Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-20
THE MUSIC WORLD.
Successful Performers Not the Only
Product of Musical Study.
REAL OBJECT TO BE ATTAINED.
What ChautauQua Furnishes to Lovers Of
the Art This Season.
LATE GOSSIP OF TIE TWO CITIES

It all depends upon the point of view.
An esteemed cotemporary in its musical
'1eader" yesterday urges every pupil to
ponder over the question: "Am fitted to
attain a measure of success in music?" The
sttitude of the article is shown clearly in
these sentences:
A year, or less, Of conscientious effort will,
in most cases. demonstrate the pupils fitness
for music or the reverse. Thereafter it is for
her to decide whether the ranks of mediocrIty
are to be augmented by one member or not.
Unless pupil shows real apti-
tude, she occupies a false and embarrassing
position before relatives and friends and
tie public in general. 1t is good
sense to weigh well the pros and cons, and then,
having decided, to resolutely give up course
Such decision should be reached by many
now enjoying the summer vacation.
From the point of view of the family, the
next-door neighbors and the frequenters of
private musieales, the above advice is emf
nently sound. So it is, too, from the stand
point of those poor young folks who, for
mere fashions sake, are set to learn to play
or sing, and who fall into the hands OF a
teacher with no idea above coaching pupils
to show off a certain glib facility
in the latest waltz or the newest popular
regard music as nothing more than a fash
ionable accomplishment, mere medium
for showing off" before an admiring circle
of listeners, more or less numerous, that
must be deemed good advice. which tends
to decrease the number of mediocre per-
formers thrust upon their attention.
But is this point of view correct? Is it
right that the sole, or even the chief, object
of musical study should be to make per-
formers of any kind. good or bad?
Not at all. Music affords to most
people the best and easiest-to
many almost the only-mode of
absolutely vital department of mans higher
nature. The aesthetic emotions bear most
intimate relation to character, which is the
central object of all education. The first
and greatest aim of true musical study,
therefore, must needs be to develop the stu
dents own love for and appreciation of
music
Mark that well. The prime value of
musical study is in getting the pupil to take
personal interest in music for its-and his
own sake, to make of it language for
those sweet, indefinite emotions which he
cannot put in words, to find in it ready
and sympathetic friend in those moods that
no human friend can understand, or re.
Last night young man who makes no
pretense whatever of being musical, while
listening to comrade strumming idly and
not very artistically on the guitar, said to
the writer: 81 often feel as if 1 would give
anything to be able to get off by myself and
just play away at something like that"
Everyone knows just such states of feeling,
and if musical study did nothing more than
to furnish satisfaction for these innate
cravings Of his soul, it would still be an in
estimable boon to every student. If it
goes yet further-as it surely will, having
thus captured the very citadel-if
it leads the student in among
the works of the masters, full of beauty and
nobility, inspiring, uplifting; if it directs
his attention TO the great store of musical
history, biography, essays and other litera-
ture: if it decoys him into inYesti-
eating the laws of sound and
the great science of harmony
and composition-if it does any or all of
these things, then musical study will have
accomplished that much more in building
up well-rounded and true-hearted char
acter. And there is little need of such
characters in this mercenary age.
Note that all this may be accomplished
by the student working under proper guild
ance for his own benefit and education, with
DldVlQQ
singing q single note for others to hear.
And it is just this kind of musical cultiva-
tion for which the vast majority of human
beings possess an Unborn capacity, in greater
or less degree, whether they possess sufficient
capacity to become artistic performers or
not
Of course, it is music's proud distinction to
be the most social of all the arts. And it is
a perfectly proper ambition to wish to be
able to give musical pleasure to others. But
even from this point of view it is at once
apparent that there must be many more lis
teners than performers and that the per-
formers cannot gain their highest need of
appreciation unless the listeners have the ut
most power to appreciate. To confine music
al study entirely to persons intending to
perform would be to rob those very per-
formers Of their brightest laurels, which
consist in the praise of the most cultured
listener You might as we'll say that the
education OF the intellect is worth while
only for intending public speakers, who
would thus be deprived of all usefulness for
lack of an intelligent audience.
The following interesting, if somewhat
enthusiastic, personal gossip comes from
The DIsPATCH's Chautauqua correspond
ent:
Chautauqua is decidedly musical this
year. Along this line she surpssses all
other years and attempts. She has, at
great expense, secured the best artists
in the land. For six years Prof. I.
Y. Flagler has entertained the audiences.
He played at Plymouth Church in Chicago
for a period of seven years, and since that
he has devoted his time to musical study
and filling special engagements. Last
spring be dedicated the large memorial
church in st. Augustine, Fla, and is
often called upon for such exercises.
Mr.. Flagler is the author of
been popular both in England and
America. He is now at work upon book
soon to be published by Schirmer, of New
York. The music of Mr.. Flagler is re-
markable for its smoothness and beauty.
Always sympathetic and artistic at times
his playing is vigorous, dashing
and brilliant. Again, he leads
you on enchanted with strains
calm, facile and beautiful. As an organist
or teacher his peers are few and his superiors
none. Not only is he a musical genius, but
a man of brilliant literary qualities, and his
lectures upon music and musicians
have been very popular. He has
q foundation for this turn of mind,
however, and he recently told me
OF how he began to work in a newspaper
office as devil" gradually pushing him
self forward to higher positions until finally
he was attracted away to mis- present pursuit
by his musical inclinations The better
acquainted with him you become both as a
musician and q man, the better you will
like him.
he IS good talker, firm friend and the
best OF companions. Unlike most men of