New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-16
NOTES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

\
ONLY men concerned actively In newspaper work
| know what a com OF vantage for the stuuy OF
human nature they possess In the privilege OF
| reading the letters Of advice reproof instruction
and approva sent TO the Editor. The advantage IS
| but feebly Swallowed forth in the communications
which are printed. for these are letters that nave
been vouched for by genuine signatures and the most
| interesting letters which come to newspaper omceS
| are anonymous. What ptful opinion OF human
| ty one might construct ont OF these letters! How
| mean conception do many of them convey OF
the intelligence and honesty Of the persons whom
| they gratuitousy criticisel And how shallow a
view do they take of the obligations and response
bilitles Of writers for the public press, especially
writer's who deal with artistic subjects favorable
mention Of Herr Vogls splendid performance IN
Die Goetterdaemmerung7 calls ont two written pages
Of abose from an anonymous individual VINO
forgets 30 say whether or not he was present at
| the opera house the occasion IN question:
but tells of disappointments experienced
| In Bayreuth 4 few words Of disapproval are
! expressed concerning single periorIhNh0o
of petted tenor IN connection with vast deal OF
praise for the things which he did well, ana I'M
mediately feminine chorus of protest Is raSed hhc
that which the Valkyrlor din into the ears OF WotHl
| The reviewer finds ID impossible 70 agree with MI
Damrosch in his conception Of what appears upon inc
printed page OF Beethoven or in his opinion OF MN
self as exhibited by his attitude toward masterpieces
of the classics and promptly dozens OF iair hsc's
are soiled with ink in endeavor to convince inc u
happy reviewer that Mr.. DamTosch is the only con
ductor IN the United States whose transcendental
| genius lifts him above criticism. That Mr. eeidl
| Mr.. Thomas and DR.. Won Buelow have been argued
with because OF their efforts to improve upon the
plain Intentions Of the composer as published by the
| printed page the manuscript OF the composer ana
the unbroken custom Of years is OF not the sShesV
moment to these fair advocates, who estop all con
troversy In true feminine fashion by saying las one
says whose letter IS before us), 1t IS generally con-
ceded OF course that Mr. Walter Damrosch knows as
| much about music as any one IN the city," IheTc
you are After that what Is reviewer concerning
whom nothing Is generally conceded OF course 10 90
except to bow to the chastisement and regret that
the old custom Of ageIatory penance IS fallen into
disusel
| But II was not 70 discuss the evidences Of Mr.
Damrosch's muscianship that this writing was under
taken but to direct attention to brand new view OF
a critics duties suggested by this same presumably
| lat least we hope young woman. The view is stated
so clearly in her letter than do no better than
quote her words
If against other musicians opinions Your critic stu
holds his own views on this subject would il not be
better that he reserved them for less conspicuous posi-
ton than the columns Of our leading DAILY paper Let
him be fair BY all means and say what Is true but
not allow any personal motive to influence and inlure
his clever articles.
A sovereign cure for all the heartaches caused BY
|
writer whenever he finds that The truth IS disagree
able to an admirer Of Mr. Damrosch D." find less
spcuous7 place for than the columns Of the Journal
to whose editor and readers he owes the duty of having
and expressing opinion. Could anything be moro
simple N9hng e1Gept not IT., pr nS SnG ,s At
kind SAY that have not learned Ike our correspondent
that the truth which IN the bottom Of well Is only
drawn up I'm the Oaken bucket OF D0mrOsch and docd
ont to the faithful at the symphony society ana
OratOrio concerts We have met persons who Law
s.AaA gNfttwt frffg
who refuse TO believe thatIandel ever put brass Orn
ments on Mozart's occompaninents TO The Messiah,
have even seen professional musicians smile. and not
approvngly either at the clever aud highly favored
Young musicians Disagreement with Beethoven II
we avoid scya then VIII Ne not drift into Charyudis
The subject alas seems beset with difficulties. and
the unhappiet feature Of all IS that though every
thing else is willingly conceded TO the reviewer. candor
and honesty are denied him. He may be never so
wrong or never right, personal motives prompt al
his utteranccs. singular iti-that ne should Doc
such slave to evil impulses when person Wl-h 30
Obligation either TO have express an opinion sec
their way to disntere ted, unmalclou admiration for
Their irleuos 50 cleatN. SupPv'c sVA'c o I'- "i
professional critics who know 20 much better Aau inc
POST him of The Tribune. how right or wrong
a performance Is, and who always enjoy tle adyan"E'
Of having Their h view OF ne e GS1 gGFe a S r
existence by irving TO reconcile the acualue, Of "a
uluess and beauty-we wonder how long II "oull be
before they would be under the painful necessity Of
being guided by personal mOlNc1 ana EilcFlh- INC
souls Of those whose admiration or affection or IN
teres in the criticised artist renders them lWparua
ludges}
Generally the ground Of complaint against the
newspaper reviewer is too much attention Of an IN
attering kind but sometimes II happens that persons
and organizations grieyed because they are not
criticised In the majority OF cases OF this hlnd a
| failure to appreciate the attitude which reviewer
ought to bear toward the public is responsible for
| what seems 10 the person organization malicious
| neglect There are In New-foik great many
societies and clubs that give concerts OF pilVbF
| nature. Their doors are not thrown open - ulc
| general Pablo, but only 10 subscribing mcmbcrs
Their entertainments are adapted t. The taste, OF tc
| members. A few Of these organizations maintain
! their distinctive character by keeping entirely
| out Of the public eye and away from ue
public ear. The Mendessohn club, for inaiance.
concerning the supcratve e1cc!lencT OF |n yr
artistic work there can be but one opt.hion' t,,t
! Obtrudes itself upon public notice Others Eslc
public criticism by requesting the attendance Of news
paper reviewer on Their concert N hhi - 'ac
standard Of judgment that ought to be applied III caes
Of this kind The .utcrtainmcnt + private one
gotten up to humor The taste and wishes OF me CON
parative few who pay for 1t and the social pleasures
which it brings The taste and the wlshe' Of me-
Of good art but IS that the concern OF the public
Throw open the door and invite public support ana
10 becomes, 10 some extent, pubAc que u"h' o''
the doors and announce that the distinctive feature
the audience and 10 sing 10 the nhng Of those VINO
contribute the funds, and there b no common meet
II the reviewer. thinking only Of artistic principles.
says that an evening OF music written IN two Or three
parts iOr women Noce, ehcnsreiy IS o. iTe,S ,
WearsOnc that jhe ear urth III It@ VAN longing Ioi
restfu and satisfactory chord OF harmony fOunici
the natural bass Of male voices, the cub very
properly retort that since 1t IS it, mission 10 sing
that Kind of music and other and 10 look charming
/ IL is none of the reviewers business whether or
lot tho concert has any artistic significance.
II an energetic gentleman by dnt Of much pcrsuH so
elOOuence and the enlistment OF social influences con-
riVcs get together notable choir OF two hundred
men and women with good voices, and then frItters
| away his opportunity By asking this choir 10 hum
| Accomplishments TO sugary nothlnes, is t any con
Germ ol the public or the newspapers, long tho
persons who pay the money like that sort 81 thing
Let the society appeal for the surftrcs of the whole
! public and at 1ncc IFS entertainments attain dgpity
| and a demand will be made which will either stlmu-
late the society to LIT itself 10 the plane which IL
ought to occupy by reason Of fitness and consequent
obligation, or cOnsign II 70 ignomonoIs failure Bnt
these things are obvious they sound Ike common
.Iag