Omaha daily bee., 1900-02-04
MUSIC.


2 MUSIC. b
Our esteemed friend and musical writer
on the Excelsior. MIR. Wheeler, who, by the
way, persists in telling the people about
sacred r~ecitals' when he means organ re-
citals, replies to an article which appeared
in this column a few weeks aso.
To enter into a discussion on the point in
question would be useless and Improbable,
because our esteemed friend and "ourself'
are arguing from different standpoints. 1t
will therefore be necessary for the critic in
question to meet the critic in answer at
scme convenient place where weapons can
be selected and mode Of warfare planned.
Seconds should also be appointed and the
war carried en- in a decent and military
manner, with correct tactics, etc.
The writer hereof contends that free re-
citals Of what kind socver are a menace to
the cause Of music and any one else will
find out the truth by giving it a fair trial.
This position. the peaceful critic of the EX-
ce,siCr says. is untenable. He says that a
taste must be encouraged and that people
must be given music free in order to make
them appreciate and finally pay for it.
Dearly beloved brethren, let us all come
off the perch. Let us get down out of the
clouds and study business. Free r~ecitals
will not encourage a taste for music any
more than free trains will encourage a taste
for travelling. We appreciate things accord
ing as they cost us. This is no delusion,
nightmare, pipe dream or anything else of
the kind. 1t is stern. solid truth. 1t is not
a pleasant truth, but what is the use of
Il eorizing and dreaming and hoping and
iGling when one can easily prove anything
tfat he is anxious to try.
Balzac was quite a philosopher in his day
and generation and he left many wise say
ings. He made statements that had been
proved by the centuries and not the least
truthful is this one: We will cheerfully
paw for luxuries. but we haggle over the
prices of necessities
Free music IS nor a necessity, therefore
it is a luxury. We are willing to pay for it.
The Omaha contingent of music lovers will
gladly stand back of The Bee on this point.
To return to the text itself. The writer
has often said that if the r~ecitals were for
the benefit and profit CT the people who
cannot afford to pay for music he would be
the first to toe the mark and give of his
musical abilities, whatever they may be
cheerfully and not grudgingly. But when
one looks over the congregations at the re-
citals Mr.. Wheeler alludes to and sees seal
skins and all those other kinds of raiment
which betoken a fair subsistence. and when
he sees a church filled to it's utmost to hear
the two little song-birds, Nebraska. " free
Of charge. while the same sweet children art
greeted by a small but discriminating audi.
CnCe at the theater, the musical critic OF
The Bee goes home, more and more i'm.
pressed with his text. 'The people of thi;
world appreciate things according to what
they cost The children sang at a free re-
cital, consequently the children were not
worth theatrical prices on their next APP
pearance.
1t is only in the last five or six years that
local concerts began to end with disaster
fnancially-the result OF free concerts
Clarence Eddy's manager was in town last
week and tried to place one of the greatest
organists Of the world for a concert here
He returned empty handed. Why? Because
no local management felt justified in riskine
the money and time necessary to make the
attraction a success. Paderewski passed
Omaha and went to Lincoln. Why? Fol
the same reason.
Perhaps Mr.. Wheeler does not need fnan-
cial support from music. He is a business
man; but let him not find fault with mu-
sicians who place a value on their services
said value based en- the price the people are
willing TO pay them-sometimcs. Let hin
not find fault with musicians who are un.
willing 10 charge" Smith for their service
and donate them to Jones. Personally
the writer will be pardoned for stating tina
he has had organ engagements in and out o.
town at good enumeration in spite OF the
fact that he has steadily refused TO TO,
Peter .or the purpose OF paying Paul.
Every church in Omaha that has g-ol
music is supporting the cause, and layiaa
for the music. Therefore let these music
hungry people. who want their meals served
in bed, go TO church and hear good mus C.
The composition OF Gounod's dramat
work "Gallia, while it is not one OF great
length, is nevertheless Accordingly interest,
ing. Thursday night of this week it vii
be sung at the First Methodist church o.
this city by the choir OF the church, com,
| bincd with that Of St. Mary's Avenue Goa.
gregational church. Mr.. KecS will conduct
Mr.. Kelly taking the organ part, and Mrs
Kelly the soprano aria. "Gallia' viii b.
preceded by a fine miscellaneous program o.
new organ solos ana vocal numbers aHl
not the least interesting being a solo By
! Rev. NJ. ", Chase, the possessor Of a yery
pleasing tenor voice,
In answer TO a correspondent anent pop.
ular songs, The following answers are ac-
curate so far as we know.
The British national anthem has beer
changed from Coo Save the Queen &c
We're Up Against the Real Thing Now
Dowey's f~avorite song, which he frequently
sings to his wife. is I'd Leave Ny Happy
Home to You"
Congress is reported 10 have sun to Rob
erts. as he left. Take Your Clothes and
GO" while Roberts himself has changed his
tune to only One Girl in This World for