The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-01
OF MUSIC, "HEAYENLY MAID
Here 1t 'DWellS Lingering, and Wan
derins on as 10th TO DE-"
OBSTACLES FOR LOVERS OF The ART.
Organizations Here That Accomplish Much
Work-H ,me Talent Not Given tho
support That They Merit-bvi-
dence of Increasing Interest.

AT the beginning Of a new year II will
not be Inappropriate 10 cast Il more than
cursOry glance over the indsleai a'ahuii's
OF cur city
We are aware that there is among our
CitlZens-dmOus some at ledst-d lccilhb
OF prejudice against or dlstrust ln Inc
beautiful art oil music, as initiating
against general business interests. let
IL We lock iuriher aneid thah Gun some
what contracted city limits We SHAH ma
that the great musical centres are also
the great business centres Of the coun-
Try. 1t may be said ana justly so. mat
these cities had built up their business
enterprises before they had taken any
prominent position in the musical world
Nevertheless. II b. "a fact that commerce
and art run we'll together in harness.
Art in any form mas an elevaung, civ
Sizing auf beneficial effect. Its devotees
can ma i'm IL innocent recreation after
the cares ana worries # the day, and re-
turn TO their WORK refreshed ana better
able TO grapple with the more serious
questions of life. When any harm re-
suits from the following 90 whatever ca
tent, Of such a recreation. the blame
should be cast in the right direction, upon
the Individual and not upon the art which
mat individual chooses TO- abuse.
This prejudice ot which Ne nave spoken
IS IN a great measure responsible Tor the
lack Of interest ia matters artistic, more
especially I'm those OF a. musical nature.
50 noticeable in the community, so APP
parent 10 the visitor.
If we are to build up our beautiful city
and make ID prosperous and attractive.
are we To do so. can we do so. ON purely
commercial lines? VIII the visitor. now
transient. be induced to prOlOng his stay
II we can offer him nothing more In the
way Of attractions than trip down Main
street or a walk on Broad street, or. If
these fail 10 interest him. the excitement
Of ride I'm a mule car-to Hollywood?
Does the fame OF our new hotel the
Jefferson. lie i'm the fact that II covers
half a block or in its beauty OF design
LACK or APPRECIATION.
OF tho fact that our citizens possess
artistic instincts. that our city contains
artistic talent of no mean order there can
he no doubt Then why should we not
strive 10 make this city attractive by
means Ct its own resources. Just as we are
striving to increase its commercial inn
portancc? The one will aid the develop
ment Of the other.
we'll as the business centre. OF tho i'm
mediate South. certainly OF the state.
But how 10 bring about this desirable
condition OF affairs Promote art, encour-
age art. especially I'm its most popular
form-that OF music.
Not so mSnV years ago we had among
MS band Of excellent instrumentalists:
but for want OF proper encouragement
many OF these have been obliged "a seek
other fields Of labor. those who have re-
manned being only able 10 make use OF
their talents by making the music at
the germans or IN some OF inc fttlmcUtal
bands. These musicians are capable or
giving us better fare. but how can we
expect them TO do so. how can we expect
them 10 keep themselves in such training.
artistic aud physical as is necessary for
the proper performance Of music OF
high order. unless we give them encour-
agement?
Why was IL necessary last year 10 i'm
port for the Jefferson Hotel band OF
instrumentalists. only enc Of whom could
claim 10 be superior 10 men who are or
have lately been. living among US? one
reason was because On spite OF the fact
that this excellent little orchestra was
prepared 20 give high-class selectiOns) the
majority OF those who constituted the
nightly audiences preferred 10 hear
strangers play the Salvation Army
March or the "BOwcry TwO-Step' than
10 encourage our own players TO come
out OF their shells. Another reason was
and new a word 10 "Our own"-bocause
cliques are dangerous and never prosper
long.
The cry from all quarters now Is. Let
us get together and see what we can do TO
aid our beautiful city then let us do it
You. gentlemen. must get together
and let the citizens OF Richmond see Of
what kind OF material you are made. edu-
cate Us up TO the appreciation OF higher
class OF music: meet us half way. Then
may we all hope for a better state OF az
fairs than exists at present
INCREASING INTEREST
II Is gratifying 20 see that there has OF
late years been evidence Of an Increasing
interest in music and especially In the
vocal branch OF the art: but as yet this
interest IS not az widespread and unlver-
sal a. we could wish II 20 be.
Much OF this progress may be attributed
20 tho efforts - two now well known.
choral societies. the one-and the older
Of the two-consisting OF members Of the
German population Of the city. as its
name. "The Gesoneverein Virginia" i'm
plies and which has done and will con-
tinue to DO under It's present excellent
leader good work IN the cause ~ pure
music: the other as vet scarcely four
years old being the Wednesday Club.
This organization which is open 60 any
one possessing y fair amount 81 musical
and vocal ability has also done good
work not or'y directly. a. we can SEQ
nv tho success ~ It's annual festivals but
also Indirectly nv PROMOTING aronr its
members an interest IN high class Of
music and as is shown nv the visible i'm
movement 81 our church choirs ~ nll
denominations. Not only Is their singing
RI a higher order than ~ has been. hnt
the o'A s'vle ~ nrcten'ious and nnchurch-
" music has va nished from their midst
and selections Of n moro devout and APP
Dgopriats nature-from the grand masses