Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-29
THE MUSIC WORLD.
Andrew Carnegle's Observations
Upon Musical Matters.
LITTLE ORGANS VS.. BIG ORGANS.
The Imperative Need for Good Instrument
in PittSburg.
GOSSIP ABOUT OUR LOCAL MUSICIANS

In the many discussions of Mr.. Andrew
Carnegie's observations upon musical maj
ters in Pittsburg, contained in THE DIS'
PATCH interview of some ten days since
the matter of an organ for the Carnegi'
Library and Music Hall, in Allegheny, ma
naturally received less attention than haV'
the more general interests involved. IL is
matter of no small Importance, however
and one still open for comment. Inc loi
lowing portion of the interview turnlshe
the text:
Large organs are now voted mistake
Organ recitals are not attractive. met Mr.
Chickering and Mr.. Damrosch at Bar Har
Dor last week. and they SO stated. A small
organ of fine quality, to act as an accompan
iment, is best, and this is the decision com'
to in regard to our music hall in New
York"
An issue is here clearly raised as between
an organ for solo use and one designed
especially for accompanimental purposes
If this issue be ultimately decided in favor
of the latter side-as the above words would
seem to make quite probable-there would
be material differences both in size and In
specifications between the organ erected anc
the organ really needed.
1t is doubtless true that another large
organ for recital purposes is not at all need
ed in New York, and that such one IL
not desideratum for the new music hall IN
which Mr.. Carnegie is so largely helping
to house the 0ratorio Society there Con-
ductor Damrosch, of course, wants the In
strument for Accomplishments, and Mr..
Chickering has very likely found but little
profit from recitals upon the organ in the
hall that bears his name. The reason
for all this lies in the fact that
the METROPOLIS already has a number
of complete organs that are available for re-
citals-most of them in the churches, whose
authorities are liberal-minded enough to see
no harm in using a consecrated edIfce for
refining and elevating music, even on week
days. Organ recitals. scores upon scores of
them, are given each season in the New
York churches. Judging from the attend
ance, they are decidedly attractive. too.
But Of course, with church doors thus wide
open, there is little or no demand for re-
citals elsewhere.
-
In Psttsburg, however, the conditions are
radically different. The churches do not,
unless in the rarest instances, permit their
instruments to be utilized in this way. In
deed, most of them refuse even to allow
deserving students to practice. There is
only one organ in the two cities available
for general use in either practice or re-
cital; and that lonesome organ is very far
from being complete, beside being usually
more or less out OF order.
As the inevitable result Of such condi-
tions. organ music here stands Just about at
the foot of the list, the "King of Instru-
ments" reigns but in the scullery The
overwhelming majority of our regular con-
cert goers, those most interested in music of
any species, have never heard single organ
recital and are destitute of any true concep-
ton of the full capabilities ofthe,instrument. of
Knowing nothing better, these good folk in
their respective churches are content to lis
ten Sunday after Sunday to the lame and
impotent efforts of brood of amateur organ
lists (this comes perilouslv near homeO who,
even if they be capable of better things,
have neither incentive nor opportunity to
attain to them.
The crying, - 81 ative need ofthis whole
important department of music in Pittsburg
is the presence of an organ, as complete as
possible, in some public place, where it can
be utilized, on the one hand, by our organ
players in actual practice and in learning
what a properly balanced organ really is;
and, on the other hand, in the giving of re-
cltals by frst-class organists, so as to show
students and the people at large what good
organ playing and good organ music
really is.
1t is pity that when Rooseyelt's repre-
sentative stopped over here the other day en-
route for Chicago (where the largest organ
in the country is to be put into the huge
auditorium, it was too late to build an
organ in time for the opening of the Car
negie Library building. The commission
could not tell until few weeks ago whether
there would be enough money left in their
hands to pay for an organ. On finding that
there would be, they would no doubt have
made the contract with Mr.. Elbert had they
not been determined to have no unfinished
work on their hands at the time of turning
over the building to the city. A $40, 900 or
S12, 900 instrument, such as was then talked
OF, would admirably fill the bill in a hall
seating 200 persons.
Be it devoutly hoped that an organ of at
least that size and quality, well balanced
and fully equipped for recital purposes.
may be erected in the new hall-and that
right speedily-whether by the commission,
the city, or the donor himself.
w
In subscribing for so of the $40 associate
memberships in the Mozart Club and dis
tributing the same among his clerks. Mr..
Carnegie mas made the best kind of a Begin
ming as patron saint of music in Pitts
burg.
1t is really better than if he had given the
club big lump sum, or had absolutely
guaranteed all its expenses. Such aid
helps the club along on its normal, natural
path. 1t is stimulating, not stunning; en-
couraglng, not enervating. Especially
when coupled with assurances of Mr..
Ca-negie's personal interest in the club.
with advice to 'plan big" and with the
request to be kept informed of the clubs
progress and needs from time to time.
Assistance Of this kind must needs incite
the members of the club to put forth their
own best efforts 10 make the season sue
cessful. 1t sets an example that
many merchants and business men
might well follow, and does not re-
lieve local music-lovers from the
duty of supporting their own leading
society. In this, as in other benefactions'
Mr.. Carnegie's help is of that practical
nature that develops the greatest useful
ness by requiring its recipients to share in
helping themselves.
By the way, in the Mozart Clubs plans
for the season, it is to be hoped that the
matter of analytical or descriptive pro-
grsmmes is receiving attention. Such aids
to the appreciation and enjoyment of their
concerts should no longer be neglected.
No doubt Mr.. Wilson, Mr.. Kre6biel or
some of the other Eastern critics who con-
stantly do this sort of thing could be got to
write the programmes for fee that could be
regained out of their sale at the concerts.