New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-14

tina club was abandoned. he would break MS con-
tract for the entire Pacific Coast tour. ana from
this he refused to recede. Thereupon MT hne.so
and his associates informed the Portland cruz 'ha
they felt In honor bound 10 keep their word' anu
that IL second concert could be arranged 10 cover
the expenses of the trip to Portland direct tne
quartet would visit that city. give the TWO CON
certs and return TO the East. an ouer t"" w
Portland club accepted, with an expression Vi
greet that the quartet should feel caiieo upoi -
make so great a sacrifice. The incioen' se's 80
plainly enough how much consideration "one'
clubs may expect from agents III"
the Friedlander stripe.
other plans perfecting by committees OF the leu,
Grafton contemplate the creation OF "oia.y
frst-class music. from which srnaii c'uo' . 80
nieces at a nominal price; also the regis"a''o" -
talented amateurs willing to visit CLUBS that al
unable TO pay the fees of expensive proie'so'
md play and sing for them al hohi"ai '""'
This latter plan may not be without an e'ei'o' -
danger TO musical culture. as Clara A. korn points
ont in an article in the current NUMBER Vi INC
r,ude nublished In Philadelphia This writer
anneals with great earnestness TO the ieoeralloh'
which she fears mistakenly magazines the I'M
portance OF the amateur In our muscai oe
ment" to devote more thought ard purse 10 mo
living struggling aspiring professional musician.
and let the dead and the abnormally successlui
take their own course Appreciate the latter. she
SAYS admire them and revere them, but 90 NOT
make idols Of them and at the same time trampie
others Of equal merit in the dust Of oblivion
Mrs. Edward F. Uhl. Of Grand Rapids the presi-
dent of the Federated Clubs in address on the
first day of the meeting devoted a great deal OF
attention to the opinions of Mr.. E. A MacDo"eh
on the subject of American music
The opinions which had been conveyed to MIS-
JJhl I'm letter dealt chiefly with the question or
opera and concerts Of American composers. On the
ouyon Oft cd
which have already appeared in print. but they ac-
ouire special significance just now from the TACT
that he has entered protest against the per-
Torrance of his Indian" suite at a concert pro-
jected by Mr.. Van der Stucken for the meeting OF
the Music Teachers National Association IN Cin-
cinnati next month. His protest will probably Dc
respected and his music withdrawn from all the
distinctvely American programmes. Mr. Mac
Dowen has been applauded in these columns re-
peatedly for the stand which he has taken against
the undue coddling Of American composers Ia prac-
tce which has been unduly affected by the wom-
ems clubs let 1t be said in PASSING. but 1t is not
easy TO follow him with approval in all his utter
ances or In his action in the Cincinnati case when
a distlnctively educational purpose was aimed at
in the planning OF the concerts. This is what ne
wrote on the subject of American concerts;
Anohe! matter that think has been to the de
rment OF Individual efort IN composition TOT hd 1 hey
heves in American" concerts and the IKE An
for the simple reason that it is unfair TO the Amer
can. Such concert offers no standard OF 1udg-
ment owing to want of familiarity with the
works presented. Then. If work is preferred TO
without helping the stronger one to any hxed
value. Added to this, american" concert Is
direct bid for leniency on the part OF the PUBIC,
which, need hardly say, is Immediately recognized
by it. American music must and will take It's posi-
ton in the world OF art by comparison WIN N me me
worlds great masters, and not by that OF other
works equally unknown to the world. In other
words we crave comparison with the best In art,
not only the best in America. II musical socie
ties would agree never to give concerts composed
exclusively of American works. but. on the other
without at least one American composition on the
programme am that the result would JUSTIFY
my position in the matter.
AS to the other question, can only marvel at
the attitude Of Mr.. Mcdowell the meaning OF
which is Numerically opposite to that expressed
in the last paragraph above. American music can
only be appreciated If brought into comparison with
European music: but American singers must not
be permitted to hear the greatest European singers.
lest our initiative be duled hunger be salts
fed and we be prevented from developing our own
resources And this notwithstanding that Of the
pectus for the last season Of opera at tho Metro
politan Opera House. singers drawn from all over
the world. seven the top of the list were Amer-
cans by birth and ancestry. Foreign opera COM
panies do not seem TO have stood much in the way
OF the advancement Of lillian Nordica, Emma
Fames Marie Engle Suzanne Adams and David
Bispham of the last New-York company. TO say
nothing Of such foreign" singers Emma Albani.
Clara Louise Kellogg, Annie Louise Cary. Minnie
Hauk. Emma Thursby, Antoinette Sterling, Marie