The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-28
HERR SCHEEL EXPLAINS Els MIS-
SION IN THIS CITY.

Lovers of music have repeatedly expressed
the wish to me that a Conservatory OF Music be
founded in the city of San Francisco. During
years sojourn here have had ample oppor-
tunity to observe and study the musical and
theatrical situation under existing conditions,
and I have come to the conclusion that the
term conservatory" in its strictest sense is
not applicable to school of the musical art
such as would call into life here. The name
conservatory implies at once the field in which
an institute of this character must become
active. 1t is called upon to maintain the
classical nature of fully developed style OF
the art; to conserve it, by fostering and caring
for the works that constitute it. Particularly IN
the manner of the proper rendition will this
be all essential. In short, the conservatory
must take upon itself the duty OF jealousy
guarding the masters of an age, or time,
whose works have passed through certain art
period, from its prime to its closing classical
stage.
The European Conservatives, as those of Ma
pies, Milan, Paris, LEIPZIG, etc., conserve ana
foster what their great operate stages had pre-
viously developed into classical form through
direct, continuous and individual effort
San Francisco has not had fixed operate
stage, and there is consequently no necessity
for the cultivation of classical style, which
has not been able TO develop by reason OF the
greater demands made upon the unitarian
sides of its vigorous and active lie. we can
readily comprehend this at time when an oc-
casional operate ensemble visits our city. We
are then brought face to face with the fact that
we are called upon to listen not to the master
composers themselves, but to the manner IN
which their compositions are rendered.
The very considerable and Incompatible in
fuence which the stage has obtained upon the
mind and taste of the public, standing as 1t
does almost alone in furnishing means OF
uninterrupted artistic entertainment, cannot
leave us in doubt for single moment that the
institution which we have in mind should sim
to Introduce theatrical and classic choral pro-
auctions Tor the stage rather than the orches-
ira. 1t has been sufficiently proved that what
ever efforts have been brought forward to Gull
tivate the musical taste and to lead it into
more serious and nobler channels by means of
orchestral productions, the effects have been
neutrallzed and blurred by the overruling in
fiuence of the theater; and it clearly follows
that again through the stage only can we ex-
pect to reach the public and inculcate that
taste for the finer qualities and nobler senti-
ments required to respond to the music of q
higher order.
Acknowledging the courtesies of the Metro
politan Musical Society, the Philharmonic Or
chestra. the Ladies Orchestra, as well as those
OF my numerous colleagues, such as the Messrs.
Kelley, Zach Jr, Vogt, Fleischmann and others,
who have interested themselves in the most
unselfsh manner in my behalf to induce me to
remain here, have finally concluded to devote
myself to the culture of the musical art in San