The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-18
Of MUSICAL AMERICA
Paderewski Writes in Compli-
mentary Terms.
TASTE ALWAYS IMPROVING
Advice to Aspiring Composers
HE Stands. BY Opera.
TASTE ALWAYS IMPROVING

New York, Jan. 17.-Paderewski writes
in the Journal as follows: The world Is
becoming more musicaHy inclined. and
especially is this true in America.
There is no question. TO my mind, as
to the advance made by the American
public within the last twenty-five years
in its love Of music and for its develop
ment.
The sterling value OF the srduous and
very often thankless labor done by
Theodore Thomas, the late DR.. DAM
rosch, DR.. William Mason, of the older
generation, and OF men like Mcdowell,
Chadwick and in particular OF the Bos-
ton Symphony Orchestra cannot be too
highly estimated. Together they have
done wonders for music in America.
The two first named conductors have
introduced to the music-loving public of
America all the best foreign composers.
In the Boston Symphony Orchestra and
the Chicago Orchestra this country has
two organizations which almost stand
unexcelled. 1t is great pity that
neither of these bodies go TO the Paris
Exposition to show what this country
does for music At the Exposition
Americas musicians could be heard by
all nations, an International and I'M
biased committee, and it would readily
be recognized that America is going to
have no mean part in shaping the fu-
ture Of modern music.
great advantage to the progress Of
music in this country is that in nearly
every city of note there are splendid
concert halls which for acoustic prop
critics leave nothing to be desired. The
rich men of America can make no bet
ter use of their money than in erecting
halls for the people where concerts can
be heard and the taste for music edu-
Gated to high standard. Give the peo-
pie music of the right sort and you drive
away many of the great social problems
now troubling the capitalists. 1t goes
without saying that with the facilities
for hearing music which the chief
American cities now possess the taste
for music cannot help but improve.
Naturally, to continue this good work
good artists must elevate the taste al
so. Herein lies part of the secret why
so many good artists come here from
abroad for there is nothing dearer to
the heart of an artist than to see mu-
steal intelligence grow continuously,
and continuous growth cannot be OBJ
tanned by cheapness.
Modern schools of music have also
increased, naturally so. owing to the
education and enhanced taste OF the
public for music. What these schools will
bring forth in the years to come It is
impossible to predict. Great musical
masters are born, not made. A pupil
may show the greatest promise up to
the crucial moment when it becomes
necessary to create something really
great, and then fails. Then comes for
ward some unknown artist with mas
terpiece. But as the world progresses
in its love for music. rest assured that
the coming century will produce new
masterpieces, both In poetry and music.
1t must be admitted, however, that the
best music of the classics and modern
masters viii remain the goal of COM
posers for a long time to come. AHFwho
would help along the modern school Of
musicmustbear in mind that no matter
how great the talent, nothing can be ac-
complished without the very hardest
kind Of work The studies of an artist
nowadays means the taking of his life
of his best years. and even after accom-
plishing much in obtaining the favor
and approval of musicians and the pub
lie. the hard work still continues A
true artist must always improve. He
must never let himself imagine that ne
is above improvement
With the excellent institutions in this
country and the opportunities offered for
hearing good music there is no reason
why the most sauguine expectations
about the future Of music in this country
cannot be realized.
1 am truly amazed at the statements
of Pietro Mascagni that opera Is ap-
preaching dissolution. That IS an alb
surdity. AS long as there is music. IS
long as there are poets. as long as there
is genius, words will be welded to mu-
sic. for what orator could so beautifully
chant a poem as a singer with the heav-
emily gift Of a voice? Some men are
called to wed words to music; some men
are called upon 10 only write music.
Each in his sphere viii do whatever gen
JUS empowers him 10 do and each VIII
succeed in his way. No great genius IN
music ever lived who has not left songs
which make him immortal
Opera is not approaching dissolution,
Opera is in the transcenJent stage and
it viii continue TO hold its own. Nay.
it Is bound 70 increase IN popularity as
long as there are men % genius and so
long as intelligent nations iuha0it the
world. The idea that 70 music is 10 be
left the humble task OF serving as a
simplehousemald 20 speech is too absurd
10 discuss. Music and speech are we'd
ded in bonds that 10 power on earth
can break. and the coming century viii
see these bonds strengthened instead %
weakened. The very thought 81 a reel
tation 10 the tones OF a violin, Bah,
Il IS TOO absurd 10 treat IN words
IGNANCE PADEREwsKL