Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-08
THE MUSIC WORLD.
National Association of Teachers at
Detroit This Week.
SCIENCE AND THE DIVINE ART.
Patrick Gilmore Will Bring a Pittsburg
Singer With His Band.
GOSSIP In LOCAL MUSICAL CIRCLES.

In late years, and notably in the present
season, the amount of public attention given
to music in this community has increased so
largely that it is more than ever important
to have the people at large understand the
serious import of the art. as something
vastly more than a mere pastime.
This consideration, as well as the great in
terest attaching to the coming meeting OF
the Music Teachers National Association
at Detroit next month, warrant the publica-
tion of the following copious extracts from a
recent letter by Albert Ross Parsons, Presi-
dent of the NJ. 7. n. A, urging on the sub
scriptions TO the orchestral and concert endow-
ment fund:
In view of the present widespread cultiva-
tion Of music in America, it is important that
the people should realize that our art is not
simply luxury, but is instead an educational
necessity.
The church, with her peculiar faculty Of
spiritual intuition, has always more or less
clearly recognized this truth, and now reals
tic modern science is rapidly reaching the same
conclusion.
win how he deplored the loss OF his taste for
music and poetry. 'If l had my life to live
over again" he writes. 4 would make it a rule
to read some poetry and listen to some music
at least once every week; for, perhaps, the
parts Of my brain now strophied would
thus have been kept active through
a v
ness and may possibly be injurious to the intel
lect and more probably to the moral character,
by enfeebling the emotional part of our nature"
cDarwin,s Life and Letters;" Murray, Lon
The close inner agreement between the
philosopher Herbert Spencer and the artist
Richard Wagner, as to the true significance of
music, is perhaps not so generally known.
Says Wagner: I'm music's enigmatically en-
twined lines and wonderfully intricate char
acters stand written the eternal symbols OF
new and different world. The musical seer,
speaking the highest wisdom in language
which reason does not comprehend, reveals to
us the inexpressible truth.
while we listen we have q presentiment
nay, and feel that this seemingly sub
stantial world is only feeting show in the
presence of the one truth, 1 know that my
Redeemer iyeth.'" (''Parsifal: Wagner
study;'' Putnam's New York;
Meanwhile Spencer writes: I'VE may regard
music aid to the achievement of that
higher happiness which it indistinctly shadows
forth. Those vague feelings of inexperienced
felicity which music arouses, those indefinite
Impressions Of an unknown ideal life which iE
calls up. may be considered as prophecy to
the fulhllment of which music is itself partly
instrumental
THE strange capacity which we have for
being so affected by melody and harmony may
be taken to imply that 1t is within the posi-
billties OF our nature to realize those intenser
delights they oimly suggest, and that they are
in some way concerned in the realization of
them. On this supposition the power and the
meaning of music become comprehensive,
tery. If the probability of these coroI-
laries be admitted. then music
must take rank as the highest of the fine arts
as the one which, more than any other, minis |
tiers to human welfare. And thus leaving out |
of view the immediate qualifications it is hourly |
giving, we cannot too much applaud that prog |
ress of musical culture which is becoming one |
of the characteristics of our age" (Spencer: |
'origin and Function of Music;" Appleton,
Originally formed to promote the interests
of both the public and the profession, by secur-
ing an Interchange of ideas among teachers
as an antidote to selfshness. secrecy
mot to speak of "humbug') in pro-
fessional work, the Music Teachers
National Association has reached a point
where il has undertaken to organize, define, |
elevate and establish on the highest attainable
plane the methods of musical instruction in all |
branches for the protection of the public and
the benefit Of the millions of American stu
dents of music.
Almost simultaneously with the establish
ment of the American College of Musicians |
the Music Teachers National Association ex-
tended helping hand to the American CON-
poser, offering him at Its annual festival the
same opportunity for bringing his work before
the public which the American painter and
sculptor have long enjoyed in our academies of
design-an opportunity which in the nature of
the case is simply priceless.
With this, the Music Teachers National As
sociatlon has assumed the function and the
dignity-as we believe it will soon assume the
title-of an American society for the promo
tion of musical art
s*s
The last important concerts of the local sea-
son are the two appearances of Mr.. P. s.
Gilmore and his dauntless band at
Old City Hall, on Thursday June %.
The redoubtable Patrick Sarsfeld him
self needs no introduction or recommendation
to the public of Pittsburg or Of any other
American city. Neither does the superb band
with which he has for many years maintained
the lead among organizations of its class
There remain only the vocallsts to speak of |
As already lntimated in this column, Miss
Rosa L1nde (Mrs. Schaarschmidt) Pittsburg's
former favorite contralto, will at
these concerts make her first appearance
here since her season of arduous |
study in Paris. The soprano of Mr.. Gilmore's |
present tour is Miss Ida Klein whose singing
with the Boston Ideals two seasons ago is
pleasantly remembered. Miss Helene Won
DoenhoH who sang at the May Festival
here last year, is also on the list of soloists |
Bir. William J. LAWN, tenor who has been |
heard here. has been engaged in place of Mr. |
Henri Koeke, formerly announced to sing The |
bass will be Mr.. Edward O'Mahoney a singer
Of no little repute on both sides of the water,