The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-28

The hardest people in the world to
convince are those who have allowed
an idea to become so rooted in their
minds that it is a part of themselves.
1t Is said that a painter, after a long
period of close work on a picture, is
unable to discern its faults, and must
leave it for while-must study other
pictures, in order that he may look
upon his own again with clear vision.
He will then probably be able to see
the faults whose existence he did not
before believe. If an artist had a pref
erence for black and white worked
only in that style. and refused to lock
upon paintings in color. it would be
hard to convince him that certain sub
jects would show up better in the colors
of nature. His argument would prob
ably be that black and white satisfied
him, and if people would look at his
pictures. they also must be content
the narrow argument of Il man who
has grown too close to his subject. 1t
is a fault which does not exactly de-
serve censure. yet at the same time,
reason is an element which is at least
entitled to consideration.
That q prejudice exists in the musical
community and the public of Salt Lake
against the use of the tabernacle as
concert hall. is a fact. 1t is a prejudice
which is not confined to few persons,
but ii is widespread and general. It
extends even TO that small number Of
people who patroniZe the concerts there
people who go under protest. because
they SenSibly realize il is there or no
where for the time being. and prefer
not TO miss the treat altogether There
must be some fOundaJion-Some reason
for this prejudice-it must have had
a beginning somewhere. in cause.
Some Of these have already been men
toned in these columns. and the state
ments were but a reflection OF public
sentiment. and not vice versa, as has
been intimated. The people of Salt
Lake are not disloyal TO the taber-
nacle because it is the tabernacle, they
merely object TO it as concert hall
because of its unsuitability.
One may as well call a citizen I'M
patriotic because he refuses to drink
the waters of Great Salt lake. The
wonders of the tabernacle and the
glories of Great Salt lake are none the
less because they are not suited to ev-
cry purpose, and the people can be ac-
cused of neither prejudice nor dis
loyalty for not accepting them out OF
their proper spheres.
one can hear a pin drop in the tab
ernacle Following the same theory.
one can also hear every movement ol
programmes. every shuttle of feet, all
of which seriously detract from the en-
joyment of musical sounds.
One musician complained the other
night Of the echo where he sat. Another
only heard the clearness of the runs
and trillS With his eyes. so to speak,
for the sound was blurred. The build
ing is too large. aside from everything
else for the existence of the proper
affinity. the needed bond of sympathy
between performer and listener. In
stances have been quoted of the failure
of great concerts at the Theatre in
wears gone by. What has been, is no
criterion. What is past, is past, and
the only conditions and demands to
be considered, are those of the present
day. Perhaps people did not go to the !
Theatre then. They will not go to the |
tabernacle now. Which is the more |
potent reason why a change should be |
made? If the music-lOving people, |
having their reasons, viii not nil the I
tabernacle. let US have the Salt Lake |
theatre IF we cannot fill the Salt |
Lake theatre. then there is the Con- |
gregational church. Let us do as much |
as we can. no more. and not make our
selves ridiculous by attempting to make /
noise bv blowing the wrong end of |
the horn. One of our best musicians |
said The other day that the Orpheus
club had done more real good for the |
musical life of Salt Lake than had ever /
been done here by anybody. 1t is be-
cause they have. by judicious means.
worked up an interest in music, and |
have not attempted to force anything
on the people
1t may be repeatedly said that dol
lar is dollar to the artist. but when
was a concert ever considered sue
cess when the auditorium presented a
vast array of empty benches? The
people who heard Rosenthal went wild
over his wonderful genius. which was
in no way Influenced by the auditorium
in which he played. He and his piano
placed anywhere. out-Of-dOors. at Salt
air. would still have shown the marvel
lous achievements of the artist. The
four people who described their i'm
pressions publicly. described what they
saw and heard, it is true. they could
hardly have done otherwise They did
not. it is equally true. describe what
they might have, seen and heard in
some other building. 1t would have
been a useless waste of time, and
words must have failed them. The
he created is but a greater
tribute to the all-conquering genius of
Rosenthal, and reflects in neither one
way or the other upon the building.
Professor Stephens has won much
respect and encouragement for his eff
forts in behalf of music. and there is
perhaps no one in Salt Lake better {
suited than he to bringing great artists j
among ne uis efforts m this respect