The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-03-05
TIE MUSIC OF TIE FUTURE.
An -Esthcte Cnto,ds Iii. Theory About
Music. Gloom. md Easy Chairs.

man who Is not unknown in frst-ntght
audiences. and has dabblcd II little in both
the arts OF painting and music. entertains
original views on the subject OF ~recitals. The
scheme that lie wants 10 See put in practice is
this: VI plan for giving recitals-I mean by
that getting other fellows to give them. for |
haven't money enough to carry out the idea
is to have them take place in the dark. Wait
a minute. now. don't propose to turn all the
lights of: ! only want to produce a cool and
thoughtful gloom. 1t would stimulate mag
~ination. 1t would allow those OF n sensitive
temperament to shed tears. ifthe music moved
them to-. without fear Of being OBJ
served and sneered at by their neigh
bors. In our grand concerts sup
pose 1t Is necessary to have the lights
up. because people keep coming and going
while the music Is played. and. besides. there
are a great many people who in their Utmost
hearts do not care for music. and who go
simply because It Is the thing to do. and be-
cause they like to see and be seen. As you
are aware. there is no attempt to make these
great concerts occasions Of either beauty or
comfort. The hall is in a glare OF light. and
the lights in our halls are most inconsider-
ately and inartisti"ally arranged. shining di.
rectly into the eyes OF the audience and max
ing no picturesque shadows possible.
Il understand that in Brooklyn it has been
customary. for n number Of years. to decorate
the stage Of the Academy OF Music with flowers
anu palms at the important orchestral con-
certs. This. believe. Is done by a few wealthy
then the managers are more hopeful SUBJECTS
than l thought they were, l ne,e or met a great
are too eager for a dollar to so TO the expense
Of liking M II stage with plants. But. nnvway.
that Is u move in the right direction. would
As / said. would have a music recital
take PLACE In u cool. .well-aired, AMI darkenei
to show that 1t was beautiful. To thoroughly
enjoy good music it is necessary to be- COM
and comfort in q narrow. leather chair in a
hot. oyerlighted theatre. with your knees
tr1nf %i H HsainSt the iron lack q a chair in
Wei. what | would do would be to place the
audience in large. soft. easy chairs. disposed
cupnnt pleased. instead Of long rows. These
chairs alone: being richly nph%lstere,l; would
the floor and ,drapc the gallery front with
"Eqtw you'd not these soft stuffs deadon tho
,'EXactly. That is what I should want to
do. MY aim would bo to produce II sense OF
repose. and there can to 10 repose when II
pianist Is nlling II bare room with gathering
echoes. orr niano singer is scrccching high
aud the situation ought TO hnrinoniae. such n
setting ns have indicated would DO simply
i Ids o lr iH ,M, i w2nlI be b, drliGhtini
players and scale runners would lie ont OF
placa. in it.
Then. ms to the stage. that would have to
be th" locus OF bennt as il would be the focus
81 interest. | would have u piano OF iight wood.
DECORATED NOT one OF til" Grent black. shiny
collins that Ihilistine manufacturers have i'm
POSED on the public for tho last hfty years:
The, lights should come from candles, and
larry banked in with. palms and lowe,s, A
Few bouquets Of violets md roses should DO
PLACED anout the hall where their odor could
be inintly perceived"
You want to charm all the senses nt once
Now you hay" MT it. l want to make a del
icnte art harmony"
We'll, then. how about the sense Of taste 7"
On. pass around auhwiches and coffee be-
lore me recital begins, or in the rauscs be-
tween the parts OF the programme. Music
SOUNDS better after "A bite and a sin. anyway
thorne costume?"
No. for the reason that it would seem AZ
fected. 1t would. remove attention from his
nlhying to himself. hone tine time. vii. come
when the perfectly awful garments. OF men
VIII be evolved into something a little more
snscentlble OF color and grace. NJ; ] would
PUT tapestries behind the pianist. That Is all
that could be. done for him
why don't you mention this scheme to
some OF the : ociety people. who could try it at
their private musicales Z"
~, Dear, dear! That would be the death Of IT,
strangers TO each other. or else the thinG
would, no i'm practicable. Have you ever at.
tended these musicales at private houseSf III
30. you know how the ,vealy young gentleman
together. and how the man with no ear Tor
music tries to toll stories and repeat club
gossip to those who have ears. and how
dressed up and self conscious the company i.
i fear 1t is all q dream. hut II | ever get rich |
shall try II once and send you a ticket