New-York tribune., 1885-07-02

n
idclatry. The public are tckle The garlands they
twine," schumann. they always pull to pieces
%so na how 20 ausa hcm g Sce
sucn gaan worth the sacrifice OF artistic manhoodf
we're possible ior the critic to withhold them ana oner M
musician be his debtori Conccdng that the public are
likely to save them from the and
instability which they show with relation to music and
peope-a vast hotch poch Of varied and contradictory
eements at the base do not represent the pure gold
we are engaged IN conquerng continent; employed In
mad scramble FOR material things the elements are but
Is TO be composed We give feverish hours to win the
comfort for bodies that take only seconds to
joy; the moments which steal from our labofs We
give to rclsxaton and that this relaxation como
quickly ask that the agents which to produce It
shall appeal TO tho faculties that che most easily
reached. Whence under these circumstances are to
come the intellectual polse the refined taste the quc!
and power OF analysis which Must precede correct
estimate OF the value OF piece OF music or its perform
These .hggs are not s.s rsaSv Of
with Into this world. Whatever principles or ma
legitimate and Just taste can neither be forgotten made
conceived produced without the anecedent labor ana
pains OF criticism Grant that this antecedont criticism
Is the province Of the Critic and that he approaches ever
so remotely fuhnont Of It's mission In this regard
and win venture question the and the need
Of criticism to the promotion OF puhlio opinion In this
work the critic has great advantage the musician
The musician appeals to tho public with elusive sounds
When he gets past the tylnpanum OF the (which Is
not always the cas he works the emotions and he
fancy. he public have time let him do for
the they refer him tho critic whose business Is
to hear mnsc for the % OF o r1Tns bas
both ne and the OBLIGATION to snayze the reasons why
aud the extent TO which the faculties are stirred into
activity by the music Is 1t not thon absurd 10 say tha
the critic should not be better able to distinguish the
from the inerericious than the unndvidualizcd multi
ude who satisfied with the tckngs OF pleasure ana
content 10 learn tho why they enjoyed t1em
selves from their favotte ewspaper next m0rnngi Ana
right hero thought little out OF the order of the argi
mcnt: Tint critic who awakens and encourages thls
desire tho part of the public to know why they we-e
pleasuraby moved by a musical performance proves
himself 10 be possessed Of ono OF tho most valuable ana
rares Of critical qualities. and l. doing an incalcablc
| service to both musician and puolic.
The muscan better than any ono else knows now I'M
possible 1t escape the 1t Is his plain duty to
raise standard utterances relative to his art by
conceding the rights OF the critic aud encouraging
honesty, fearlessness. impartiay and intelligence
Whenever he fnds them 70 this end ne must cast way
many sntquated aud foolish prejudices. He must CON
fess with Wagner that blame Is much more useful to
to destruction because he fauted deserves
ton. lie must to that only musician Is
entitled TO critlcse u musician and while abatng not
ono iot from his requirements a. ~ knowledge, sym
pathy berality. broadmiEdcoues4. candor aud ncor-
rnpbiltiy the part Of the critic he must quit tho
foolish clsm that to pronounce upon the eIceence OF
ragOu mnst be able TO cook II; II he VIII not go
further he must. with the elder DIsraeI TO
tho saying the talent of Judgment may
| exist separately from the power of execution
great and presented them to Apollo. The god
cevod the gilt Graoousy and so before the critic bag
oi wheat with the command ihat no separate the chu
from the kernels The crtc did the work win aacriy
and turning to Apollo for hs reward Ieccs ed the onh
Nothlng coud more "plo-ieb snow u- ".at cl'iSin ,
should not be than this rare old legend critics duty
o admire wc 10 mud fault Ia the proportion that
defects apparent he should increase his efforts to DIS
duty Holding H. the critic will bring besides all needfn
kuowlcdrc fulluess Of love into MS work. " Where
svmraihy f. lacking correct judgment Is also laekng
said Ncndclssohn; and scimann showed how thi- love
wohld Ind its manifestation when he said that the
highest criticism that which LETT after it an impress
zion Ike that called ct by the art work obviously this
~ The work aud thcr he be carried only on the
vehicle of love Tho critic should be the mediator ana
| gpr he eynuhDiltsts
List echrol attempt 10 10 for themseves by means or
prograrmc. he should excite curiosity arouse deeper IN
Put FOR THE Oh he should not ail 20 encourage healthy
reverence and admiration. To do both these things he
must know s duty 10 the past. The present and ths
fntnre and adjust each duty 20 The other such adjust
ment IS only po'sbe hs knows tho mnsc o the past
and aad quick In percey.ns c be1t ana out
S,'n. a. % n'.e, s,,i,g' n ~, .' ,,,, Soe fuou, r,~ ia
hls allegiance O. hs ideals nnswervahle 10 hf in gritty
You ssy That INC avefage ne Npap.f trVe~er u' ne %
reach hs planet c can De- hcip.d :" rcach II ~ tAe
musician and the public The three factors are ot
level; critic the ea shan The musician
the pablc iut he as conscientious In h' province
either and 20 verify believe Aat Lne tcnths OF tue
eva SPOKEN OF hiHi IA ealumny.
few matters Of business followed Mr. krehoieFs
essay and concluded the morning session. In tue after
g. t. capcn. OF Boston. read paper arguing the
necessity of study OF harmony before oOunterpont
and composition. dlscussiou which followed
Was switched 20 tack y suggestion made -
r. NJ Bowman. OF ST. Louis that the association OF Us
upper house, the American College OF Musicians.
appoint a Board OF Censors for the purpose OF
encouraging composition by stamping It's appro' al
on worthy compo.tons. = proposition which cid not
meet With general favor. moro animated discussion
called the next subject. Music IN the Public
Schools presented ny George r Bristow. oi y. Y, ~
Cocsfewar % Cleveland. audit Z seward OF orangeN j.
Mr Brstows paper scahln gcllt!csn of the ncou
pcto and faulty system of instruction nforced
by the Eoard of Education, and prefaced by his
torca sketch oil the so Of school instruction IA nusicin
this city, which showed that It had grown up by
chance.
some words OF Mr. Stewart showed that a majority OF
the convention favored the movable DO system" Mr.
ard championod The Tonic sofia tystcm, which las
won great popularity and stirred up hornets most
Several teachers confessed that they had been
converted to the system By Invest CATION Of It's
results asserting that he could teach children to sing
by means Of 1t Ave times quickly us 10y the old stan
notaiOl The y stem vigorously attacked however
especially by Dr Palmer who said Its success IN Ing
land was due TO It's teachers W. II. Stanley
with tenor air from Judas Maccabacus suggested
the sounding OF ALARM which restored quiet aud en-
abrd the association listen I'm harmonious spirit TO
Bec,hovcn's sonata op l06. admirably played b. Mr.
Faeten.