The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-24

Ihat the people of Utah are musically in
clined is clearly manifested by the general
interest taken in the musical exercises that
characterize their various public assemb-
lagos, religious, social or educational. This
Is especially noticeable among the children,
the singing in Sabbath and day schools at
tracing them, probably, more than any
thing else. For the purpose of developing
this natural trait and talent IN the com
munIty David o. Calder being encouraged
therein by President Brigham Young, es-
tabHshed tonic sofia classes in Salt Lake
city about forty years ago, and was highly
successful in bringing many of the young
folks to considerable degree of profici-
ency. John S. Lewis also conducted some
classes on the same system; and Prof. c.
j. Thomas taught hundreds of the children
In our Dixie. At later day Prof 4. c.
Smyth re-introduced the study of the tonic
sofia notation, and made many good music
readers thereby. However these efforts
to popularize that system were not suf-
hclently continuous. The books of instruc-
tons having, for the most part, to be
brought from England or printed here, that
fact hlndered the work and discouraged the
teachers
About three years ago a Mr.. McBurney,
a leading exponent of the tonic sofia nota-
ton, delivered lectures in the assembly
hall and Fifteenth ward meeting house.
which revived interest in this matter, and
again awoke IN number of our local pro-
fessors of music the desire to encourage the
study and practice of that system. The
time Is certainly more propitlous than ever
before because 1t is rapidly being estab-
lished in various parts of the United
States, and great abundance of books
TO the method are now easily obtainable.
Many OF the most eminent musicians of
England and America are enthusiastic ad-
vocates Of teaching this method, because it
slmplities the study and makes proficient
music readers much more quickly than is
possible under the intricacies of the old no.
tatlOn. AS evidence OF this, there are to-
day about four millions of the people of
Great Britain who are more or less
familiar with the tonic sofia system, while
there are only about one tenth of that num-
Der equally conyersant with the old nota-
ton.
1t is fifty years since Rev. John Curwen
introduced the tonic sofia system in Eng
land, and the jubilee anniversary of that
event will be celebrated this year ia the
great Crystal Palace, London. Five thous-
and singers, who have received certificates
Of merit, viii take part in the ey ercises.
Regarding this as favorable time to re-
organize GRASSES IN ioalG Lake City, and en-
courage the same in all parts of the terri
tory, number of gentlemen have recently
met and formed an organization 10 be
called the Salt Lake Tonic Sofia society.
When it is known that such musicians
as Profs. George Careless, E. Beesley, c..
j. Thomas and a. C. Smyth,
Anton Peterson, also Messrs. T.
G. Griggs, Thomas Mcintyre, J. S.
Lewis, Edwin F. Parry and G. E. Harper
have already enrolled themselves as favor
ing the system and DESTROYS to assist in
firmly establishing 1t in our midst. we be-
lieve a great majority of the people will be
induced to give it their couutenance and
support. A normal class will be established
immediately under the tuition of Thomas
Mcintyre, who has recently been success
fully teaching the system to classes in the
Twenty first ward of this city The grad
yates from this class will be qualified TO
teach others. Public lectures will be de-
livered at which the advantages of the
tonic sofia notation will be explained in
full, and other means will be adopted to
popularize its teaching in Utah. To attend
to the business of the society, MIR. Henry
Gardner hiss been appointed president, and
H. j. Walk secretary, either or whom or
any of the other gentlemen named, will be
pleased to impart information connected
with the society and its purposes.