New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-05
MUSIC TEA CHEFS IN OIlI0A 90.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION IN SESSION.
PERFORMING THE WORKS OF AMERICAN con-
posERs-ExAMINATIoNs FOR DEGREES IN
THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF MUsIcIANA

THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF MUsIcIANA
rBr rsLreRAp. TO THE TRIBUNAL
| Chicago, July Ain the economy Of the MusIs
| Teachers National Association, which began its
twelfth annual meeting here yesterday, there arc FRAT
ures which keep its direct influence for good at
minimum and limit 1t practically to tho teachers who
| happen TO attend the meeting This has been the
from the beginning, and Is due principally TO tho
plan OF organization IL is not delegated body and
thorc Is no provision for arriving at consensus OF
| opinion on any subject Of musical pedagogics
| which Is discussed, Of crystallIzing ARD
vItaIlzlng tho wisdom which may happen to
DO developed in the deilberatve sessions OF tho asso
ciaon IL IS for this reason that many Of tho thor
oughy educated musicians who attend the annual meet
| ngs, and give them weight and dignity, look to tho
American College Of Musicians, which meets at tho
same time, a sort Of upper house OF the musical
parliament for those acts and influences which to
lead TO bcitcTmeD methods in teaching, and TO an
elevation OF tho ~ ,iessona standard Tho National
Association Is ; Jang society, and its influence Is
Individual and Meeting. II is an experience meeting,
in which, so far opportunity for expressing opin-
ions goes, the glib tongued ignoramus stands the
| same footing with the trained and serious minded
musical educator The American College Of Musicians
on the contrary IS practical Institution, which does
| not talk listen to talk 1t acts Since Monday
candidates for It's degrees have been undergoing
amnations in tho rooms Of tho Municipal Board OF
rank of the profession in America DR.. Ma
| son, II. NJ. Bowman, g. r. Warren and
| W. II. Sherwood, Of York; s. B.
whitney, of Boston; John c. Fillmore Of Milwaukee,
Clarence Eddy, Frederick Grant Gleason, Of Chicago:
and W. W. Gchrist, Of Philadelphia, have conducted
the examinations OF about twenty-five candidates. and
the methods which they follow sound and fair the
requirements dgnifed and lofty plane that there
can be no doubt but the work Of the college win tend
to the general uplifting Of musical instruction In the
| United States The standard which has been main
taned from the beginning high one, and up to the
present timo scarcely mort than onethird OF tho
didates for associate degrees have been successful,
while the candidates for the higher degree OF fellow OF
the college have been few. But there has been no
relaxation in the requirements and the examiners have
been encouraged IN their work by the discovery THAI
large number Of the unsuccessful candidates havo
presented themselves for examination second time.
The dcnonstrativc examination in the pianoforte do
partment Is conducted In such manner that the
examiners do not see the candidate, but SIT behind
screen while the candidate demonstrates his technical
ability at pianofnrte in front Besides this test,
which IS made exceedingly comprehensive, written ex-
amlnaons required in Technology, acoustics, his
tory Of music harmony, counterpoint, FORM and what
may generally be termed musical pedagogcs. At
the annual meeting Of the college last night, IL was
determined that hereafter these demonstrave examfna-
lions may be held By dcputed head examiner and two
local examiners In any Nnctc tnc Cohrsc mas
resident members though the papers on theory viii
have to 60 to headquarters at NewYork for rating This
resolution establishes local sessions in New-YorE,
Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, and two or threo
other cities The results Of the present examinations
will be announced Friday f. NJ Bowman was
reelected president Robert Bonner of Provdencescc-
rotary; Clarence Eddy and s. B. Whitney, vicepres-
idents and Johann Beck, OF Cleveland, was added 10
the examiners in the violin department.
One feature OF the annual meeting OF the Teachers
Association, which IS entitled TO the respect OK all
patriotic music lovers is the series OF concerts OF Amer
lean music of which the first took place In tho Ex-
position Building this evening under the direction OF
Theodore Thomas. The concerts to be three In
number and belong at the same time TO the summer
enert ailments which Mr.. Thomas began on Monday
and are last till August f. The programmes, how
ever, are specially prepared by committee OF the
association, and the forces have been augmented BY
solo performers and chorus OF the latter am tho
more glad to be able speak in praise since 10 ap
pears that its organizers and Slas g. Pratt Its train
err have had to contend against many obstacles In
preparing for the work Of the festival concerts IL
speaks at In praise OF the excellence and wealth
of Chicago choral resources, and in condemnation OK
the petty jealouscs which were the cause OF such
state of affairs that the chorus called into being
without the cooperation Of the Apollo Club an or
ganlzatlon which is among the best Of its kind In tho
United States. That In spite of the refusal OF tho
Apollo Club to participate, satisfactory choir could
be brought together for merely temporary purpose,
speaks well for the voices and the enthusiasm OF
Chcago's amateur choristcrs, and the patience and
skill of Mr.. Pratt. The balance OF voices was nos
perfect the national weakness In the tenor choir max
Ing itself felt, matter of course but the choir was
commercially prompt in attack, sang with consd-
cradle degree of precision and expression ana tnero
was that youthful freshness in the quality OF the voices
and that whole hearted energy which circumstances
arc compelling me to look upon as specifically west
ern quality The choir IS about $50 strong.
The programme Of tonights concert comprised the
first movement of orchestral composition entitled
@SkrnismaI, by Johann Beck of Cleveland, SYM
phonIc cantata for male chorus, soprano and baritone
soil and orchestra Praise Song to Harmony by
Frederic Grant Gleason, of Chicago; Gregs concerto
for pianoforte; The VIII o. the Wisp," for female
chorus and orchestra, by Louis Mas, OF Boston,
suite for strings By Arthur Foote, Of Boston, and
selections from setting of the 126h Psalm for solos,
chorus and orchestra, by C. c. Converse OF Ene' Penn
Mr. Beck's movemC ut is portion of work which
Is unique in its proportions as In its style and pue-
pose. Taking 1t alone, should call 1t sort OF SYM
phonic fantasia but It is only one movement OF set
of five In which the composer has undertaken to depict
unsteady an episode from the elder Edda Mr. Beck
is young and ambitious. He goes to the poetic source
from which Wagner drew material for his teraogy,
but unlike Wagner, he relies upon the symphonic ap
parans entirely for Ms ey 6 oi god IN Nos
mythology, In series OF music pieces nS IA \.
the the warming Which sizes Frey, when from oadins air
throne In Asgarde he catches sight Of the beauteous
Gerd, daughter of one OF the giants In Jotunhcm
OF course, IL is programme music, ana as such IL -
subject I'm the first instance TO the criticism that there
Il a want OF obvious Conference beween It's avowea
purpose and the music. The descriptive title doe.
not throw much light upon the composition does NOT
add materially To its significance The composiion it
self is chiefly interesting exhibition Of hishly;
credltable command OF the technics OF
orchestral writing and the SERIOUSNESS
of the youpg composers ideals. There
is no strict adherence TO symphonic form, though inc
old constructive principles lie at It's base THIS mo~
ever is not necessarily TO be set down as isult IN
itself II simply added to the disappointment felt he
cause helped make manifest want of homoseneouSs
continuity of idea and the absence OF pronounced
Significant and plastic subject in the work, Inss
melodc material did not strikinsly correspond WIN
the alleged emotional contents. Frey's longing Tor
Gerd was a mighty lovchunger which made MN
sacrifice the sword he needed at RagnaroA , ths