Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-31
THE MUSIC WORLD.
Objects and Aims of the State Music
Teachers Association.
THE CAMPAIGN NOW BEGINNING.
Effects Of Performers Attempting What
They Cannot Master.
NOTES THAT INTEREST THE PUBLIC

The second annual meeting of the Penn
sylvania State Music Teachers Association
will be held at Philadelphia on the last
three days of the coming year. Four months
ahead is none too soon to begin the active,
aggressive campaign demanded by the
large opportunities lying open to the ssso-
citation and which can be turned to the
best advantage only by the support and CO.
operation of musical folks throughout the
State.
Remember that, though the first two
meetings are held in Philadelphia, this as
sociation is by no means local enterprise
Of that city-no more so than Congress is q
local affair of Washington. II belongs to
the whole State. The western end is just as
much interested as the eastern in making
the coming meeting a success. And this, if
Tor no other reason than the selfish one that
our hearty assistance in this meeting will
tend to draw similar cooperation from the
rest of the State for the meetings to be held
here.
Nor is the scope of the association ct all
solimited as its title would indicate. Not
only teachers, but all intelligent music
lovers and their every interest, fall within
its bounds. Singers, players of musical in
struments, critics and writers on musical
topics share with teachers the right to active
membership at 81 year, while all Others
interested in the art, though not protesting
or practicing any of its branches, may for
like fee become associates, entitled to all
privileges but voting and holding Office.
Really the name should be altered in some
such way as has been proposed for the
national body of the same aims-say the
"Pennsylvania Society for the Promotion
of Musical Art" or some other expression
of the true, broad scope of the organization.
Since the list of officers and committees
for this wear was published in this column
some few changes have occurred. Mr..
Frederic S. Law, the Secretary and
Treasurer, has removed from Philadelphia to
Springfield, No., and has therefore resigned
that double office. The Executive Com
mittee has filled the vacancy by electing Mr..
Edmund Wolsieffer, of Philadelphia, q
brother of the President. Another change
is the appointment OF Mr.. Carl Maeder, of
Pittsburg, as Chairman of the Specialist
Committee on violin and string instruments.
Mr.. Phillip Dornberger is Vice President
for Allegheny county, and Mr.. Joseph H
Cuttings our member of the Programme
Committee, either of whom will, doubtless,
be glad to receive membership subscriptions
or give further information.
Among the duties of officers as set forth
in the constitution is this: 'Section 9. To
try to induce the editors of the local press
to give more space to musical items, and
the Vice Presidents shall send to the editors
items and articles, original or selected that
will tend to advance the appreciation of
better music" The members of specialist
committees have the same duties imposed
upon them.
This particular duty is here urged upon
the attention of all the VIce-Presidents and
committee members in this and other west
ern counties. THE DISPATCH has always
been conducted, as far as possible, upon
lines that ''tend to advance the appreciation
of better music" And now, as a member
of the Specialist Committee on musical
literature and journalism, the writer feels
an additional incentive to persevere in
the same direction and to request |
on the part of fellow-members, officers |
and committeeman of the P. 8. NJ. 7. A. |
such cooperation as is above suggested. |
News items regarding local musical happen
lngs of any importance will always be well
coined, and contributed articles upon live
musical topics will gladly be given as much
space as can be, in justice to other matters
claiming attention.
*.#
Among recent accessions to the faculty of |
the National Conservatory OF Music, in New |
York, are two names deserving of special |
mention. Miss Eleanor Warner Everest,
one of the principal teachers of singing |
possesses the proud distinction of being the |
only pupil of Nine. Marchesi to whom |
that famous teacher has given written GER
tifcate of ability to teach her own method
in a manner satisfactory to its originator.
As the writer knows from private sources,
Nine Msrchesi yet speaks of Miss Everest
xr~Tfh rha1c1 H.
equipped teacher she has trained.
The new principal of the vocal depart
menti is Signor Romualdo Sapio, who will
be remembered as conductor for Madame
Patti during her recent tour in the United
States He is graduate of Palermo, Italy,
where he received his musical education un-
der the direct tuition of the famous coun-
terpointist, Signor Pietro Platania. He
spent the early part of his career in Milan,
teaching singing in the Royal Chapel of the
Duomo, and in 1882 began his theatrical
career in Milan, as conductor, since which
time he has successfully alternated teaching
and conducting, his name having been con-
1ected with important organizations both in
Europe and America. 1t was he who con-
Quoted the two South American tours Of
Patti in 1888 and 1882
==x
Mr.. Edward Baxter Perry, in an admira-
Bile article in this months Etude, inveighs
against the prevalent custom on the part of
pianists both amateur and professional of
constantly attempting in public music too
difficult for hem to master completely. In
one paragraph he says:
"The manifold pernicious effects of such
q course are scarcely to be computed. The
player is forced into habits of carelessness,
inaccuracy and general unintelligibility,
which, one acquired, it is well-nigh inn
possible to eradicate. Intellectual grasp
and technical control are alike uuattainable.
The performance is of necessity blurred, un-
musical, meaningless; and the average list
ener, finding nothing comprehensive, still
less enjoyable, in such renditions, is quick
to conclude that the piano is a cold, dry,
uninteresting instrument, fit only to mark
the rhythm of q dance. The poor piano,
from the most capable and versatile of solo
is degraded into mere puppet-
board for the exhibition, in tragic farces, of
the mutilated csricatures of great thoughts
and emotions"
To the questioning student who wants to
know how he is to tell whether his teacher
is giving him pieces that are too difficult for
him, Mr.. Perry presents these pertinent OBJ
servations;
You can at least notice the programmes
being given throughout the country by
Leading artists; and il you find that you are
allowed to study and play the same great
compositions which form the tours de force !
OF their rePerteires, be sure that you are I
on the wrong track. You are perfectly
sale In assuming that your few terms, or
even years, ofdesultory study have not fitted ,
you to grapple successfully with the Titans