The herald., 1895-01-20

~ w. '
Serious vsshouts have occurred in the
rsasuries Of all the theaters during the
week, and at this writing it seems by no
msSns sure that the storm will cease BIS
fars Madame Tsvary arrives. But 1t
yuattsrs not. The people OF Los Angeles,
ut least the thsster-goins portion oil
them, are servile to Dame Fash;en's de-
orses in matters Of art, and only patron-
izs generously those companies which
have received her scented oachst
When Carms2oits drst appeared here
five or six years aga sho rather bored
her sudiencer, aud I rsmembeT die
tinctly that when she finished her part
and walked off into the wings she
hardly got q "hand." But when the
Nav York chsppiss took her up, and
shs swagger set there gave her their sp'
provsl it was different. and when she
came back again about g year ago her
ContortonE and grimscss were ap'
plaudedA to the echo. Observers have
noticed this tendency to follow the
Judgments Of other places on the part
OF theater-goers here, and their dlsln-
clination to form their own opinion, so
1t will probably not matter ss far az
patronage goes il it should rain every
evening next week, for grand opera ia
fashionable, and fortunately, as sung by
the Tavary company. will unqusatioH-
ably ba excsllently given.
SIS
Madame Tavary is probably better
singer than was delightful Emma Abb
bott whom Mr.. Pratt, the manager OF
She present company, 30 managed as TO
make her beloved OF the public. Some
critics used to laugh at Miss Abbotts
claim to be q great singer, but the
people would 20 to see her in the same
numbers and with shs same enthusiasm
that would greet Patti. In her case Mr..
Pratt's Judgment was accurate. and both
he and Miss Abbott reaped large
practical benefit. In the case oil
Madame TavGry, Mr.. Pratt appesrs to
have not only tho public but the crltioe
as we'll with him, for his company has
been warmly received wherever 1t has
appeared,
Every tins that minstrel company
appears il hnt emphasizes the fact tina
it 10 d: sd and ia not aware OF the fact.
Tbs negro has loet his sentimental, ro'
mantle and political Importance he IL
now simply what he ia as msn, and III
place of banjo picking and chanting cot
ton field dittiss he has assumed indust-
rial phases that give him no particular
artistic value. The minstrel perform
ance Ia as much out OF date now as {
slave auction would be. People regard
the memories OF Birch, Bryant. Hooley
and Backus with gratitude for the purt
merrimsnt they afforded; but the min
utrsl of today does little more than t.
evoke odious comparisons with the blacl
face Htsrs OF the past, and the heavy
tawdry, gimcrack attempts at spectacu
lar effects, but add weight to the pond
erous attempts at fun and utter sbsenc
Of any typical features.
Key and Bow.
William Foster Apthorp. in his oleve
book, Musicians and Music Lovers. de
votes a chapter to some thoughts OF
musicsl criticism; and as Mr.. Apthor
has been for long a musical critic o.
th at conservative paper, the Bosto
Transcript. all his ideas on the subieC
garry weight. and some of them are O
follows:
"It has long been a matter of debat
what ahe true function of critic is."
SIT is not long since read somewher
4hat there are two kinde OF critics: tn
critic who writes what he thinks h
knows, and the one who writes what h
knows he knows, and that only th
latter should have any real authority
II the chief aim OF musical criticism
10 raise the standard of musical per
formanca and popular musical appreciS
tion-as / firmly believe it to be-
mere detailing OF absolutely knowsbl
facts is OF little use; that is reporter
work, not criticism in any high sense
the word" -. "Tha critics fir
aim should bs to shov tho thing ~
pees il, and, the farther ha ssea into il
the batter. II he eess no farther tina
his readers do, he will be read only q
long IS they agree with him; but, ii h
does $50 farthar. and makes it plat
that hs doss. he will be read {
any rate" :. d. 1T has otto
been said that IL liz sns oil ths musici
eYltlO'e OuLl6k 80 6uCCufhS6 young thlSn
If this III sauB anything, il means that
should help to maxs the path to fan
and fortune sssy for nav composers an
performers. It seems to me. hoWeve
that this ides has been aomswhat undul
emphasized. I cRnnos see that, III
far SO regards encouragement, the crit
has spy daty beyond encouraging VIII
he deems worthy. Nav, more than thi
/ think young talent in gensral is som
thing agsinss which is bshooveG tn
critic to be on his guard. Ayonng COZ
poasr us artist may say " feel l ha'
TALENT and my friende agres with me;
HAYS devoted yssrs so tbs brosdsss az
aircsrsss STUD, all my best ereggi
hAve beer given to ny art; have HI
to fight my way, scraps together, doll
by dollar, tbs money my musical eare
sioa has cost me; have endured mar
privatious; it ssems to me-" ~
dcsr young friend" reply, sit eutjtl
you to an envinbls plsas in tia kingdc
of hoeyep, aud the sdmiring respect
oil Who know you on esrth. Bur, 1T
With the exact value of the resnits
your work that !, as critic, have to d
xut with this only. Ii your work
good it shAll be my highest privileges
point out it's sxcellence; but. II it is n
good, il ia merely an encumbrspcs (
the face of the earth, The world nesds
not, and it must 60 she way OF
useless things." III seen