The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-11
DAMRosCH AND GADsK1.
A Strong Musical Attraction Coming
ST. Paul

Classical music is of comparative recent
advent in Mi America; in the sense of
It's general enjoyment by the unsteady
inclined. 1t was not until some time
after the Civil war that real musical Gull
ture began to spread III this country
This development is to a great extent due
TO German teachers who came in large
numbers and taught either privately or
In Conservatives and stimulated musical
appreciation. Three men have done much
IN this direction, Theodore Thomas, DR..
Leopold Damrosch and Cal Higginson,
the last of whom is not a musician at all,
but whose work in establishing the Bos-
ton symphony orchestra has been of the
highest Importance.
Mr.. Thomas, though born in Germany.
came to this country at the age of ten,
and for fifty years has been identified
with the best that America affords in
music. He may almost be said to have
created the symphony concert in this
country, because he raised the orchestra
to a plane never before reached His
achievements are too well known to re-
QuiPe comment.
DR.. Damrosch was equally a pioneer in
introducing Wagnerian opera in its high
est form to this country Indeed it was
only in 1884 that he began that series of
productions at the Metropolitan opera
house which raised a furore of praise and
opposition, but founded musical apprecia-
ton of the great master on lines that
were enduring. Sixteen years ago few
people had heard German opera of any
kind. 1t had become the fashion to re-
vile " agnerabec ause the great genius had
sbeen in POLITICAL quarrels all his life and
had gotten himself so much disliked per-
saha1ly that for a long time the public
would not listen to his operas.
1t was DR.. Damrosch who first disarm-
a Oh
can people what Wagner's music was. 1t
took some time for people to get used
to anything but the works of Italian and
French masters, but the progress was
steady. DR.. Damrosch died all too soon
and his son took up the work, and today
German opera Is more popular in every
music center than any other school.
This is because 1t is laid on broad lines,
requiring the poem, the music, the acting
and the orchestration to be at all times
harmonious. Wagner would have lived
Immortality as poet If he had not writ
ten note of music. AS a dramatic poet
only Goethe and Schiller rank with him.
Some will put him above them both
Today there is not good-SiZed village
where there is not musical appreciation
The piano is in nearly every home, and on
nearly every music rack are found the
works of the great masters. People who
used to laugh at classical music will not
now listen to anything else. Those who
thought Wagner mailman are his de-
voted admirers. Why? Because musical
appreciation has spread so rapidly that
there is no longer so much Ignorance.
People have become cultivated. They
love the best in all the arts, and are not
ashamed to say so. The person who does
not strive to hear and know all that is
possible OF good music Is to be pitied.
Happy are they who get the opportunity.
1t is matter of congratulation that the
worlds best artists and conductors now
come to this country yearly and find here
the appreciation their efforts deserve. All
this will find expression in the operate
concert to be given Tuesday evening.
March 81, at the Peoples church by
Nine. Gadski, Walter Damrosch and
David Bispham.
Mr.. and Mrs. a. G. Holmes, of Burr
street, will give the fourth of series Of