The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-10-15
On Musical COnductorship.
BY PROF. Won MEYERHoFF.

Isit difficult to conduct? In the
higher sense it is impossible to one
III whom certain qualities are net
Unborn. But what do you mean by
CONDUCT? % lead. Whom? A
body OF singers and players. Well,
we'll, now, you mean it takes two to
conduct, one who conducts, and one
who is conducted. Do you want to
be conducted? No sir. Do you
wish to conduct? Yes. Have you
field marshal's talent? Are you n
virtuosD, completely master Of one
or more musical instruments? Have
you personal magnetism? Force OF
character? Self cOnfldence, energy,
presence OF mind, power OF ready
adaptation, and the gift OF speech ?
Can you compose. analyze, invent?
Completely enter into the musical
ideas OF other composers, and have
YOU a keen sense for the beautiful,
aesthetic taste, experience? Do you
feel certain OF being able to give
yourself up completely to the ap-
pointed task, and have you the phys.
zeal strength to carry i through
without exhaustion? Do yon know
the characteristics and powers OF
the voice and the musical instru.
ments in their different registers and
relations to one another? Have you
heard much that Is beautiful and
good? Do you like to w0rk hard ?
Have You competent forces to con-
duet? Have you teachable forces,
animated with a good will. who SUBJ
or,linat. themselves in full trust to
their leader, aud are they inspired
with artistic Joy? Can you be har-
raised without harrassing others?
Suffer without making others suffer?
Can you beat time plainly, correctly,
distinctly and definitely? Is your
head clear, your eye sharp, your ear
exact. your hand steady? Have you
acquired Independent control over
hands, wrists and. arms? Have you
knowledge u the musical grammar,
harmony, thoroughbAss musical
form, transposition and Of compost.
ton? Are you student? Can you
teach and obtain sound. effects? Can
YOU always remain master Ut the
situation? Have you good sense,
penetration, Judgment. memory, en-
durance, patience? Do you COM
mand ready wit, good humor. and
self denial? Can you hear what you
see, and see what you hear? Can
YOU make haste without being in u
J hurry? Can you think polyphonic.
and do fifty or Il hundred things at .
time? Can you read score" at
i sight? Have you power OF feeling.
self control, impetus, ''fortiter in re, :
and "sEaviter In Modo," ut will ut
your command? Have you much
ready skill? Can you suggest torti,
bianO. stacc1tO, legatO, energetic or
quiet styles, phraseology. by differ
ent styles OF beat? Can you be more
useful than ornamental? Are You
self possessed? Can you master
:. your nervousness, and preserve q
business like tact to prevent curry
or undue excitement? Aud agaiu
carry your forces by enthusiasm
By a governing and stimulating
power? Desist from all familiarity:
encourage and sustain? Conceal
defects? Use weaknesses to good
/ advantage? Can you write and cor
rect music for voices and instru'
ments, and transpose parts? Car
you sing? Have you enough know
ledge to know little? Dan you bs
great enough to be small? Gan you
blame SO it sounds like praise? Oar
you be useful before, during, anf
after rehearsals and concerts? Oar
you criticise without comparing per
4 formers, philosophically, without
+ being personal? Are you still abl'
: to improve? Gan you arrange Ct
fective programmes Are you
Psychologist? Have you II powerful
will? Is your influence based upni
i: observing the laws Of God nnd man
Are you courageous and brave
!, Middle aged? Combine ability will
wisdom? Have you sense ofequity
q Did you learn the art Of fencing an,
h hoxings Are your motives noble
q Have you power Of concentration
, devotion? Arc you a Hero? In
vincible, philanthropieal. Il person
J integrity, prohity? DO you kno'
|, human nature, religion and noras.
n Are you appraised Of your virtues
!, vices. excellencies aud Weaknesses
= Gracious heaven! did you say n
y this In one b cath?
Well, well, now, why did you In
ic terrnpt me? was just eeginnin
of to exnpand tho difficulties of cor
ldurti1s. -