The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-05-13
MUSICAL COMPETITION q.
Suggestions Regarding the Man
ner in Which Awards
Should be Made.


Notwithstanding the praiseworthy
movement of the Sunday School
Union in donating so literally Of
their means for the purpose Of en-
couraging excellence in the divine
art" and poetry, it is a matter OF
regret to those who understand how
such competitions are carried on, to
note the arrangements i'll con-
nection with it. l fear it has not
only created a discontinue to the
judges, but dissatisfaction to the
competitors. For instance, words
and music where required of the
same author; this isIWrong. Those
gifts are separate, and do not usually
go together; at least it is seldom the
case that we find any one who eX-
GELS in both. 1t is not the purpose
of competition to create "jack-of-
all-trades," but to encourage excel
lence in some particular feature.
Those arts are progressive, hence it
is not at all likely that the same
person can excel in both; so to offer
a prize to the best author for music,
words, ETC., is nearly if not quite as
Inconsistant as to offer a prize to
the one who can compose the best
music and build the best threshing
machine. Who ever heard of Burns
music or Of Handel's poetry.
For poetry, the subject should al
no hn hnv Of
verses, and the prize awarded to
the one who treats best upon the
subject; in this way the judges can
easily conclude which piece is best;
otherwise it is almost impossible.
/ will venture to say that we have
over one hundred hymns in our pre-
sent hymn books, which we may
say'are all good, and it would be
difficult indeed for any judge to tell
which of them is the best; but when
the subject is selected, you can very
readily arrive at the proper cOnclu-
! sion. The same reasoning will ap-
ply to the music; but in this case,
the words should be given, and the
one who will compose the most ap-
prOpriate music, according to the
true meaning of the words, should
have the prize. Hence, those who
have received prizes should take no
credit to themselves nor the unlucky
ones feel any ways discouraged.
This is the proper way, and in none
other can justice be done.
Who will presume to say which
of Handels choruseS is the best ? or
whose music is the fnest-MoEart's
| or Handlers? or which of the
standard English glees, even is
superior? 1t is very true they vary
| in style and character, but differ
ent subjects call forth different
treatment, which accounts for this
endless variety we hear in music.
Composers of music have taken
up different subjects: for instance,
| the storm on the sea, some fearful
CONGREGATIONS, the battlefield, the
rising of the sun, the life of the
gypsis, the Irish wedding, ETC., etc.
| Some splendid music has been writ
| ten upon each of these subjects
and it would he impossible to de-
eide which is the best. But if the
same authors were to write on the
same subjects, good judge would
very soon, with careful eXamina-
| lion, determine which he preferred,
tAnother point which 1 claim is
wrong: you should never demand
at the hands of q vocal composer.
instrumental accomplishments
There are scores of them who know
very little about instruments. A
common vamper, who knows little
or nothing about theory, would
stand q better show in this respect.
You really ask of amateurs, in
these instances, what never was re
Quired of the great masters in the
old country. It is Novello, and
other instrumentalists, who have
added the accompanlments to the
oratories and most Of the standard
music Of England.
They also required the words anG
music to be judged together ant
not separately; consequently, il
the one happened to be inferior
while the other was never so good
that counts against it.
A prize was offered for the best
txnes, ETC., but there was nothing
said whether those tune should b.
arranged in parts or not. Tech,
nicaIly speaking, a tune ma.
consist of one or more parts
The idea of introducing tn
, eisteddfed in this country could b
made remunerative 50 well as yer,
beneficial, but in selecting you
subject for competition you sheul
always have an eye to business
The committee of arrangement
7 who are entrusted with the people
B means as wise servants, should loo
ito the returns. Fer instance, choi
singing should be introduced, fou
or five pieces selected, and plenty Q
time given to learn them to pei
lection; and prices awarded for til
best rendition. But at the campo
tition meeting there is no necessit
= of singing more than one, and tia
\ one will be selected at the meetin
} by the judges. Quartetts, trio
duets, solos, recitations, ETC., etc
can be introduced by taking thi
course. You will readily perceiv
that you have the material on han
for a grand concert in the evenin
at which all the choirs will unite s
ono lad nv the victorious cOnduct(