may be understood, aud what
change. Every tongue stops; every eye is
directed to the musicians as the ear catches
the ell-known sounds, and their satisfac-
ton and qualification is testified by warm
applause. One suggestion: Let the manage
ment publicly announce that the musicians
will play scientific music for the skilled one
tenth OF the audience four nights In the
week, and popular music for the less re-
gsrded nine terths on two nights, and then
note the results. zENo L. ALsToN.
The Dinner By the English to the Amer
lean Actors.
One of the pleasantest social events OF the
New Year was the dinner given by the En-
eIish actors in New York to their American
1 L.. A.
emit we're Wallack, Ryiey, Raymond, Rankin,
Gus Williams, Thorne and score or more
of equally vell-known actora, besides sew
| eral managers, dramatic authors, etc. 1t
was q highly successful entertainment. The
menu embraced seven courses, and was
decorated with English and American flags,
surrounded by laurel wreaths on the FIRST
page. Above was ribbon with the legend,
fAll the worlds STAGE and on the second
page were the following graceful lines:
| sALvEl
| ''You are the Guests and we the Hosts. Not So
| You are the Hosts, and zoe are the Guests. We
| But for your welcome and your outstretched hand,
We should be strangers in this far-of land.
| For poa have made a home for us; you've tried,
| And done II too, to show there's no 'divide
/ Between that country which we love SO well
/ OF friendships found, of generous kindly aid,
OF hopes revived and regulations made!
| That cheers our hearts And this the more be
/ cause,
| Brothers in art you can so quickly see
What ought 10 be- and what ought not to be.
Our entrances and exits you have eheered. a
| And helped our curtain when we most have
| feared.
That ali the worlds stage is true; Yet nay
L You know as well as we, hfe's not all q plGy;
And SO it comes most grateful to our hearts
/ When you, co-workers, please to take our parts.
welcome, dear friendsi Tonight we're gatheret
To sneed the diving hail the comine wear
Old Eiehty-two is spent Here's Hghty-three,
Els heir, as vet unknown, young, careless, free.
But this there is mid Eighty-twos requests,
| That once year our Hosts must be our Guestsi