Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-16

fairly be deemed fit members of true or.
| chestra. No man who spends his time play.
/ ing dance tunes and potpourris, and these
only in the most rudimentary scoring, is
able to step off-hand into good, complete
orchestra and do justice to his part.
Here lies the next step ahead. And it is
now time for it to be taken. The orchestral
players of this city may now feel assured
that it will be worth their while to band
themselves together fer their own practice
and Improvement in high class ensemble
work. The need of good, complete or
chestra is now more generally realized than
ever before; the public will be ready, it is
confidently believed, to support such an or
ganiZation just as soon as the players can
perfect themselves individually and effect
an organization competent for the purpose.
The public will not move in the matter.
The initiative must be taken by the profess
sional players themselves.
This is the immediate practical duty of
the Allegheny County Musicians Union,
in which now are gathered most of the play
ers competent for this work. The leaders of
that body have the matter under earnest
consideration, and it is to be strongly hoped
that actual steps in this direction will at
once be taken.
In the current Etude Mr.. Edward Baxter
Perry, the we'll remembered pianist and
musical writer makes a strong appeal
against the frivolity and dilletantism that
constantly crops out in speaking of music.
The following porti ons of his article, in par
ticular, deserve earnest consideration from
all:
1t would be impossible to account for lhe
state of affairs described above, save upon the
An-.AN ~ IA
it is to be regretted too many professional
musicians, as well, seek or recognize in music
only a sensuous pleasure for the ear. To them
a melody. a succession of harmonies, is agree
able or disagreeable to the auditory nerve, just
as pudding sauce is pleasant or otherwise to
the palate; and this may, perhaps account for
the light esteem in which music and musicians
have been so generally held in the past.
If musician admits himself to be only
minister to sensuous pleasure, his lofty voca-
tion sinks at once and, perforce, to the level of
the pastry cook. Other, avoiding this fragrant
error, pride themselves upon finding in music a
miloly intellectual satisfaction in following the
intricacles and discovering the symmetries of
form; pleasure exactly similar to and anala-
gous with that of a young girl in tracing the de-
sign of an elaborate piece of embroidery. All
physical, by the other to the mental at
tributes of music, regardless that 1t has
psychical side as well. Now, maintain that
sound and form no more make up the whole of
up the whole of poetry 1 argue the existence
of an immortal soul within the tenement of
tones or words. Any composition which does
not appeal either to the imagination or the
emotions, which addresses the senses and the
intellect solely, l hold TO be a bastard, having
right neither to the name of music nor kinship
with the legitimate members of that exalted
family. 1t is the incarnate emotion within the
tonal form which gives it at once its life princi-
pie and its musical rank. That the form in
which the composer chooses I'd materialize his
Quickened creations should be one of beauty,
is an axiom beyond dispute, is but compliance
with the laws of technical symmetry which
rightfully govern his art but no sensuous
beauty, no symmetry of outline can save a
vacant or feebly animated organism from ulti-
mate annihiation.
The true endeavor of the music student or
the music lover should be to stimulate and de-
velop in himself, as far as possible, discrim-
mating insight into the vital principles of his
art the power to perceive the life beneath the
shell, the soul within its symmetrical form, to
distinguish and analyze for himself and others
the different phases of emotion which it
awakens to follow the subtle train of thought
or fancy which it suggests; thus making of
arts temple, not banqueting hall for the in
dulgence of sensuous pleasure. but a sanctuary
for soul elevation. for mind and heart training,
a place from which he shall come forth daily
nobler and Wiser