Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-09
THE MUSIC WORLD.
Potency Of Patriotic Songs In Ameri-
canizing the Immigrant
THE EXHIBITION AT VIENNA.
Balfsb Popular Opera as Put On ss the
Duquesne Last Week.
NEWS FOR LOVERS OF THE ART DIVINE

fully given in New York under the auspices
of the Grant Monument Association, will
probably be repeated in Chicago at an early
date. Patriotic songs form the principal
element of the work In published letter.
after speaking of the constant influx of i'm
migrants foreign to our institutions and our
ideals, Mr. Pratt continues:
The necessity of transfusing into this vast
| alien body a common regard and purpose In
| the direction pointed out by our forefathers
| or moding them and their children into a
nation which shall fulfill the lofty destiny of
| universal freedom and equality, for which
| the blood and treasure of patriots have been
SO lavishly and nobly poured out, needs no
| argument
This necessity being admitted it would ap-
| pear that every possible effort in aid of this
| purpose should, without delay, receive the
| cordial support OF every loyal and right
! minded citizen.
rection is universally conceded. and the
| composer, as well as the Grant Monument
| Association in producing at this time col
| lection of patriotic songs in the form OF AN
Allegory of the War in Song" are actuated
by desire not only to increase the fund
with which to build what will be the grand
est mausoleum in the world, in honor OF one
of earth's greatest and most successful
military leaders, but also to kindle anew the
flames of National Union sentiments and
/
musical reunion with a fottier purpose and
more exalted ideas of the value of American
citizenship.
The inspiriting effect of the war songs
upon the ''boys" themselves, whether on
the march, in the camp or in action, has
often been proven. Their value as patri-
otic stimulus to our rising ger Grafton has
also been frequently acknowledged. 1t has
remained for Mr.. Pratt to point out the ap-
Ii, nf f11l ha i'm
migration problem.
1t is not a hall bad idea, either.
We might reach the heart-out Of which
are the issues of life, national as well as in
dividual-better by teaching these benighted
strangers to thrill responsive to the strains
of ''The Star Spangled Banner" and the
rest of the good, old songs, than by requir-
ing them to learn the Constitution by heart
or to stand the test of some OF the other
''Know-nothing" shibboleths-
-
Progress of Music and Drama
The United States Consul General at
Vienna has sent home the following official
dispatch regarding the projected exhibition
of music and drama, of which mention has
already been made in this department:
A very interesting exhibition is proposed
to be held in this city next year under the
protectorate of Archduke Charles Louis.
The exhibition is zealously promoted by the
genial Princess Metternich, who appeals to
all lovers of music and the drama to aid and
assist the committee OF management In max
ing the undertaking a great success.
The objects which are aimed at are to pro-
vide an exhibition illustrating as completely
as possible the history and progress of music
and the drama. The exhibits are to consist
of portraits OF eminent composers, play
wrightS. actors and actresses: paintings and
engravings representing interesting episodes
in theatrical annals OF in the lives OF mu-
sical and dramatic celebrities; manuscripts
musical scores and autograph letters; Curl
osities, such as costumes, stage properties,
remarkable playbills, plans and pictures of
presented to dramatic and musical celebri-
ties; books on music and the drama, and nu-
sical instruments of all ages.
The exhibition is to be held in the
grounds of the rotunda and in the rotunda
proper in the Prater. Several rooms will be
fitted up TO represent the mise en- scene OF
theatres in this and former centuries, be-
ginning with the performance of comedies
by Aristophanes and tragedies by Euripides
a Athens, passing on to the mystery plays
of the Middle Ages, thence to the perform
ance of the Theatre Francois in Louis X1V.'s
reign, when Corneille's CHINA" and "Au-
gustus'' appeared in the perukes and dress
of the seventeenth century. and coming
finally to a Shakespearian play as seen in
our days, with all its correctness in detail,
at the Burg Theatre of Vienna, or at the
Lyceum in London.
L
certs and to organize some theatrical per-
formances in connection with the exhibition.
These would comprise works written or
composed for the occasion and old works,
either unperformed or but little known to
the public. The exhibition is to be industrial
as well as artistic. 1t is expected that the
people of the United States of America will
participate in this very interesting and
unique exhibitions; hence l think it oppor-
tune to call the attention of our artists and
art lovers and promoters to this subject by
your department..
Not Very Important IL True.
The Queen of Belgium is an admirable
harpist, the Queen of Italy, to say nothing of
her skill as a pianist and singer, is graceful
performer on the mandolin; almost all the
English princesses play the piano; Princess
Beatrice plays the harmon1um in mastery
style; the CZar has prediction for brass
instruments and the banjo; Queen Victoria
plays the organ excellently; the Prince of
Wales is virtuoso on the banjo; the Prin-
cess, his wife, is an accomplished pianist; the
flute beguiles the leisure hour OF the Duke of
Connaught; the violin is the favorite inStru-
ment of the Duke of Edinburgh; Prince
Henry of Prussia plays and composes for the
piano and violin; the Empress of Japan is
skilled eXecutant on the koto, sort of harp,
the national instrument OF her subj ects: the
Queen of Roumania is clever performer on
the harp and piano; King George of Greece
devotes himself to acoustic experiments
with bells and glasses, from which he OBJ
tains extraordinary results, and plays the
cymbalum, the instrument OF the hungarian
gypsies.-Le MeaeStreL
The musical predictions of still other
royalties might be added to this list Queen
Bee is notoriously addicted to "Hum,
Sweet Hum" King of Spades always turns
up with ''the trumpet shall sound" the
Queen of The-may has a natural liking for
''lNai- Lasettern;" Prince Tons barbaric prefer
ence is for the somewhat monotonous chant,
"Rahl Rah! Siss-Bang-Booml'' and every
housekeeper has learned Queen Sware's
penchant for "Break, Break, Breakl'
~
Music in the Homes.
In this city, when to so many the goal of
all musical study is the garish brilliance of
public performance, or, at least, the empty
acquisition of a snowy and fashionable ac-
complishment, it is pleasant to see the quiet,
homely side of the art emphasized as in the
following excerpt from British cotempo-
rary:
The old English love OF home is a beau
tiful thing, and in climate like our own we !
are-ex necessitate-for large part of the !,
year indoors people, and as We do not live !
at hotels as many Americans do, and do not |
live out OF doors, a Boulevard sort of life as
homes are bright and happy. Music, how |
ever, is not ordinarily the enjoyment of our |
evening hours, for England's daughters too |
often close their acquaintance with its mys- |
terieS and melodies when they leave school |
They sometimes, alas! discover that |
they have no ear for it, without |
considering whether they have ex- |
ercised much perseverance In their studies |
Marriage too, seems often an effectual kew |
for most pianofortes, and a stray production |
OF some easy sacred pieces becomes the sole |
relic of "other days" Now Now nothing bright,
if womanhood is at fault i'm this resnent |