The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-03
nInnIasnn interviewed.

Europe ran against The redoubtable Colonel
James II. Mapleson in London the other day and
had a talk with him, which he takes three col
umnS in the American Musician to detail. The
pith of the discursive conversation can be put in
much less space. In the first place the Colonel
considers the musical. and especially the opera
tic situation at The very lowest ebb. There are no
new PATHS he said, but even Patti. unlike the
man With the cork leg, cannot 20 on forever. AS
10 the future, added the Colonel in his happy 60
lucky way, the signs are encouraging for Italian
opera. Flrstclass artists no longer demand the
eaith and the fullDess thereof. But lie did not
see any encouraging signs for English or yer
nacular OPERA" as the interviewer called IT, until
there is an improvement III the English meth DDS
OF musical education, and the only remedy he
could suggest was the establishment of a school
Of opera in England and also in America similar
10 that OF the Paris Conservatory. He regretted
the disappearance Of The old time impresario and
the adjustment OF his function. They have
been broken on tie wheel, SAID the Colonel, and
are succeeded by business agents and speeula-
tors.
A COSTLY OPERA.
LET me give you an Illustration" he con-
tlnued. " In anticipation OF your great Worlds
FAIR OF 1892, asked my good friend, GounOd,
II lie would write new opera for production
upon That occasion. Here Is his answer" sand
Colonel Mapleson, handing the interviewer a
sheet OF letter paper ia Councils own haudwfit-
ing, stating tile terms upon which lie would com
terms were $4,000 for fOur-act opera, SiO,-
600 10 be pad upon the delivery OF each act,
the last to be finished in January, 1882, IN addi-
ton 10 Which his publishers in Paris were 10 be
the owners for Europe, and the authors fee OF
S4OO performance reserved. And these terms
were imposed before the manager could ascer-
tam whether the work would be Il success OF
failure. Under such circumstances IL is need
less to say that NJ. GOunod VIII not be called upon
to write an opera for America. Referring 10 the
payments of the authors fee OF ESQ (S400l a
pprfufmuuph t'DiOnPl
tTallOn OF how it operated In Great Britain. He
gave but one performance OF "Mignon" in Ire
laud, aud then stopped playing II, as it was too
great Tax upon the receipts.
SIR MICHAEL COSTA.
The Colonel had good deal to say about this
famous operate leader during his conversation
in connection with PATHS contracts which eX-
pFeSsly foI bid new works and excused her from
rehe In the days of Sir Michael nobody
was absolved from this duty, from the prlma
donna 10 lbe clofSter He told story, Illus
trdtiye OF COsta's way: "a new DTima donna, who
was not quite certain of her own abilities, sent
Sir Michael an envelope incOsing el00 note,
asking him o take care OF her. Costa felt humlli
ated, aud, taxing II AT once 10 the manager, de-
manded that the money be returned to her with
a note OF dismissal. The manager, seeing that
Costa was excited, begged him to be cool and
sleep over The matter before demanding such an
extreme punishment. But Costa was Obdurate
He insisted that either she must leave OF he
would resign at once. As the conductor could
not easily be replaced The singer was obliged L
which would have ensued from an exposure. Can
yOu imagine such thing happening nowadays z?
said MaplesOn. The interviewer replied that ht
could, II The Donor had good stout string tied t
tile 5000 mole.
Church Music in This City.
From time TO time articles have appeared il
certain San Francisco journals calling attention
TO the poverty of church music in this city. j
must be admitted that there is much truth in the
Indictment yet but little has been SAID concern
ing the causes which have led 10 the present un
satisfactory state of affairs, and stll less as II
means which should be adopted IN order 10 bring
about AN Improvement.
THE HISTORY OF MUSIC
Shows eouelusively that the church has. In al
ages, been regarded as the great nursery Of
musical art. Many Of the greatest composer!
and musicians received their training in ihi:
school, ana returned the gift with interest by de
voting their lofttest inspirations 10 the service
religion.
A few years since, when the French Govern
ment proposed TO diminish or abolish the subsidy
paid to tie church, the veteran composer, Charles
Gounod, entered a vigorous prOtes' against the
scheme, on the ground that an irreparable injury
would be done 10 musical ART by The disbursement
OF church enoirs, Which were, as he asserted the
great training school for vocalists, who might
afterward devote themselves To the operatic oil
concert stage III this view Is correct-and 1t Ger.
Iauly comedies with The experience OF all prac
Teal musicians-iE will readily be seen that the
condition of church music in any community
should be carefully watched, not only by church
guers, but by all who are Interested in The prog
resS Of Tie art of music.
SAN FRANCISCO CHURCHES
Oifer for our notice nearly every recognized form
of choir organization. We have chOirs consist
Ing OF quartet OF solo voices; chOirs In Which
the quartet is strengthened by more or less eff
cient chorus; choirs of mixed voices, male and
female, and cboirs OF male voices only. boys and
men. WIN some few exceptions II must be con.
ceded that The standard OF efficiency falls cou-
slderably below that of Eastern cities, and even
below that OF many cities on the Pacific Coast
However unpleasant II may be to make cOnfes
sion Of our own shortcomings, no good can result
from shutting our eyes to obvious facts. VINO
then, Is 10 blame for this state of things? Mosl
people would naturally Imagine that the musl
cans-vocal and Instrument ai-aIe IN fault, anG
that the whole difficulty might be solved by dis
missing those who are incompetent and engag
lug others who are brtter qualified. No do bI
an Improvement might be effected In this way
but here we are led 10 consider The important
question of salaries, and particularly the amount
expended on music by churches III San Fran
cisco as compared with those of other Giles. Ii
il can he shown that our churches pay very mucl
less for music than churches of equal promi
hence in the East, we need not search farther
for a complete explanation Of the comparative
inefficleucy OF our choIs, for ii is obvious thai
competent musicians llke workers in any Other
business OF profession, VIII naturally 20 where
they can get The best reward for their labor.
THE MUSICAL EXPENDITURE
or our San Francisco churches will OF course de
pend IN "A great measure upon tile wealth OF tile
congregation. Fashionable churches may pos
slbiy spend $1,000 per annum in salaries TO or
ganist and singers but 1t is safe to assume thai
very few churches reach this figure; indeed, less
than half the amount would about represent the
average expenditure. There are churches where
no salary Is paid, but singers receive fees from
funerals and weddings In return for their ser.
vices. Regular salaries range from $50 10 $50
per month for VocalistS, and frOW $50 to about
500 for organists. Comparing these figures
with Eastern rates, we find surprising differ
ence. In New York, Boston. and other large
cities salaries OF II ON $1,000 TO $1,000 per annum
are by 10 means uncommon.
MISS CLEMENTINE DE WE'RE,
Who sang last year In San Francisco with the
Gilmore concert troupe, is now receiving salary
OF $4,000 per anbum as soprano OF DE-, Paxton's
church, New YORK. II Is no eXaggerati0n, there
fore, to state that there are many Eastern
churches paying more for one vocalist than even
the best churches OF San Francisco pay for a
complete choir with ofganlst A very moderate
estimate would average Eastern choir salaries
at about 500 per month for each vocalist an d
5000 tor the 0rgaDIst. On this basis quartet OF
sOusts and an organst would cost S7200 per
anuum, or more than double the amount at pres
ent expended by any church In San Francisco.
Can II be doubted that this Is the true eXplana-
lion OF the poverty OF church music III our city ?
Some years ago salaries OF SIS 10 500 per
month for church singers were by no means un
common In San Francisco. To what cause can
this failing of be attributed?
IT IS NOT PLEASANT TO ADMIT
Ttat our people care less for good music thaa
formerly, yet the fact remains that there is an
un Willingness TO pay for IL according 10 rates
which obtain in other parts Of Tie country.
VestrIes and clergy would, no doubt, be glad 10
have better music, but unless the funds are
forthcoming they are, OF course, powerless to
act. Good music, like everything else that Is
good will command high price; and II the peo-
pie of New York and Boston are willing TO pay
more than the people OF San Francisco, they will,
OF course, get better article. Hence IL follows
that trstclass singers rarely take up their resi-
deQpe
Tlnguish themselves as y0callsts are obliged TO
go East 70 make living. Whenever criticism
are passed upon Tie performances Of San Fran
cisco church choIrs, let 1t be remembered that
the musicians are probably giving all that can
fairly be expected for the mouey they receive.
Should any church be in position to organize a
choir with salaries up TO the average Eastern
standard, 1t would soon be seen that good CHI nrch
music Is just as obtainabe In San Francisco as
in any other city. Ii. j. STEWART