The herald., 1897-02-21

its realization can only be attained by
private enterprise and the generosity
of those who can afford to give. For
nearly year The Herald in this column
has strenuously advocated music in the
parks, and 1t is satisfactory that there
at length seems fair prospect of an
established system. The proposition
of Mr. Engel, the leader of the Elite or
chestra, is certainly reasonable as to
expense. 1t seems doubtful, however,
If Mr. EngePs proposition is not trifle
ambitious to steSt with. He under
takes to give band concert every day
In the week at the parks, as assigned by
the commissioners. While in time such
a system might be invaluable in popu-
larizing the parks and introducing citi-
zens to their various and distinct beau
ties, it would seem that at only three,
or at most four, parks in the city would
there be a prospect of attracting an adc-
quate crowd on an ordinary afternoon.
Central park is patronized all day and
every day; besides it is a thoroughfare
and in the heart of the city. 1t is to be
hoped that should the necessary funds
be raised the park commissioners will >
in their wisdom assign at least three
concerts a week to be given from that
band stand, for the existence of which
the only excuse at present is that IL pro-
vides a play ground for the little ones.
admirable indeed, but not the purpose OF
it's construction. Furthermore, one or
the days allotted to Central park should
certainly be Sunday. Good band music
of sufficient strength in the brass Will
assuredly have the very wholesome ef-
feet of stopping the blatant eloquence
of the peripatetic preachers ana curp-
stone philosophers whose presence
neither adds to the picturesqueness OF
the park nor enhances the enjoyment of
reverse. A well-rendered program or
music on Sunday afternoon in Central
park will not only be positive boon
but a blessed preventive.
One of the most interesting contribu-
tions to the Schubert centennial is made
by the Neue Zeitschrift fur Musk }.
consists in the publication of series oi
letters by Schubert to his brother Fer
dinand The first of these, written when
Schubert was Is years old. gives a pa
thetc glimpse of his poverty at a time
when he had more ideas than music
paper" and often had to go hungry. He
appeals to his brother for few pennies
since what little his father Ca village
teacher, with nineteen children) could
give him was soon expended. You know
from experience that n fellow likes to
eat an occasional roll and an apple or
two, especially when, after mediocre
dinner, he has to wait eight and half
hours for his supper" The second letter.
written twelve years later tour years
before his DEATH. gives touching evil
dence of the affection between the
brothers, and of Schubert's sincere mod
esty:
Your quartet company surprises me
the more because you succeeded in get
ting the assistance OF Ignace. But 1t
will be better for you to play other quar-
tets than mine, which do not amount to
anything, except in so far as they ap-
peal to you, who like all my things.
What pleases me most is the evidence
that 1 am remembered Was it simply
grief at my absence that made you shed
tears, of which you dared not write to
me? Or did the recollection Of myself,
who am oppressed by an eternal incom-
prehensible longing, enVelop YOU too in
its veil of gloom. Or did you recall all
the tears that you had seen me weep?
However that may be, feel at this mo-
ment more clearly than ever that you,
more than any one else, are the friend
who is nearest my heart, most closely
attached to every fiber of my SOUL
He hastens to add that his brother
must not infer from the tone of his let
ter that he is i'll or unhappy. If not en-
tirely happy, he tries to imagine that he
is, and he adds. philosophically: Hap
pihess is supposed to be dependent on
the place where once we were happy,
whereas in truth it depends on our
selves"
That delightful organization, the
Monday Musicale club, celebrated its
one-hundredth meeting at Mrs. Vos-
burg's residence last Monday. The clup
has existed for four years and has at
tracted a galaxy of musical talent and
social distinction that have won for it
a most enviable reputation. An eXcep-
tionally fine program celebrated Mon
days meeting. piano duet, "Nicode's
Ballet Music" was given by the hostess
and Miss Blanche Rogers; violin solo
by Mrs. Macneil; piano solo, Sigismund's
Love Song" from Valkyrie, by Miss
Kent. Mrs. Schallert sang the Cara
mio Bene" of Groedini and Here and
There" by Newcomb. Mrs. Macneil,
Miss Mullins and Mrs Vosburg gave a
trio for violins and piano, "Nocturne Ell
egique." Mrs Burdette sang Hall
strom's Spinning Song" and Miss
Amelia Berger played a piano solo,
Fields Nocturne in G. Louis Gottschalk
was the guest of the afternoon and more
than sang for his supper" Accom-
panied by his sister, Mrs. j. Bond Fran.
cisco, he sang two of his own compost
tions, "A Dutch Garden" and "A Lula
by" With Mrs Roth Hamilton MIR,
Gottschalk sang My Own Sweetheart"
another of his compositions and THE
Train to Poppyland." set to music by him
for Mrs Hamiltons charming voice. AS
q finale Mr.. Gottschalk sang his famous
"Stuttering Song" which was written
by him for Walter Jones in the tramp
role of "1492."
The leading article in the February
Looker-On is one on Verdi by W. +. APP
thorp, who "sizes up" the Italian macs
tro with admirable insight and impair
tiality. Other articles are on the "Out-
look for the American Artist" THE
Songs of Wales, 1.-The Picturesque in
Music" There is also an entertaining
musical Griffonello's Benefit"
by w. D. Moffat.
Some one has been collecting the opin-
Ions of literary men on music and musi-
CLANS. Carlyle rudely told Joachim that
he had no great opinion of musicians:
"They seem such vain d-baggy
sort of people," which is not bad and
Only too true. Andrew Lang has de-
clared music the enemy of study, con-
versation and sleep, which is true with
out casting any imputation on music in
Its proper time and place Johnson could
hardly tell drum from trumpet, yet
with the usual audacity of ignorance
he penned the absurd assertion that
practice of music was "a method of en-
ploying the mind without the labor of
thinking at all" The dear old bear
did not know that there is as much
lit LIT,