Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-20
CAN LEARN TO SING.
Ror THOMPSON SAYS ALL CAN Ac-
ouIng THIS ART.
MUSICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.
ryidence. of Growing Interest In
such Matters in
rrovementa I'm the Arrangement
of Choirs-Points About Artists

sing. said:
erhe old idca that orly those who have
unusual voices and much musical iaIeh'
should study singing, is pave Toe light
., ,~u,b and sxp.rience has demonstrated
thar all have voices worth cultivating'
lie who has speaking voice. ability 10
tnirk. and IS not deaf, can learn 20 sing
] do not say hat all can become great
singers auy more than all can become
great in any other direction, but all can
learn 10 sing pleasingly and artistically'
Nowhere is music such as you may be
able to make so much needed as In the
churches. There Is good material enough
in our city, if properly developed. to fur
nish every church with a double quar-
tette and a large chorus choir. 70 say
nothing Of the large number who could
make the congregational singing what II
should be. But where are tho singers?
'erhe talent Is here. Surely something
is lacking. And may not a part OF the
lack be due to indifference to the sub
ject? You say you have no time. 1t Is
an taken up with business, society, or
other work. IL really takes but little
time each day. If proper instruction be
received and desultory practice avoided.
An hour a day, divided into fifteen or
twenty minute periods, will accomplish
much, and VINO cannot, II they really
desire IL. find that much time? Even a
half hour Will bring very satisfactory
results. AFTER all, there is something
vastly more essential than mere practice.
Practice, practice, practice has ever been
insisted nrCn nC fhnmUh ANYTHING and
everything was contained In that word.
II is not so. When one ceases 10 mentally
direct the practice IL Is worse than USE
less. 1t Is necessary. first, 10 have an
Intelligent comprehension or what TO do
and how 10 do IL; then IL remains TO con-
centrate the mind on the doing, In this
manner a great waste OF time is avoided.
and better results obtained in a much
shorter period than is usually deemed
possible. Is it not worth the time and
money spent, even il one does not, OF
cannot, make a singer of note, for at
least the speaking voice, however I'M
pleasant. Will rave been made musical
and pleasing; the health materially bene-
htted; the appreciation and love Of music
keener. and the ability 10 discern the
good from the bad in music more definite,
as well as the genuine pleasure and sat
isfaction to be derived from being able (
to sing in a pleasing and capable manner.
This all can do If they will. 1t depends
whether one desires it sufficiently to
overcome all seeming difficulties, such as
lack OF time and means. Where there is
q viii there is a way
"One is considered lacking in culture
who is not familiar with literature, even
to the point of being able 10 form an in
telligent opinion upon it Why be less
familiar or less able TO judge between
the good and bad in matters musicale"
-
The discovery OF a notebook of Mo-
Zart's has just been made at Berlin. 1t
bears the date of London, 1874, when Mo-
Fart was there as a boy S years old. 81
should define the classic by the word
healthy, the Romantic by the word sick
ly. In ,A.s sense the Nibelungen Iird is
as much a classic as the Had. Most
modern productions are romantic, not
because they are new. but because they
weak, morbid, sickly, and the old are
classic. not because they are old, but be-
cause they are strong, fresh, healthy, and
Goethe.
The Damrosch season of opera in New
York during January and a part of Feb
fuary was highly successful. Melba
again demonstrated her claim to be CON
sidered the leading exponent Of brilliant
and horid singing, though probably the
greatest artistic success belonged to Nor
dica, who sang. for the first time this
winter. the part of Brunnhilde. in the
Nibelungen ,Triology. 1t was generally
conceded that after Lille Lehman, no
one has sung Wagner's heroic roles so
well.
When the celebrated Haydn was asked
why all his sacred music was so cheer
full. the great composer replied: II cam
make it otherwise / write according
10 the thoughts / feel. When 1 think
upon God my heart is 80 full Of toy hat
the notes dance and leap as it were from
my pen, and since God has given me a
cheerful heart, it will be p~ardoned in me
that I serve Him with a cheerful spirit"
Mrs. Fl. H.. Beach's Gaelic Symphony"
has been played this season by the Bos-
ton Symphony Orchestra In Boston and
New York. Mrs. Beach is one of the
women composers who are successful
IN works Of large form. n this tribute
10 her merit is an appropriate recogni-
Of a talent which has generally been
to be purely masculine.
-
In a college settlement on the East
Side OF New York. lessons on the piano,
violin, and in sight singing are given to
poor children. These lessons are not free.
but paid for at what seem to be very
rates to children Of that class.
For those who are entirely without
means, arrangements are made by which
hey are allowed TO do some work or SER
about the house for their tuition.
"
Edward Greig, assisted by his wife,
AVE a number of concerts in England
,arly in the winter The concerts were
.hronged, and gave a new vogue to his
characteristic and genial compositions for
he piano. Madam Greig is a singer. and
her husbands songs to perfec-
The organ and choir loft of Centenary
lethodist Episcopal church Is to be
moved from the rear OF the building and
'laced back OF the pulpit, to make this |
.hange an extension of the church will
,e necessary. Mr.. John Branch has given
300 for that purpose.
Much interest Is being manifested IN I
he music OF Richmond churches. Posi-
IONS OF organs and choirs are to be
hanged 10 places moro desirable and
Elective. Choirs are 20 be enlarged and
he music 10 be improved generally These j
acts give evidence Of an increase in the
musical enthusiasm OF the city.
s
Why is there in all the best music c
UGH an alienation or such a mingling I
Z melancholy aud inspiration? Because a
he mission OF true music I'm its very es- 4
ence is TO breathe across the human soul $
emintscencSs OF "A lost paradise and nro =