The herald., 1897-06-06
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Louis G, Elsen, the widely-known Bos-
ton musical critic, eays in an article on
musical criticism: MANY who super
Hcially examine the matter hold that n 0
man should aspire to take rank as
critic before he has proved his ability to
create in the same field where ne pro-
noses to cit as Judge. Az matter OF fact,
cornoosers and practical musicians have
often been the most dlliberaf OF critics.
Accustomed to work In one direction
onlv. or along any one line, they, more
than others, are inclined to hold that
there can be no other roads to the temple
az art. and 50 Handel did not like
zach. Haydn looked down on Beethoven,
Beethoven, In his turn, laughed at Web
or. Mendelssohn sheered at Schumann,
Hanslick virulently attacked Wagner,
and Wagner has attacked almost every
body.
'The American critic has an especial
duty to perform, for in no country IL mu-
lie 90 universally studied, and in no
cauntry Is there so much of guperficiahty
In the art. The person who finds Wag-
nerts svalkyrie' 'awfully NICE one week
ands the latest burlesque perfectly
splendid the week after, and the critic
must SCpdIdtc IAG WASAS - SAAA eA%~ ~~.@~@~
Tor public which does not always take
time to think for itself"
The musical atmosphere IL not vet
around us as 1t 10 about the dwellers in
older countries; the standard is yet very
Auctuating, and it is the duty Of the critic
to fix 1t and set 1t, not only where the
numerous professors shall not
lower 1t with their pupils who are study
ing to become practical musicians on
any one instrument, but for the benefit
Of that other immeasurably larger class
Fho love music, and who present them
selves as listeners in the concert room.
There. Is much eerious work to be done
for nation who whistles, sings or at
least keeps time to, the latest song sung
on the vaudeville etage. the "catchy"
airsin the last comic opera, whose babies
are wooed to sluimber with "The Band
Played On" AFTER the Ball." whose
teeth are trottsd through their little
gums to the encouraging strains of
Johnny, Get Your Gun" and "Ta-ra-ra-
"a, boom decay" and who are nourished
later on with the musical junk that Is to
be heard on all Sides
With such active and alluring forces
at work It IL going to be uphill work,
indeed, to bring such people to see the
necessity Of informing themselves by
means Of musical literature. to listen to
the best music whenever 1t II within
their reach, and to so instruct them
selves with what Is best in music, and
why it Is 80. 1t Is, therefore, manifestly
the critic'e duty to. discover beauties in
! the compositions, and In the performers
interpretation Of those compositions on
program, which are too subtle to be
appreciated BY the thoughtless public.
that usually only heare what is played at
4 concert with the physical ear, instead
Of listening with all the faculties on the
alert and Judging intellectually al they
would al q play, In q picture gallery, or
In reading D masterpiece ofliteratute.
''Of course" says Mr.. Elseh. "a musical
critics mission is ever two-fold, first to
lead on the public; second, to guide the
artist or performer, and point out weak
points or modes Of betterment which
may occur much more readily to the out
slider than to the artist himself The first
IL BY far the more agrees bic task. The.
abuses the public and charges II with ~
norance and lack Of tagte. such reader
takes TIE charge comp1a Gently. ana ac-l