New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-16
MUSICAL NOTES.
THE WEEKLY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
MUSIC AND THE NEGRO-NEWS
NOTES, PROGRAMMES AND

ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Following Is the local musical calendar for the
current week
unday7Metropoan opera House sis ,ni m
popular concert under the direction OF Anton
Ss Of ss 9PiE Spsfa
La Trayiata."
lecture by cRfsS sRsf
p m. CONCERT by the Jeanne Franko ITO Men,
Hans Weizler la Har d fia SEQ H.
song recital by Mrs. j. Williams Macy.
Wednesday Metropolitan Opera House. p. mi M
$3.50 D. m song recital 'i by Mr. and Mrs. Hen:
sche CHURCH Of the F. M s 9ogan
p. M. song recital by Regnar Kidde
Thursday-Art Building, Montague,st. BROOKLYN.
er a, M. by Mr. ~ Krshbiel; Assembly Hall;
7. m. lecture by Louis Arthur Russell on The
Relation Of Speech to Voice In song Me' df
Boston symphony Orchestra: Association Hall.
he s Of ha aid ode y Of At the
Lutheran Zion Church.
S the Nall ov Nj PD psra
House, y. m. Die Meistersinger"; Academy
ton symphony 0rchesra a.: Mendelssohn a' Hail,
s:l5 p m. concert Of chamber music by the
Saturday Metropolitan Opera House, 2 p m.
Faust; carnegie Hall. sl5 p. m. concert OF
the symphony Society; Art Building. Brooklyn.
Hanchett; Academy OF Music Brooklyn. Sis
p m. concert Of the Boston Symphony Or
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The Tribune in a recent issue took occasion
to discuss negro music by answering certain ques-
tions propounded by a writer in Mount Vernon. ~
Y. The views expressed upon this subject show
that Tho Tribune has endeavored to be-as It is
at all tmes-eminently fair and impartial The
writer OF this letter will attempt TO take issue
with one OF The Tribune's statements not In n
spirit Of controversy but for a purpose which will
later appear plain
During the few years It has been my privilege to
be entertained and instructed by The Tribunes
scholarly criticisms. II seems TO have had one
aim ever uppermost-to raise the standard OF
music in America and 10 develop body OF mu-
sicians worthy OF the One feels that It does
not critcise hastily carelessly, but that every
sentence is the result OF much deliberation and
care. Because OF this and because OF profound
learning the views OF The Tribune have been
most effective In influencing musical sentiment in
this country. and if-by slight suggestions-t could
be brough, to see and to encourage. the undoibted
evidences OF musical possibilities among the ne
Themselves then this letter shall have served
its purpose.
The Tribune spoke highly OF the slave songs: It
advanced the opnion-not generally conceded
that the American negro brought with him from
Afr!ca-to what extent The Tribune was not pre-
clinations: 1t strengthened the general belief
that from the beautiful songs OF the despsed slave
there may be developed an American music which
shall be- truly National; but 1t believes that In
this development white men only must figure. In
other words. the negro by reason OF birth and con-
dtion. was permitted TO lay the golden egg Of
American musical possibility but In the Matching
for some unexplained reason-he Is to take no
part. After laying down so broad a premise,
which 1t took such careful pains to prove. one Is
disappointed when The Tribune reaches such
sorry conclusion
one or all OF three causes might have Influenced
The Tribune In reaching such conclusion They
are First prejudice second belief that inc 9 9er
ing third. that The Tribune has been unable 10
give that amount OF attention and study 10 the
hastily perhaps 1t has come to the conclusion
that the negro. In leaving behind the condition
which intensified his genius and gave him tho
The first cause should be summary dismissed.
No scholar would allow prejudice to influence ny
opinions The second likewise cannot be c3ntid
cred The works OF the celebrated Dumas, Push
kin and the lesser known Americans. Du Bos ana
Dunbar are living examples OF the negroes ca
pacity for development The trouble. therefore.
lies In the third The negroes OF to-day have re-
tanned and added.a thousandfold-to every virtue
spiritually and intellectually they have developed
marvclloisly during the last thirty years; In
music. while as yet they have not as,eompllshsed
children OF celebrated parents The best popular
songs Of the last decade-which. although cheap
and trashy. fun Of touches OF genius here and
there that promise much for the future-were
written by negroes "Gussie" |. Davis, composer
OF seven hundred songs; Bob" Cole Earnest
Jams. whose famous Dora Dean" Is really negro
and really meriorious and many other negroes
3 cocrdge Taylor, a young African and a recent
graduate OF the Royal Conservatory In London