The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-26


essarily be a little in advance OF the
people. these parts of Wagner's music
have become less thrilling and satisfy
ing than the more subtle analytical
part of his work Leoncavallo and
Massenet too, are copying the most
perishable part of Wagner. There Is,
however, great future for WGgner's
works here The enthusiasm over the
coming German opera season can leave
me in no doubt of that"
Although Mr.. Damrosch has repeat
edly declined to give the figures, and
conflicting reports have been made on
the subject, it may be stated here. incl
dentally, on the best possible author
ity, that the mUch-discussed guarantee
fund for the season of German opera is
$4,000 so far. and is not likely TO be in
creased until fall. Rosa Sucher and
Max Alvary are depended on to carry
the season through.
Mr.. Damrosch Is a firm believer in
the brilliance of Americas musical fu-
ture. Music" he said, must be more
or less artificial here until it gets down
70 what are called the lower classes, il
rope music came from the people and
science and art took il up. Here science
and art got II first and the people are
busy securing it now. AS soon as they
get hold of it and it gets hold of them
America may well become the musical
center of the world. Already N New
York, Boston, Chicago and some of the
other cities where the people have been
educated by orchestras the public is
even quicker TO appreciate the inter
probation of the real spirit of music
than the European public, and as soon
as musical intelligence has had oppor-
tunity to spread out more from the
musical centers to the smaller places
Americas musical position among the
nations win be secure
There is no reason why this country
should not produce the great coming
composer. but the conditions are not
quite ready for him yet. Maybe he will
come in ten or twenty years. The
chances are he will come from group,
climbing up on the shoulders of his as
sociates. AS yet the most promising
young men are too far apart and can
not stimulate one another. AS soon as
they get together then look out for the
coming man.
SIS it not true Mr.. Damrosch was
asked, ''that little better understand
ing of musical forms and of the meth
DDS by which musical language is made
Ineligible, would do more than any
thing else to hasten the era you
prophesy of Americas greatness in
music?"
You've hit It exactly" was the en-
thusiastic reply. why, it would be
amazing what progress would be made
in this country if people understood
how greatly their musical intelligence
and enjoyment would be increased by
a very little untechnical study of must
cal forms Lectures given just
previous TO concerts have done and
will do a great deal in this direction.
was more than satisfied with the re-
suits of the few of these lectures have
found time to give. A very few hours
study Of musical forms, of the arbi-
trary divisions of a composition. of the
traditional arrangement Of musical
ideas would make surprising differ
ence in the understanding and enjoy
ment of music on the part of those
who are not musicians themselves.
They would suddenly find that the
sensuous effects of rhythm and melody
are not to be compared, in the amount
of pleasure they can give, to the ap-
probation of musical ideas arranged IN
logical order"
What about the critics?"
Comparatively few newspapers un-
dertake to give music serious and in
telligeut consideration, and besides,
unhappily, many of the critics are men
who have a half knowledge Of music,
who have reached the point of ability
to find fault sharply, but who have not
the understanding of their work that
Is required in bestowing discriminating
praise That is far higher and far
harder thing to do. There are many
critics in this country, however, who
have done good service, and who can
praise intelligently. 1t would have
been very great help to me, early in
my career, if the critics had given me
more of that intelligent praise. In
stead, they jumped upon me viciously.
They beat me on tho head and pounded
me all over. When l climbed up they
pulled me down. l could have got
along much faster but for that. But it
is much better here than in England,
where all is praise, and Of the undis-
eliminating sort that is deadly. The
newspaper articles on music are going
to be 4 great power for good in the
musical America Of the future, esPeci-
ally so, when critics cease 20 find fault
with technical matters which the mu-
stefan holds in comparatively slight es-
TEEN, and are more often than not due
70 accident or the atmosphere. In
stead. what should be considered
chiefly. am sure. is the Interpreters
grasp on the spirit of the composer and
his reproduction of that spirit in him
self. and in the intelligent Estner.
That is the heart and meaning OF mu-
sic, and that II is which is best worth
observing and bringing ont and COM
menting upon CURTIS BROWN