The record-union., 1896-07-19
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great colleges, and at finishing or other
private schools. But it is, think, re-
| markable fact that in the board and
State aided schools of England ana
Wales alone. the rate-payers were last
year contributing to the musical IN
struction of upwards of 4,25O,000 of
young persons, 3,627 ,450 of whom were
being taught by note go per cent. tonic
sofia, and 707,95O by earl. The pro-
fessional musician, who, like the farm
er, seems always to be grumblng, de-
clares the British Government does
nothing for music. I should like to
know how much more he wants About
| one-fifth of the total population OF Eng
land and Wales were last year being
taught singing at the public expense.
Il do not suppose that tenth of the
whole number had a ghost of voice, or
| that more than this proportion a year or
two after they have left school recollect
even the comparatively simple tonic sol
ia. But if the songs were we'll CHOSEN,
which, regret to say, in some instances
| they are not, the refining influence OF
good music upon the children of the
poor counts for much; while for the rest
the enormous increase in the number of
past ten years is indisputably in great
part due to the help afforded by musical
education out of the public funds. More
over, it has engendered a real love for
good music among the masses, thereby
! increasing the musicpaying public;
and, indeed, were it not for State-aided
musical education, it would be impossl-
BILE to explain the enormous audiences
in, the ia 9ShiOn-
able quarters) attracted by orchestral,
chamber and oratorio concerts in the
east end and other labor districts of
London. The money, therefore, Will GER
| tainly not be grudged.'
The well-known Spanish composer,
| Thomas Breton, has been elected
member of the Madrid Academy of Fine
Arts, in the place of the late Barbieri.
In his address to the members he spoke
| of Spanish opera and the reasons why
art-music has not a national character
| in Spain such as it has in other coun-
tries. He regretted that the musicians
| and the newspapers did not pay sufh-
cient attention to the national elements
| in Spanish art. He might have added
that Bizet's Carmen is charming
l
| ture. Saint-Saens not long ago ex-
pressed his delight with the local color
to be found in the zarzuelas, or Spanish
operettas If such music were combined
with a good old Spanish play-and there
| are hundreds to choose from-Spaln
might have a national school of opera
which would be warmly welcomed
| everywhere.
| The world moves. Until a year or
two ago Liszts music was hardly ever
referred to in London papers except
| in terms of contempt and abuse. But
the critics are beginning to see a light,
and the Academy now writes of the
B minor sonata with condescending
praise:
This work, which makes heavy de-
mands on the executant, is not often
| heard Mr.. D'Albert played with sur
prising mastery, as if he thoroughly en-
/ joyed the music The sonata is curious
compound; the opening theme, which
plays so important a role throughout,
| is characteristic and bold, and there are
melodies full of tender charm and re-
! fnement. But the music is unequal,
and some passages seem to US to lack
distinction. In form the sonata is pc
culiar Liszt's serious attempt to open
up new paths, without entirely breaking
with the past, commands respect, if not
full approval"
Whenever Johann Strauss composes
an operetta he takes extraordinary pre-
cautions to prevent anyone from hear
| ing his new melodies before they are in
type and copyrighted Verdi is even
more careful. He tries hard to hide from
the world the very fact that he is writ
! ing a new opera. He has done so sew
eral times, and appears to be doing it
again. The "Gazetta del Teatri'' says
/ that not long ago a friend called on him
for a chat. At the close the friend ex-
pressed desire to pay his respects to
! Nine. Verdi and Verdi said he would
be glad to take him to her apartments
on the condition that he would not look
right or left in passing through the
music room. The visitor promised, but
could not help seeing a number of sheets
| OF manuscript lying about on the piano
and the tables. Combining this circum-
stance with Verdi's well-known habits
of secrecy, he inferred that the veteran
composer was at work on still another
opera.
Gottschalks generosity has been the
subject of many anecdotes. Wander
ing into music hall in New Orleans one
evening he heard the manager announce
that a little girl who was to play the
piano was i'll and could not appear.
Cottschalk went behind the scenes ard
volunteered TO take her place. The little
girl was delighted, but remarked. doubt
fully:
You had better look at the score.
The piece is rather difficult"
Gottschalk gravely remarked that he
thought he could manage it, and was
permitted to so on the stage. The audi
ence recognized him, and, of course,
Went wild with delight.
Before he left the stage the great art
ist emptied his small change into his
hat and sent it around among the audi
enee for a collection for his little pro-
tcge.a kindness which resulted in sub
stantial benefit for the grateful lassie.
They have a sharp young man at the
door of the Broadway Tbeater says the
New York plays and Players" At the
matinee last Saturday he noticed two
pretty young women enter the lobby. He
Immediately hopped to one side behind
the glass doors and watched them
wander up to the box office He saw
them get tickets and put down money
in exchange. AS they approached the
ticket taker he boldly stepped forward
I nv dp H. a ef