Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-29
THE MUSIC WORLD.
An American Composers Concert for
the Vienna Exhibition.
THE PLANS FOR OUR OWN FAIR.
Close Of the Seasons Work by the Art Soci.
ETY. Friday Evening.
NOTES STRUCK FROM ALL QUARTERS

| Mr.. F. X. Arens writes to the Musical
Editor of The DISPATCH, from Berlin
under date Of May 10, in part as follows:
81 beg leave to inform you that have
been requested to conduct an American
composers concert at the Vienna Musical
and Dramatic Exhibition, such concert to
take place some time in early June. This
no doubt must prove highly interesting
news to your readers, for at last the Ameri-
can composer is deemed worthy of entering
the arena of the world. distinction long
ago accorded the American painter and
| sculptor
"The other countries to be represented
are: Great Britain (Cowen, conductor),
Germany ". Bulow and Weingartner),
Austria Hungary (Rich.er), Bohemia
(Dvorak), Russia (Tschaikowsky), France
(Massenet and Lamoureux), Scandinavia
(Svendsen), Italy Verdi and Mascagni).
CATER this official acknowledgment of
the American composers (no doubt brought
about by the uncommonly enthusiastic crit
icisms on my recent American concerts here
and elsewhere) 1 do not see how the Worlds
Fair authorities can very well
help extending a similar invitation
to the tone-poets of the land.
In order that the American composer be
placed on the same footing with his brother
artists of the brush and chisel, series of
composers concerts ought to be arranged
for, such concerts to be accessible to all
visitors to the Fair grounds without further
charge. The musical countries above men,
toned would no doubt respond to such an
viii hot picf&
would be attracted by just such concerts,
that therefore the Worlds Fair funds
would not sustain any loss through the en-
terprise, goes without saying"
AS regards Mr.. Arens' "American Com
posers' Concerts" abroad, it is pleasant to
record any efforts that spread the fame of
our own writers and elicit such favorable
comment as the following, made by the
English and American Register upon Mr..
Arens' recent concert at Weimar:
The works of the American composers
Chadwick, Foote, Schoenfeld. Paine. Shelley
and Acknowledgement at this concert. are
the result of much musical knowledge and
talent. and of q very striking effect; notwith-
standing that they are moving on classical
ground. they are in the main influenced by
the modern schools of Berlioz, Liszt and
Wagner. Mr.. Arens proved himself to be
not only f1rst-rate conductor of the orches-
ira, but by the production Of M his symphonic
gifted composer.
As regards MI. Arens' querulous intima- |
tion that the musical department of the !
Worlds Fair needs to be urged to do the |
proper thing by the America ,mposer-
that is wholly another matter Mess in |
deed, he means by "a similar invitation"
one addressed to himself personally, like
the invitation to Vienna. But, while cir
cumstances and convenience may have des-
ignated Mr.. Arens as the proper conductor
of such a concert over there, it does follow
that he should receive the same prominence
among all the resident composers and con-
ductors over here.
In point of fact this gentleman and
several others who have lately been ques-
tioning or openly attaching the musical
of the Worlds Fair are too
hasty in jumping to conclusions.
For the dedicatory ceremonies, Oc-
tober 10, three native composers
George w. Chadwick, John K. Paine and
Mrs. H. H. Beach-have been commissioned
20 write special music. About year re-
mains before the Exposition proper will be
opened and that is ample time for getting
ready a musical scheme of even greater
magnitude than. these hastv critics have
themselves ventured to suggest.
Of such magnitude the contemplated musi-
cal scheme actually is. Its scope is likely
10 be made known soon after Secretary
George II. Wilson's return from Europe,
where he went on this very errand and
whence he will return within week or
,wo.
In the meantime all people interested can
veil afford to rely upon such men as Mr.
Theodore Thomas and Mr. Wilson to con-
luct the musical portion of the big show in
manner that none need be ashamed to own
IS an American achievement
~
Tho Carnegie Library Plans.
The general art-loving public has cause
o be interested in the trend of the Art So
iety's activity, as intimated in the notices
bout to be sent to the members sub