Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-27

let them rust out I'm idleness. To such,
and to all able-bodied men and women of
responsibility In this city of Richmond.
who can turn tune or sing scale, and
who desire the Improvement and better
ment of the world in general and them
selves In particular, l would say, get
into the Wednesday Club il you can IL
should be your duty and privilege TO sup
port an organization that IS the means
or giving you your one yearly treat OF
music that is worthy the name. Other
cities, and even towns all over the Union
are glad and proud to keep UP their mu-
steal societies.
IS RICHMOND REALLY MUSICAL?
In many places at the time of the year
ly festival the city is In gala dress, schools
giving holiday. and everybody turning out
20 honor the occasion. What's the matter
with us? Are we too good for that sort
OF thing? Or are We lacking in love for
music? We are in the habit of claiming
to be just as music-loving as anybody
else. Let US prove 1t now. In the first
place, where are you going to hear really
first-class music IL not through your
Wednesday Club? Do you get 1t in your
schools. in your churches, in your homes,
in your Opera-House? The best choirs in
town can give only one or two excerpts
from the oratoros in the course OF the
year. Other choirs not so well equipped
have TO content themselves with avoiding
bad music, and give you plain, simple
must be heard some time and some where,
or you are being cut out OF the very high
privilege that Is yours, in being the heir
of all the ages. Did IL ever occur to you
that the trouble lies in the fact of your
not appreciatng this sort OF music? You
would like the Wednesday Club to study
lighter music; such music as you can
easily get Into the merits of. II II did,
IL would cease to exist in a season or so.
The Wednesday Club is right i'm persist
ia
beginning.
MODERN CHURCH MUSIC.
1.-THE fault is In you. You think you
know what good music Is. You are pro-
badly mistaken. You can whistle or sing
all the favorite airs from favorite operas,
and you like TO hear these set to sacred
words. and served up to you on Sunday
in your church for the offertory. Or you
like that sort OF modern music composed
for church worship that is either all
noise and blatant march-movement, or
swcetly sentimental and languishing.
Now neither is good or necessary. and
you had better learn what good music is
by studying a little of II now and then
with other friends Of yours who confess
their want and need. Keep your pet airs
from the Italian opera, for that which
they can do and have done so well.
They express TO US human passion,
the love. JOY, sorrow or every
day life,. and express 1t well. too.
strain upon them of trying TO cover the
full deep fervor OF sacred words; II is
cruel to attempt that. When we want
to praise Almighty God let us do 1t with
the mighty harmonies of oratorio music.
Let Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Haydn,
Handel these giants Of music, lift us up
In the arms Of their genius, bear us up
on the wings OF their God-given purity
and strength, till we catch the sound or
Heavens harmonies In these divine crea-
lions of theirs. Have you forgot how II
thrilled you to hear the choruses out OF
the Hymn Of Praise two years ago, or
the st. Paul choruses a year later, or
the Mount of Olives, grand and simple
last year, and did IL then occur 70 YOU
that Palestrina, or the immortal John
ears TO hear what then was entering the
inner chambers OF your unworthy ear
These men labored and went TO their
graves without hearing any OF the splen-
dor which you to-day may feast your
soul with hearing. Handel and Haydn
never heard their own masterpieces giver
as thew are given all over the world to-
day Shall we. the inheriters OF q price
less wealth, starve ourselves or feed or
Z husk and chan?
| BIRTHRIGHT OF THE KINGDOM or
| MUSIC.
ut is our glorious privilege to study
and bring out the treasures OF oratoril
music which are the birthright and pos
session OF all who are born into this
kingdom OF music. You deny yourself
your highest privilege when you stan'
without the ever open door. You nees
music Music needs you. The two pardl
lei lines Will never meet unless you max
them.'