Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-24
HE MUSIC WORLD.
Home Composers Do Not Need Any
Protection From the Aliens.
HAHN'S ADDRESS TO THE M. 7. N. A.
Wagner Opera in London, Both in the
German Tongue and English.
A BUDGET OF GENERAL NEWS ITEMS

Naturally enough the American com.
poser was numerously in evidence at the
recent meeting of the Music Teachers
National Association. At such gathering
a more than usual prominence may be very
properly accorded to him, even to the e1'
treme, perhaps, of devoting to him two en-.
tire programmes and many other places oi
vantage.
But it does not follow that like promi-
nence and preference ought to be given to
the American composer in all other lines Of
regular musical activity.
President j. II. Hahn, in his opening ad-
dress, paid an eloquent tribute to the
lamented Calixa Lavallee, who had started
the vigorous campaign on behalf OF the then
neglected American composer at the former
Cleveland meeting of the association. Mr..
Hahn went on to say:
In the eight short Intervening years last
past more mas been accomplished to pro-
mote the culture and growth of American
music than In all preceding time combined,
and the American composer Of to-day is q
potent factor In American musical affairs.
What would be more becoming or would
more befitingly commemorate that histori-
cal occasion-the Lavallee recital-than Tor
this meeting to adopt appropriate and de-
c1ded measures for carrying this laudable
work SO auspiciousy inaugurated-by well
directed organized efort-into every home
and into the reniotest hamlet in the nation?
With this object i'll view l beg to submit
as an effective agency for attaining this end
the selection or appointments of committees
to prepare list OF American compositions
for both instructive and concert purposes,
embody1ng every department. of music, ex-
cepting perhaps the ope IA, and which shall
receive the endorsement of this association.
To properly cover the ground, the plan, it
seems to me should include a special COM
inlttee or not less than three members in
each of the following departments:
Orchestral music. including SYM
phonles, symphonic poems, overtures,
struments: q Choral music with orchestra;
g. Ensemble music of every character, in
cluding violin solos with piano: 4. Choral
works with piano; 8. Songs with piano; G..
Planoforte solos.
yield to no man in veneration or love tor
the classical or recognized modern masters.
Ine proposition is not made that they shall
be superseded, but the claim is made and
with al! the earnestness 1 possess, that
everything being equal for the purpose in
tended, the preference in study and per-
fornance be given American compositions
Too Much of Good Thing.
There is danger of pushing the good
work too tar, with all this committee ma
chinery suggested by the President and
adopted by the association. If the prefer
ence were in fact to be given upon the con-
dirion, ''everything being equal for the
purpose intended" and upon that condi-
tion only, there would be no harm done.
But no one can doubt that in such a move
ment preference will be urged for a home
composition that will in some sort answer
the purpose over foreign work that would
answer better.
s,,k
harm than good to the cause of American
music.
The present problem is not to increase the
quantity of Americas music production.
There is far too much of it already, such as
1t is. What is wanted is to improve the
quality, to raise the standards That is q
matter far above the reach of protective
legislation, whether it be by Congressional
tariff acts or by NJ. T. N. A. preference"
resolutions. Statistics from Custom House
or music store as to the relative consump-
tion OF home and foreign music have but
little bearing on the question, how to i'm
prove our product.
Free and equal competition on their merits
is the fair thing all around; fair to both
home and foreign composers, fair to the
great public. And that is the best-nay,
the only proper way to develop the home
product to the highest degree of excellence.
To permit an American work on the ground
of its composers nationality to occupy
place that would be better filled
by some foreign work. is the best way to
encourage mediocrity. The American COM
poser will be most likely to do his best
when his work has an equal chance, and no
more, with any other work, and must stand
or fall solely on its own merits.
The campaign of the past eight years has
largely succeeded in getting hearing for
our resident composers. Musical circles and
the general public are now quite as
ready to acknowledge their merits as those
of their foreign brethren. The progress of
the international copyright idea promises
relief ultimately from the hurtful compe-
tition of cheap pirated reprints of the for
eign pieces.
Entire equality of opportunity is already
near enough to render unnecessary the ex-
traordinary campaign now proposed to be
made under NJ 7. N. A. auspices. And if
the campaign should, as is most likely, 60
beyond equality and seek to establish
preference for the American composer, it
would tend to do serious injury to the COM
posers themselves and to the general cause
of music in this country.
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