The Indianapolis journal., 1892-05-22
THE COMING MUSIC FESTIVAL.

practical, unpOetic view of it. 1t is
equally true that music is a clvilizer.
We are assured that it "soothes the
savage breast" and we know by OBJ
servatiOn and experience that it has q
wonderful power to calm troubled spir-
it's and to tranquilize riOtous passions
and rude tempers that not all the other
arts of civilization can quite subdue.
Few, indeed, are they who are not
affected by the concord of sweet
sounds" Even the wild sounds be-
fore they have yet been curbed
by time and tune have. no doubt.
a quieting influence upon those whose
ears have been attuned to nothing finer
and are to them source of enjoyment.
Between the noise of the tom-tom and
the Interpretation of Beethoven or q
Chopin or a Wagner there are many
grades of music; and between the China
man who enjoys the one and the virtu-
OsO who understands and appreciates
the others there are as many classes of
men and women who love and enjoy the
intermediate grades. 1t is not for the
friends of one kind of music or another
is disposition to do. Music is not, pri.
marily. an intellectual enjoyment. 1t
stimulates the heart, not the mind. Mr..
Haweis says: Emotion, not thought. is
the sphere of music, and emotion quite
as often precedes as follows thought"
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say that the emotions stirred in the
heart of a listener by the strains of
''Home, Sweet Home" "Lang Syne,"
"Star-spangled Banner" Marching
through Georgia" or by the lively jigs
that set his feet and fingers tapping, are
less deep and fervent than the feelings
that stir the pulses of Wagnerian dis
ciples when their idols compositions arc
rendered by great artists. On the other
hand, it is equally presumptuOus for the
lover of ballads and popular" music to
insinuate that they who profess to ad-
mire the classical productions are insin-
cere. 1t is not the depth or character of
the emotions that is measured in either
case, it is simply the power of express
ion. On the one hand the ballad lover
finds in the simple songs and melodies
sufficient utterance for his feelings;
the other enters into a wider field
and finds expressed the higher
and finer sentiments and aspirations
that had been but vaguely formed in his
mind before. He understands the mean
ing of symphony that was once unin-
telligible sound as he now appreciates a
book or poem that was meaningless to
his youthful sense. His emotions are
no deeper, but they find broader scope
and clearer expression in this higher
music. Itisa matter of educated senses,
and it is not by the study of musical
science. but by listening TO the best
| music, that this education comes. An
unequaled opportunity for this cultiva-
tion is afforded by the May Music Festi-
val that opens In this city on Tuesday.
Indiana's fourth annual May Music
Festival will be held this week at Tom
linson Hall. This event. in it's regular
recurrence, has become feature In the
educational and artistic life of Indian
apolis people, and has always drawn the
attention of not only residents of lndi-
ana. but of other States as we'll, to the
| prominence of indianapolis as mu-
sical center. The intention of estab-
fishing these festivals has been well
carried out, and every effort has been
made to make the festival of this year
superior to any of it's predecessors. The
directors, aided by the experience of
past years, have been able to
expend money more generously than
ever in selecting singers and musicians,
and the list of soloists includes some of
the greatest and most famous artists in
this country. OF course, the chorus is
the central figure of the festival, and to
its pre- eminencc and that of its leader
more credit is due than to any other in
fluence. The orchestra this year will
be under the direction of Mr.. Walter
Damrosch, who brings from New York
eighty of the best musicians in the
world. The programme is athoroughly
representative one, embracing choral
| Woihc AiOu VIC eiCoo hootOiop cy III puO"
MES from the classic, romantic and mod
ern schools of music, while the mum bers
to be performed by the soloists could
not be more judiciously chosen. The
Music Festival is replete- with elevating
influences that educate the artistic
taste of not only those participating in,
but those who attend the performances.
AS an advertisement for the city of In.
dianapolis it is unequaled. 1t attracts
people to the capital from all over
the State, and has in consequence
stimulating influence on all business
interests. The sales of season and sin
gle seats have been very promising, and
the festival this year is likely to be
greater success than ever. AS a matter
of State pride. the festival should be en-.
couraged, regardless of the beneficial re
suits that accrue to those who attend
At no previous festival has such 8
wealth of excellent music been en-
braced in the programmes, the chora
numbers this year being so large and Of
such weight that only one can be RiveI
on each evening. In HanGeps "Mes
sah" the programme has its great ora
torio classic, in Mendelssohn's "Wal
purgis Night" poetic cantata of the
romantic school. and in Gounod's mag
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