The herald., 1897-12-05
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Inere are number or fiOur1Sh1ng am |
ateur musical organizations in Los An
geles, both vocal and instrumental, and
made up for the most part Of good ma
terial. 1t is quite within their province
to develop into powerful factors for edu
eating the public taste for good music
or the reverse. The matter lies entirely
within their own hands.
The first duty of these clubs and So
cieties is to realize their power, and,
next, to systematically and conscien
tiously set about using that power in
the right way. And as is the case in
other lines of work the first step must
be taken by the individual.
1t Is a common mistake, and one often
acknowledged that a performer who
would not dare sing a solo or play one
upon his chosen instrument, cheerfully
and undauntedly joins the ranks of other
performers because he feels that there
his deficiencies will not be noticed.
Such. procedure betrays not only Grass
ignorance on his part, but is little short
of an insult to the capable members
and to the conductor.
One would have but a small opinion
of man who could not walk, and yet
joined a military company. In every
drill, in every parade, the limp or halt
In his gait, his inability to keep step,
would be glaringly conspicuous, would
also tend to demoralize the step Of those
next in line, and would, more than all,
send despair to the soul of the officer in
command.
Inefficiency or incompetency on the
part Of individual members in musical
organization works even worse havoc
in that the performance Of each is so
markedly interdependent upon every
other performer. When one plays or
sings a shade off the key, it affects all
the rest. When the work of one is me-
chanical or crude or careless, it mars the
spirit or efficiency which the others in
fuse into their work. When one fails
to respond to the infection called for by
the composer through the conductor. his
failure jars upon the ensemble and the
result is-demoralizing, to say the
least.
1t is easy Of comprehension therefore,
that 1t Is imperative for each unit in
q musical organization to do his or her
part as perfectly as may be. individu-
ally, in order that coherency may be pre-
served in the whole, for then, and then
only. has the conductor material in his
or her hands which Is possible Of assim-
ilation and development. and which is
otherwise outside the bounds Of human
accomplishment.
OF course O study club, which Is such
pure and simple, and Is organized solely
for mutual pleasure and common profit.
is another matter. But most of the am
ateur musical organizations in Los An
geles make pretense, at stated inter-
walls, of giving public performances, and
1t Is to such, that this article is ad-
dressed-not in a spirit Of captiousness,
but with kindly meant critical sugges-
tions, and in all SINCERITY. 4
To those who know and understand
good music. a mediocre performance Is
worse than bore, because 1t gives keen
distress; to those who would learn %
love good music an inadequate interpre-i
tation works more harm than can be
expressed In wordeA because 1t arouses
a feeling Of rapufSi0h fofsuch music In
the mind Of the listener and makes him
incline to avoid 1t in future.
Again, when a concert Is advertised
with fulsome promise and in exchange
for good money, poor performance Is
given, the procedure Is closely allied ia
that of obtaining money under false pre-
lenses. That, Of ITSELF Is bad enough,
but the demoralizing results are more
far-reaching in that the amount paid to
hear mediocrity may preclude those
whose exchequer Is limited from en-
joying the benefits Of meritorious work
when 1t is presented.
Another sad mistake, and one hereto
a. ~. na1n to- y,
confusion of social obligations with mu-
sical aspirations, or vice versa. Whereas,
in fact, they do not affiliate, and can
not be made to do so. A society woman
may be a clever, gifted musician; and
because a woman isla musical artist, is
no reason why she may not shine in So
ciety.
But when society gives a musical en-
tertainment, let the admission be by in
vitation only, and enjoyed as a social
function; and when concert Is given,
let it be understood that the interpreta
tion of the music is not to be Judged
leniently simply because Of the social
prestige Of the performer.
Therefore, and for all reasons In COM
mon justice to themselves, to their con-
ductor, and to the public. 1t behooves
every member of all musical organiza
tions here to develop him or herself to
the utmost individually as a musician.
And If, after certain amount of time
and money are expended, the result does
not rise above mediocrity, in the name of
music, in the name of common decency
let him or her accept the inevitable,
withdraw from the club or society, and
allow it to proceed to the fulfillment only
possible to be achieved by survival of
the fittest. E. M. G.
Madame Sofia Scalchi, who is as great
as any artist in her line, and whose noble
contralto voice Is known the world over
will give a concert here at the Los An
geles theater Thursday evening, Decem-
Der 9TH Nine. Scalchl made her first
two American trips in Adelina PATHS
company. and last spring she was the
contralto in an American tour with
Madame Lillian Nordica. This time
Mile. Toulinguet is the soprano of the
concert company, and the other mem
bers are: Mile Marie Du Bedat, mezzo
soprano; Signor Thomas Mcqueen,
tenor, and Signor Achille Albert, bari
tone. Signor c. Gnarro is the musical
director. The first part Of the program
Thursday night will be made up of fam
our arias from Faust" "Rigoletto,"
"Aida." and the "Huguenots" The
second and third parts will be an act
each from Martha" and I'll Trovatore." :"
which will be sung in costume, with
scenery and accessories, with the follow