New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-29
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MUSICAL JOURNALISM.


MUSIC, Monthly. Magazine w. : b. Mathew ths's
Editor and Publisher. Chicago. No. 24O Wabash
This venture In musical Journalism which in some
respects Is unique Of the first fruits OF MI
Thomas's exodus 10 Chicago The city thst stitch
at the foot OF the great lake has liking for big
things, and II had persuaded itself tpt VIII
the departure OF Theodore Thomas the musical sceptrc
had also departed from Ncw-Y than ii prepared
q dwelling place for both within It's widely extended
borders. The first number Of Music appeared last
November. There wea many reasons why all scrions
lovers OF the art shonld have reOccd AZ its coming
Unlike. nearly every other journal devote1 70 music
II was not a trade journal. bnt In form. typography
and measurably also in spirit ana style II was n
monthly review magazine. As a rule, the pnblc
knows nothing about the character Of the sheets
which parade as musical journals. NomnaIlv they
exist TO supply expert discussion on art site mani
f-stations, which they would have their readers be-
Ieve the daily newspapers treat with insufficient fu
Uess fairness Intelligence. N fact. they are little
else than advertising mediums. AS rule, they are
supported by their trade department and the bulk OF
their pages set apart for discussion and Information
ooucerning Is filed either, with criticisms and re-
views much inferior from point OF View to those
which regularly appear In the daily newspapers CT
with matter directly clipped from the columns Of the
newspapers which they presume 70 cFftlcise. In
either the arguments which thcv advance TO
justify their existence fall to the ground. Their
whole significance is advertising mediums. and the
advertisng spirit naturally dominates all their de-
partmentS. At the outset " Music babe us hope for
something better. Being monthly publication ~
was lifted above the pcttinesses Of concert reviews
and local affairs: having trade department. II was
free from the entangling alliances which seem In
evtable an editor writer on music
gets within the whirl of panoforte politics To those
who know the history Of the art and who Keep IN
formed about It's doings In the capitals of the world
aud elsewhere II did not seem rs il there could be
any danger Of a lack Of material TO keep even the
most serious minded and comprehensive journal oc-
cupied. There many phases In the history Of tho
art which still require popular eucidaon; there are
many improvements vet to BE- made In musical
pedagogics; the cultivation Of the art here, there
and everywhere furnishes abundant food for
thcnghful discussion; in fact, there IS no
department Of musical literature which BIO
said to DO closed Here. them was the field which
10y open and inviting before tie journal. We
have no doubt that Its editor. Mr.. Mathews, intended
to possess himself Of 1t. His salutaory was
promising though permeated with the foolishly boast
full spirit of Chicago 1t was to be
the "biggest, musical Journal in the world as
TO fit 1t for companionship with all the other
"biggest" things which Chicago already had, namely,
an orchestra under the direction OF Mr.. Theodore
Thomas who by common consent Is at least the
equal of any conductor in the world the largest
cultivated chorus IN the world under conductor
without superior Interpreter Of choral music Of
the highest Glass; and finally the largest musical
library in the world. Nevertheless 1t was easy enough
to pardon these little outbusts Of silly braggadocio,
for In themselves they harmless and ii required
something of the spirit Of sclfsatisfaction Of which
they are expression to undertake difficult noble
and dignlfed undertaking that thus heralded.
1t was that spirit which rhe editor characterized MS
the something IN the Chicago air. whether in its
floating carbon It's azone and enterprise, which
makes 1t easier TO undertake n large and perhaps
Imaginative enterprise than in older city"-that
Is easier to do so in Chicago, which IL what the
editor meant.
IN the eight numbers which have appeared since
last November there have been some admirable and
highly suggestive essays right in the dignifed and
wise line marked out by Mr.. Mathews in his salutaory
but Of late It's Eastern readers have had deplore the
presence of amnteursh and local tendency Of
thought which IS very far indeed from the original
programme OF It's editor. The hand and bellows |
OF the insidous advertiser and puffcr are also |
seen, and not always in the department which, |
in spite Of the early protestatlons has apart
for trade purposes. The difficulties which teset
such undertaking e3empli1ed in "Music" |
first projected many. Some OF them, we |
believe, may be overcome in community so full |
Of energy and local pride that OF Chicago more
easlly than anywhere else In the country. Where
music is still young 1t Is less difficult matter TO
PERSUADE It's votares 10 interest themselves In its
literary manifestations than In the old centres where
the majority OF its practitioners handi-
craftsmen Because OF the need OF honest,
capable, highminded musical monthly or quarterly
1t is 10 be hoped that Mr.. Mathews will succeed in
placing "Music' a firm footing and realizing his
own ideals Of nine months ago