The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-18
4 MORE MUSIC.
&apters For Cultured Citizens.
herein Memphis is Retrograding,
With Reasons Why.
keflections Over Past Failures at
Organization of Talent.
Dive the Gifted Inhabitants Some
thing to Rally Around.
fh0 limo at Hand For a Grand Music
Hall Movement--A Piano Quartet,
Styling Themselves the
"Wagner Club"


III "Wagner Club"
AWhat is there in the composition of the
@yemphis musician, amateur, seni.proies.
seional and professional, that makes II
utterly impossible for him or her to join
4 hands with those OF similar endowments
for mutual pleasure and the promotion Of
the art? That there is something, and a
quality evidently unknown to those with
out the circle, stands proven 10y tho his
tory OF every organization among them
formed in this city since the day when
s musical gifts found Judgment on local
soil. Atperiods in the career OF these So
\ cieties il really looked as il the prophecies
of an early dissolution under distressing
circumstances would fail OF fulhllmcnt.
That same old evil genius, which seems
ever to flop its wings in devilish gee over
organized music in Memphis, was on
watch. however, and the city is today al
most unknown in the music world, par,ic.
ularly in the vocal line.
II Is needless to speak Of the few lead.
ing causes Tor this unhappy state Of affairs,
petty jealousies standing at the head.
This line OF argument was thoroughly and
iorcibly discussed ina paper by Mr.. Emile
Levy, which appeared in the valuable
issue OF THE APPEAL Of September |. But
another mild explanation, and one
hitherto unapplied. ID the absence OF u
liberal policy toward the musical people
Isstf J. Il
citation OF the art less the power 10 actively
participate in iis maintenance and deycl-
opment. These really COOL people in al
most every other respect seem 30 hc in a
comat0so condition, unsteady speaking,
when appealed 10 for both moral and
financial aid in Us upbuilding. Except in
one or two instances, along time AGO, have
they been known TO rally around the
union and start IL onward and upward
With genuine aboriginal crcsccndo. Per-
haps the active members OF these short.
lived ventures are 10 blame for the lacl. OF
substantial sympathy in part, at least be-
cause ol their frequent internal chickering's
and strife. Before their organization has
b., "a n existence q year, the membership
somehow manages TO become dwuricd by
hctional squabblcs aud general dsconient,
moving out OF Nj. his, real or iancied,
BIZ the directors in assigning prominent
paris in public entertainments
Without holding out any positive as
suranccs that this condition will be
Changed by its acceptance, TnE APPEAL
submits plan Of procedure for the near
future, asking for il consideration ai the
hands Of those who believe with Il that
there should be a union OF the musical tai
| q lao stHs al he
| tcnt aud practical business rules and reg
hiions rs TO prevent a repetition Of past
| Experiences With definite and perma-
nent abiding place or headquarters, those
| f1ciorB which have hitherto entered with
dhrupting effect may be kept out Give
| any class Of people something inviting 10
| jabor for, some laudablc ambition 10 at
| inin, some substantial interest 10 subsctvc,
and there is n powerful incentive and ten
dcncy TO east aside minor differences
whenever they arise, 90 the end that
| tho one grandcr object may be achieved.
Had the philosophical aud wealthy citi-
IONS caused 60 DC erected a music hall 81
modern architecture aud appliances, suit
able for any proper demand. yet
scli.sustaining outside Of the local society.
the problem would be solved. Nominal
dues would provide for the organization =
running expenses, including capable III
rector and other necessary attachments.
Business affairs should be kept ia the
hands ~ a strictly business but congcnial
committee. Surely an elaboration OF the
>-~intagcs TO Memphis arising lrOm such
an institution il not called for. Mcmphi.
Is q city with grand future lowering near,
inpatient for an invitation TO enter and
reign through all coming years The time
]. al. .HH.
turned 10 uncxamplpd account Even the
man OF ordinary intelligence is aware that
the smaller towns, made up of cultivated,
music-loying, understanding inhabitants
who at brief and stated intervals turn
their talents and organization 10 account
for the pleasure Of their ncighb0rs, ihcil
friends and themselves never die anl sci
dom stand still, even for day. II thoy
do not assume and hold lead, Il h be-.
cause Of insurmountablc obstacles. Bring
into existence the hall, nm organization Of
surprising dimensions and merit will FOL.
low, aud the city will NJ no distant las
take It's place In the world OF elevated
music, society and business.
The writer In recent conversation
4 with MIR. Emile Levy, heard statements
i which should more than ever determine
II lht lfnEfor.lNc tlNlfns OF MtNllhlh "
rise in their strength and influence and
throw of the weights that have held them
back in this regard. Mr.. Levy is not Ia,
lnan 10 deal Ia idle iancics and gauzy TO
Ananccs. lie has probably done more ic
elevate and inspire musical tastes aud de-
slrcs than any man whose fortunes arc nov
cast with Memphis That grander result,
have not followed Is simply because Of III,
absence Of accommodations for bis heroic
efforts and sterling attractions, aud the facI
that these drawbacks have rendered Il alb
soluicly impossible TO repeat them Will
more frequency. Mr.. Levy has recently
returned from somewhat proiracicd visit
10 New York, where his name and fam,
afo well known. While there be wa
called upon by n score OF more u
the mos. eminent artists known &
i this generation OF Americans. They wen,
from both the vocal and instrumental
Il branches, from the great aggrogatons ID
talent, the small but famous conc ri com
panics. and the managers Of single stars
j lie was also approached for contracts will
celebrities In the lecture world. In short
a there l. not a combination OF talent tina
ever takes the road which lie could ne