The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-18
AMERICA AS A MUSICAL NATION.
Marked Improvement I'm Taste De-
veloped In Recent Years.

John Philip sousa, the march king"
who, with his wife, has been making an
extended tour through Mexico, has return
ed TO New York for a period Of rehearsal
before his orchestra starts on Its West
ern trip. On February concert was
given in Brooklyn, after which the or
ganization will tour the states as far west
as Omaha. returning to New York on
April ].
Mr.. Sousa Is enthusiastic over Mexico
and the musical possibilities OF that coun-
try, and his plans for next year include
tour there with his orchestra.
THE Mexicans are a very musical peo-
pie" he said. Indeed, ! should place
them third among musical nations. / may
be prejudiced. however" he added. with
smile, from the fact that heard my
own marches whistled in the alleys and
highways Of the Mexican capital / was
walking on the banks OF one Of the lakes
where the great floating gardens OF the
Aztecs were once, when a half-clad In
dian boy passed in a boat whistlng my
Beau Idear march. / enjoyed his render
ing OF 1t exceedingly"
Mr. sousa's remark that the Mexicans
stood third in the list Of music lovers sug-
gested the question who held first rank.
His answer was both patriotic and op-
tlmistic.
Il believe the Americans are the most
musical people IN the world" he said. IT'S
a bold statement, but base II on the very
democratic fact that one hears more mu-
sic whfatied In the streets of our cities
than In any other country in the world.
There Is more OF the mass love OF music.
The critics say that our popular music
liz banal from a symphonic standpoint, but
at least 1t teaches interval and rhythm,
and those are the bases for future better
knowledge.
Il will venture TO prophesy that IN from
twenty-five TO nifty years from now Amer
lea will be pre-eminently the musical ma
tion OF the world. The inclination OF the
human family is to pass through sue
cessIye periods of commercial activity, art
and luxury. We are In our commercial
period now and when the brains from
which have sprung the telegraph and tele-
phone turn TO art there Will be an Ameri-
can age to succeed the renaissance. the
Ellzabethan and the Victorian eras
What will be the character OF the
music OF this new era2'
"Ah. who can telly II you had asked
man fifty years ago what our system Of
lighting would be today he would prob
ably have suggested n combination OF
fifty to 100 candles. | believe that Amer
lea is going to create an entirely new
form. " viii be an era OF musical COM
edy, and by comedy I do not mean that
which Is all laughter, There are as many
tears as smiles in true comedy and this
VIII take the color or All our enouohs'
Beethoven Is the exponent OF comedy in
music today. Some OF his best pieces
have that element, but II lacks perfect
expression There win be other kinds
OF music also. A nation with the Rocky
mountains. Niagara, the boundess
pralries and the great range of climatic
conditions that we have cannot fail to
have great versatility in its art. And all
our art will have natural individuality.
II will be more American than Wagner Is
German"