The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-02
RUSSIAN ART AND MUSIC.
Studied by 'Ramblers Yester-
day--Miss Shirley Turner
Addresses the NJ Getting.

In their study of Russia the RamDlers
nave now approached the Art and Music
stage. Yesterday afternoon the meeting
was held down stairs in the Music Room
| of Hasbrouck Institute in order that the
| club might have the use of the piano.
1t was a large meeting and fairly filled
the Music Room.
Miss Bessie White. who was to nave
read a paper on Russian Art" was alb
sent, and Miss S. Evelyn Foster took her
| place. The pape dealt with the intro
duction of art into Russia, its history
and influence on the people, besides nam
ing several Russian artists.
Miss Belle Steuck had the paper on
Music" which was introduced by Mss
Nellie Holbrook in two piano solos by
Rubenstein, Romance" and MELODY in
F."
Every country said Miss Steuck,
cha its national songs, but according to
Rubenstein the ~folk-songs of the Hsus-
slams stand alone, only those OF sweden
and Norway are worthy to be compared
with them, for enchanting melody. Ger
mans would doubtless claim that their
country has produced a greater number
and variety of original melodies than
Russia, and this claim could be sus-
tanned, in my opinion, but Russia GER
tainly comes in for the second place.
AS foik-songs have no date, and as the
first important art, Music Concert pieces
and operas), in Russia dates back but
little more thar half a century, it fol-
lows that the history of Russian music
is almost purely ecclesiastic. In the
Russian. as IN the Greek Church, instru-
mental music was forbidden. and the vo-
cal was a simple kind of recitation, sell
dom exceeding a compass of three tones"
From mere the speaker went on to show
the growth and popularity of music in
Russia. .sWhen we consider" said she
in conclusion, that all the Russian COM
posers, beginning with Glinka, have done
their work within the last fifty years,
we must admit there is a great future for
a country which has accomplished so
much in half a century"
Miss Shirley Turner, of New York,
former art instructress at Hasbrouck In
stitute, was the guest of honor. She
gave an extemporaneous address on THE
Language of Art" saying, "the language
of art in painting is two-fold, line and
light. darkness and color. The first great
aim of pictures or f~rescoes is an express
| SION u USddly III ciiS
guages. Painting is not a mimetlc art
but a creative. Beauty cannot be de-
fined. Harmony cannot be denned'
though it may be perfectly understood
and felt. The work of art may remain
silent to many, even to those VINO under
stand. it, while to another mind 1t IS an
appeal, though it cannot draw out more
than that mind contains
To show the influence of art on me-
Miss Turner gave Whistler's sketch OF
.sMan's Growth in Art and Its Decline,
with which she concluded.
Miss Jessie Per Lee also read an eS-
cellent paper on the subject of Poland
and its Musicians, which is a musical his
tory in itself.
At their next meeting, February 10, the
Ramblers' will pass a Day With the
Russian Authors" when Turgenoff ano
Tolstoi will be discussed. Miss Margaret
Page is to read a paper.
Among those present yesterday Were.-
Misses A.. B. Meyers, Mary Brown, ,Sarah
Moe, Mary Sutherland, Nellie Hofbrook
Jessie Per Lee, Elizabeth Mclean, Bells
Steuck, Pearl Brook. Hattie Hartnett
S. Evelyn Foster and Irene Philips.