Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-20
KINGS OF THE BATON
STRAUSS AND GILMORE DISCUSS THE
ART OF MUSIC IN AMERICA.
The Vienna Director says Our Middle
Glasses Arc Musicsi--rhe Madison
square Gardcn--Pat. Gilmore.
rcOrrosponasncc Of the Richmond Dispa,ch.l

but have invariably declined. 1t is
nothing less than arrogance on the part OF
an artist to express such opinions, except
In private 20 relatives and friends.
Such thing. mein icibcr herr. as inter
viewing great artists. "a YOU do here IN
America, and securing their views on TINS
and that connected with the profession. Is
unknown 10 us IN Germany aud Austria.
Why IN Vienna aud Berlin ~ would be
laughed at. Even in Paris. where every
thing is done. they ridicnle 1t. Yes. know
The Farisians like II occasionally, but IL
is a significant shrug)
One Of the pleasantcst recollections OF
nv career is Of the great number of Gull
,ured Americans have met abroad. with
my orchestra 1 have been et-let me
see-vcs. at oight different worlds
eXpositlons-at London faTis, Niehna,
and elsewhere. At each | made the
acouaintanco of many Americans. and
also al Trieste. Dresden, and other large
Luropsaa cities. They are everywhere.
Yon can imagine. then. what pleasant
surprise IL was whom opened in Boston on
the first evening 10 be greeted by nj least
ten ladies' and gentlemen whom had met
abroad II was n marked illustration of
the proclivitv of the Americans tor travei.
Were II not for the fact that at TINS season
OF the wear there are yorv many Americans
away n Europe nv circle OF old-tiinc ac-
ouaintances would be very large indeed
AMERICAN MUSIC HALL.
Uallsl Yes. there are great differences
In halls. hut ! think those YOU have IN
America are almost all excellent IA re-
rarls acoustics. comfort, and seating ca
pacitv they are splendid. Did say al z
No with n lauch)-there Is one little "
ception recall al Columbus. Ohio. had
which IS entirely too small for large, con-
GER; On the other hand, the MADISON
SQUARE Garden Us entirely two large.
They have moved the orchestra stands 20
Tho centre Of the garden. but even that
does not improve Z much. AD. no! 10
vas, is the place that the pianissimo can
not be heard az all.
since Nav last when came here, have
been i'm nearly thirty American cities-all
vOur great cities, OF course. fVeryWhere
| have been surprised at the great interest
shown bv the middle classes of American
society i'm musical matters. Ii ls amazing
10 observe how large a proportion OF the
audiences these classes compose. lhen
their taste too. is genuine. ana their APP
probation spontaneous. cannot account
FOR thor prepOnderance Wherever nay
bccn IN this country II Is the same; the
middle classes have showed themselves ap-
preciativc. This fact alone speaks strongly
for Inc national musical taste IN such mat
tiers.
thy HUB AND TIE WINDY CITY.
No I have not heard that Boston was
considered the musical centre OF the
Tinted States have met quite number
of Boetonians abroad. yet none OF them
oven claimed 1t as such. Yet, ! suppose, if
Boston - so regarded. with sarcastic
smlel ought TO feel very much hattered
A. beinC so cordially received there 80,
Chicago? | was greatly pleased with Cnl-
caeO mud was very vel received there.
Its people are musically appreclauye. 10
tplt.n n.
Fair opens so as 20 add another 10 my list
cannot tell: II is vet too far on, lsS2,
and besides, hadn't really thought about
In September ! leave New York. when
another opportunity viii be Afforded me
of still further studying the American peo,
pie and their musical tastes, for snail
visit All the large cities in the country on q
tour that will last until December. II has
not vet been my fortune to play any pieces
bv American composers. "a | have thus far
confined myself 20 German ana Austrian
air. but NAV yet hone 10 DO 20.
The Herrdirestor. who Is the most dlstin-
guished musical leader that has ever visit
ed this country from Europe. Is man IN
the prime Of life He is probably well on
i'm the fortIes. but looks much younger.
Jet black hair ana mOustachc keen. pene-
tratlnc hazel eyes, and QUICK, nervous
manner are hrs characteristics His style
Is that OF a man accustomed 20 the Ell
uuette and excessive punctillo OF courts.
quick talker. every sentence l. empha-
sized by gesticulation. which reiniorces
the not unmusical voice of the great leader
very decidedly.
GrLNORE's IDEA or MUSIC.
The music for the peonle is good music,
well rendered. and Of a light rather than a
classical character. This ls particularly so
AT this season. IL is all nonsense 20 talk
about educating people 20 ike any par
ticular kind Of music. They don't want TO
be educated. they want to he entertained
II IWere 10 play classical music here at
Manhattan Beach two thirds of my au-
dience would Get up and walk out.
In New York city there are 10000 people
who enjoy classical music. The other
1000 DO not. The 10000 make mp the
audiences at the Metropolitan Opera
House when operas are Gwen. lhev sub
scribe for the season. and the same persons
are in attendance night after night
The great mass OF the people. however,
prefer music OF another kind. II must be
bright and lively. such as sonatas, waltZes,
marches. songs and selections from the
rood old composer mean Meycrheer,
Verdi, Gounnd. Doni2etti and the writers
OF the old school. Their music Is always
appreciated hut the stud that II written
now is all froth and bubble. 1t is written
TO make money. Everyone Is VT ting
operas. II man has a glass OF brandy
and pen he sits down and composes an
opera.
TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS.
Music should be taught in the schools.
Competent teachers should be furnished
and children should be taught music the
same as any other study An hour or even
70 half hour dav should be devoted ia
the subject and the time arranged so that
one master could have classes in several
IN vtnufaol neClllp mnSt
he educated before they are twenty-five. II
thisc0urse is pursued. in ten years America
would bee the greatest nation Ot musicians
IN the world. There N no telling what
voices and what players we would de
Vclpp. "A ii rs now our bands play high
or class OF music than 10 played py the
bands Of Europe When | went abroad
several years ago and gave them " Tam
heuser" m London they were astonished.
The English bandmaster did not believe u
possible. Afterward they went 10 WORK
and learned q higher order Of music than
had been their custom.
THE BAND 0ENrLFnAN.
We are gradually improving in this coun-
try. We have as good bi musicians as
there are in the world. We have plenty OF
material 70 select from and We take only
the best. Some Of nv soloists have been
with the band for fifteen years, and the
nan who plevs the third clarinet Il
capable Of playing the first. The
hand is masculine and has srea; pos
sbilities. Tire orchestra il feminine and
+. hmited 10 finer and more delicate work,
The band IL robot. 1t has wide swing.
Ii is strong and twerful. but it ca Always
De a ocutlemaua II intcrprets { music
Tor the people IN a way they can under
stand aud enioy. IL entertans and that !
what music is here for. | think all band
nasters are trying TO raise the standard OF
music. They must do that If they love then
All. but tlev are not try nc TO educate then
audiences. but 10 entertain them.
New York as city shousd pay more at
,ention 10 music. The small bands IN the
PARKS do VERY well. but il would be a grand
thing II big arnphitheatre were provided
capable of seating 10000 people. and oper
above. bat with seats protected from IN.
sur. It.shoud be located in Central Parl
OF at some equally convenient point, anC