New-York tribune., 1896-05-31
MUSICAL COMMENT.
ART AND CRITICISM IN ClNClNNA IL
FUTURE OF THE FESTIVALS-MuSlC
IN THE COLLEGE COURSE.

IN THE COLLEGE COURSE.
,rho nastcr ~ the Second PRESBYTERIAN Church in
Cincinnati took occasion in his sermon last SUNDAY
evening 10 join in the chorus OF cohden'a"o''
aroused by the tec2raphc reports sent to TINS Jour
nal about the Music Festival recently heId III 'n''
city The fact is worthy of mention as De'ohs'"s
among the curosies Of criticism, and as such Is
calculated to cause amused smile. If II Is CHOSEN
nevertheless as a subject for serious comment II Is
only because IT illustrates the singular frame OF
mind into which community can WORK hsei pS
dnigent cultivation Of seif-complacency ana Is"o-
rance of the world outside the town limits FROM
this point Of view the exhibition Is pitltui' even
saddening. Cincinnati is ambitious to be ieader
in musical culture Twenty years ago certain
agencies We're called into being when promised 10
advance il along that laudabe path Chief OF theS"
were the festivals which Mr. Thomas was ihsfu-
mental In establishing. They began in s'9 on l"'S
not essentially different from those of the festivals
given IN New England. but their scope and dignity
grew with their success until they deserved TO ne
set down as the loftiesi affairs of their kind IN the
country SO f@r the influence when theE nav
exerted on choral culture throughout the thteu
States is concerned il would be almost iHp2ssn,Ss
to overstate the:r value Aidea Dy a. ai srmt
they we're the most potent Inspiration for good
along some lines that the country mas k,o"n,d WA bas
Tribune prompt TO recognize the iact anu ht
borne testimony 10 it's Interest by sen1lnS ~ "i "a,
correspondent to every meeting from 1919 w now;
1t is worthy of note In order hat me ,ho' in
affairs now prevailing shall be underst9od' ma 10
have nasscd there has been a steady maintenance OF
the IDEAL which was set for them when they iett
the experimental stage and were put on looti,s
looking to their permanencs. For this honor mus'
be given to Mr. Thomas and the Festival Assoca-
high plane. and so have the instrumental ana SOLO
forces employed unhappy. for reasons set doL.n ho
IN a dispatch this journal last Sunday there mas
o9ght 70 he relied on to give the festivals their
highest character-the choral For every intei-
gent ana patriotic music lover there was roile
thing mournful in this decay for II made IL ilnpos
sible for promise and fulhlment TO keep step to-
gether. and already ten years ago u was reSoshIcu
by honest and discrminatlng m,nds thst me- the iesn
walls in danger Of losing prestige and thtir Ma
and with much Of their prestige bay lost their AZ al,
trac,iveness 10 the people OF other <iles VINO nan
been won't TO croTd to CnenHs Gss no ENJOY Them
the local community gave wonderful exhibition Of
seems TO belong west OF the Allegheny Mountains
4 system OF securing an advance sale or tickets
The meetings was substituted for the plan OF raising
a guarantee fund. which had previously been fol
financial success ike that Of is7s when the profits
amonned to oyer Te was S mse,inr:
the Old lines.
Such an achievement could not fail 10 bring some
unhappy result in It's train. however. First there
came an unlovcly exagger tion Of tho spirit which
had enabled the city 10 accomplish so much-un
lovely because It supplantcd the old enthusiasm for
ar, Itself and put social and commercial vanity In
its place The question was longer: Are We doing
beautiful things? But. Are advertising our
town financiaI success Wa pr"tId dd tbs snTii
sTow tba Sor yeaIs not word Of dispras~ dd the
local newspapers dare % publish. though m" musi-
cal portion OF the community frankly ana sorrow
fully discussed the artistic decay Of the proud in
stitution. This state OF affairs was encouraged 10y
Nj Thomas and tho directors The former. II is
true, alternately begged scoded ana threatened
whenever he discussed the chorus question 10 the
interim between the festivals. but IN festival week
he thought IL wise to encourage the people to he
Ieve that their choii Wa sun the most admirable
one In The country. 1t Is this species OF artistic
dishonesty i.h.ch found It's elimination Ia tho
hasco made with Tinefs "Francscus' week before
last that s responsible FOR the decay ot ne fesil-
walls. Criticism Was made obnoxious. ana the public
was taught tan easy lesson 70 learn N is condition
OF seli-compac"ncy( that there could b" no fauli
found saw from sinister motives The president OF
choir vent so FAR as 70 charge improper purposes
TO the spondcnt OF this Journal IN hts annual
that Mr.. Thomas had said. after the festival. that
It was only by a miracle that the chorus had got
al 10 o"na m Iyai Inc 20 fne Igs n6efsss
confess pubiiriv mai The choir had failei for Nr
Thomas insisted upon fundamental reorganza-
tion OF the body.
Facts Ike these explain the strange performance
OF the Presbyterian divine last sunday. Cncin-
natl has a large element In Its population which
Is serious, gentle. refined and cultured 1t has "a
larger element that believes 1t to he the OF all
sp;rit Of frlyny and careIessness bas seizrJ npon
the community. 1t has made Il helpless In the
hands OF political bosses. IL has made sunday day
OF public sport and dissipation; It has cultivated in
the people a disposition TO blink at disagreeable
truth; 1t is substituting Roman dislngenuousness for
Anglo-Saxon candor and love OF truth. II has per
suaded them that far their festivals con
cerned pretencc is good performance: II has
made rule of social conduct out OF the pernicous
principle that 1t IL best tell the truth II II
offend the civic prOpre. VIII let an ar,ls-
proud. and which might bring the city lasting
glory and honor 10 the art of music. sink 10 the
level Of an idle amusement.
or course. II Cincinnati s willing 10 forget her
lovely ambition TO become artistic centre this
sermon is idle. But do not believe this to be the
disposition Of the serious element In her population
She has offered evidence TO the contrary by estab
fishing a permanent orchestra, which has already
put series OF excellent concerts It's credit
and Is preparing to do better next year. She has
other admirable agencies In the Festival Association
and the College OF Music Those who rebuke her
for her shortcomings may be administering chastse
ment in s.ncercst love. and because they more
profoundly convinced of her mission and her power
than she herself She cannot be willing for long to
sacrifice her opportunities and renounce her ob
cations. She will make her festivals what Mr.
Thomas wanted them to become when ne first laid
them out the superb Ines indicated by his
scheme She VIII yet realize his ideals-wlth his
assistance II Is TO be hoped but In spite OF him II
II be necessary. Then the pastor Of the Second
Presbyterian Church will be able 10 preach on
musical criticism more becomingly than now and