The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-10-16
.THE PEOPLES MUSIC
Singing Glasses as Educators
for the Masses.
GREAT SUCCESS IN NEW YORK
Astoria Might Follow Suit With Ad-
vantage-SO Says Local
Musician.

That music is an educator and refiner
is exempilfied again in the results OBJ
talned by the Peoples Singing Glasses in
New York City. The New York Tribune
says in regard to this work:
1T has been generally agreed by stu
dents of music that one of the potent
influences in behalf of musical culture in
any community is a widespread love and
practice of choral music among the
masses of the people. The PERSONAL con-
tact with greht works, the Identification
with their spirit THAT the study and per-
1ormance of them malSe necessary, are in
themselves uplifting. There is alt present,
and has been for three years, an agency
in operation among the working people of
New York thLaIt has shown the truth of
trl:s contention. lit is the Peoples Sing
ing Glasses, which were startled Hkree
years ago, and which begin their fourth
season of work next Sunday. Their
scheme is an eminenty practical one;
it is the teaching of staff notation and
signt reading and the practice of various
sections of the Chorus of various stages
of proficiency in the performance of
musical works of real merit. From The
advanced Glasses Cast year was formed
an organization called the Peoples Choral
ing men and women, whose only financial
resources are derived from the dues OF
ten CENTS paid by each member for each
rehearsal attended during the winter.
THE idea of such a chorus has been
accepted by the people to whom it was
offered with an interest and enthusiasm
that were probably unexpected by it's pro-
jectors. AS the original classes have
advanced from their standing as elemen-
tary students, their places have been
taken by ever-increaSing numbers, until
this year the enrolment of new members
bids fair to offer veritable embarra sIs-
r1ent That these CLASSES are sustained
by a real dove for music Is made plain
by a consideration of what is involved
for majority of the members. To many
of them the weekly dime and the fire.
quent expense of reaching the rooms are
not matter of entire Indifference. Still
less SO lis the sacrifice of THE afternoon of
the only free day of the week, and the
surrender of a part of The Sunday pleas
ures it involves. Furthermore, there. iis
much significance in the fact that the
work of the classes is not dropped with
the cessation of the regular reheanSacs
in the spring, but tllaIt many smaller
classes are organized, upon the initiative
through the summer months, at an in
CREASED expense to themselves and from
pure love of singing and delight in the
progress unade and the results achieved
thereby. There is no more democratic
institution in existence thhn the Peoples
Singing Classes, and none that pursues
its aim with more lsingleness of purpose.
'The result of an this cannot fail to
be benefit in more ways than one To
tle thousands of people who have joined
in the work of the Peoples Singing
Classes there has been opened up a new
world Of beauty, hitherto unknown, or,
at best, uneXplored. Into the lives Of
these Thousands of toilers has come an
element of culture, Of intellectual slim
NUS and inspiration, that never came be-
fore. And 1t may not be vain to see,
in the extension of the influence and
the growth Of this musical interest amcng
the MASSES of the people, possibilities that
mly be of Importance in the future to
the large musical life of the metropolis.
At any rate, the movement embodied in
the Peoples Singing CLASSES is not the
!east among the influences THAT tend to
the elevation of the masses in this city"
In discussing this question n prominent
local musician stated that lie was in
hearty acord with the movement and was
of the opinion that similar classes on
snalGed scale for the education of the
peopie-the busines man ami woman,
Clerks and shop people, mechanics and
worldmen-wou[d be o. great advantage
to any community, large or small. The
cost Of instruction In tha rudiments OF
the principles of music, music reading and
tone culture, can BE- placed within the
reach of ala in class instruction, and this
kind of instruction Is the most efficient,
ais wen ais affor1ing pleasant social in
teTcourse and amusen nent.