The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-06
Art for The People.


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.J Art for the People.
The experiment Of oduoating the musical
taste OF the American people. by means Of
free public concerts, has been initiated In
New York under tho most gratifying auspices.
A few months ago bequest Of the lato Mr..
JULIUS HALLaARTEN gave practical shape
to an idea which had long been stirring In
the minds Of . few ardent lovers Of music
tho Idea. namely. Of affordlng an opportunity
Of enjoying tho best kind Of music to people
whose lack Of means or habits OF LIE had
hitherto kept Thorn from taking On interest In
any sort Of artistic culture. With the HALL
aAHTEN fund as nucleus. a sufficient sum
was promptly rnised to insure three first
class orchestral performances this season,
and society was organized TO transform the
movement into q permanent institution.
Tho first OF these concerts occurred on the
Gath OF February. tho second on tho 30th Of
March, In Strinway Hail. The tickets had
boon carefully distributed among artisans.
tradespeople, newspaper cOinDositors. en-
ployees OF city railways md factories, &C.,
and on ench occasion the hall was filed to its
utmost capacity with quiet, Intelligent,
aud appeciativo audience. Tho pro-
granimcs were made up OF selections from
the works of BACH, BEETHOVEN, WAGNER.
MozART, ScHuNtlNN, WEBER, MENDELssoHN,
and others, and under tho leadership OF Mr..
THEODORE THOMAS, tho orchestra (which Is
composed OF tho same material as that OF
tho Philharmonic Society performed its
part with characteristic precision, fire, and
intelligence 1t was very evident that for
Mr.. THOMAS, rs well as for his men, the task
was labor Of love.
The guilty of these programmes explains
tho nature of the movement. which Is neither
one OF charity nor OF amusement, but OF
education. With this purpose In view, the
directors OF the society from tho very outset
rejected tho idea of charging even nominal
price Of admission. Their object would be
defeated by such course ms efrcctuully as
would BIO that OF our public schools, free
libraries, or the Cooper Union by cXacting
payment for the use OF their educational
privileges.
Unemployment Of the best music develops
the higher faculties OF tho mind. Through
it the car Is disciplined. tho spirit is Gained
and elevated, tho sense Is soothed and
refreshed, and tho gates arc opened 10
q whole world Of beauty and art from
which the tOiling inmates Of our tene-
ment houses have hitherto been shut out
Socially speaking, human beings are united
mainly through their pleasures, tastes, and
mental resources; where these ARE not shared
and mutually understood, there can DO NO
true equality and sympathy.
BY II most vicious habit, In the minds Of
both rich and poor, art Is too apt to DO con-
sidercd only In connection with luxury.
Music, pictures, sculpture, architecture, and
the drama appear to be no less the preroga-
tives OF tho rich than epicurean fare, sump-
tuous household appointments, aud oil the
supe:fluous ornaments and trinkcts that cn-
cumber the lives OF tho wealthy. This Is
an absurd error. Once for oil 1t must bo
recognized that art Is simple. necessary and
unrelated to all these. As sunshine Is to tho
body so Is art to tho mind. 1t is essentially
the property and heritage OF the people, and
only when they possess 1t does It reveal it's
full strength and accomplish its noblest mis-
sion. 1t was sent into the world rs tho re-
freshment and the bcautiflcr Of labor, and It
must again become what IL has been in all
great periods of art DEVELOPMENT, tho solace
and delight. not of few, but of every one.
Tho question Is often asked with varying
pe" We venture to say that until tho for
nation OF the Peoples Concert Society not
tho first stcp had bcen taken to enable us to
ascertain tho true reply to the query. Popu-
lar art can only spring from the masses. yet
wo republicans havo treated art in q moro
aristocratic spirit than the fcudal States Of
Europe, where the great galleries with THOR
paintings, tho cathedrals with their music,
arc open to all. Here, whore we have no
public galleries Of importance, and no stately
temples Of worship, the only art whose clas-
sio masterpieces have been introduced among
us has been hitherto enjoyed by limited
circle OF fortunate diletianii who bear no pl O.
portion to the mass, and furnish US with no
data whatever as to tho undevcloped artistic
capacities Of the people, The avllity with
which the latter seize the first opportunity
| OF higher culture In this direction, tho seri-
ousncss and intelligence which they bring to
bear upon It's appreciation, encourage the
brightest hopes for tho future Of music In
| America.
As tho society will depend upon volun.
| tary contributions for its maintenance, 1t
is to be hoped that it will meet with ear.
nest and substantial recognition on tho part
OF tho general public. Ali pcrsons arc eligi-
bic to membership on tho annual payment Of