The San Francisco call., 1901-11-03


n n letter-too long held over for lack
of space-in its entirety:
VIII you kindly use your influence toward the
organization of series Of weekly popular con-
certs this coming winter in San Francisco? by
concerts 1 mean instrumental recitals OF all
accepted kinds, choral or oratorto PERFORM
ances, well vocal recitals. But In par
ticular the real need should like to emphasize
is that Of high-class music at popular prices
1 Know the disheartening and pessimistic re-
ply that nine out of every ten people give when
the above subject is broached; that 1t has been
tried and found failure, that no one viii go
to such concerts at 10, 10 and . cents (1ne
prices for admission at existing popular re-
sorts) May 1 ask when the last experiment
was made upon which these objections are
based? 1 have been in the city five years and
have kept an eye the advertising columns,
but have failed to hear Of any concerts other
than the exclusive and fashionable social func-
ton, the price and very often the hour OF
which are evidently fixed with the intention OF
keeping the ''hoi poIloi' out Of range.
Surely the immense and orderly audiences
that attended several days in succession at the
Mechanics Institute to hear the free recftals
on the Stanford organ rebut the contention that
the people" Of San Francisco are non-musical
and unappreciative Of such possibilities as
those recitals afforded for the lover OF sweet
sounds Again, it is inconceivable In a
city where so many thousands OF the tnhabtt-
ants are from Eastern cities or European coun-
tries where popular music Is almost part OF
the air they breathe, that 1t can be said truly
there is no demand for the cheap evening con-
cert an essential and most precious element
among the legitimate recreations of great
city That San Francisco with its 100000 popu-
lation is without municipal art gallery may
not be a reproach, but that there is no place
in the remotest degree resembling music hall
seems to me to indicate a strange hiatus in the
catalogue Of local attractions.
Where are our public-spirited and wealthy
citizens? 1t does not take a musical enthusiast
to appreciate the high moral and intellectual
value OF good music given under appropriate
auspices and brought easily within the means
of the masses. Any one. who has seen any
thing of the world in it's holiday and leisure
moments cannot but desire Gf he has any In
terest at all in the community's welfare) the
raising Of the average standard Of recreation
(so-calledo. 1t Is unnecessary to specify; in San
Francisco the places and resorts are only too
numerous and prominent where our youth and
country cousins invited into drinking dens
or dives with apparently no attempt made by
others than the exploiters of the frail side of
humanity to provide satisfaction to the natural
instincts OF the toiler seeking needed change
after hard days labor
Where are our churchmen and philanthro-
pists in this matter? Even II the wealthy. who
are provided with their own forms of amuse-
ment stand aloof, sure the musical cir
cles of the city, cooperating with the churches
could If they would, set about directing pub-
lie and civic sentiment toward the establish
ment not only of grand central music hall
with halls for chamber concerts and choral fes
tivals on occasion, but also OF smaller halls in
crowded districts for weekly musical enter
tainments. Branch libraries are all very well
but reading does not always hll the void and 7
maintain that the feelings and emotions need
at least as careful attention and cultivation as
the intellect.
If funds at first came IN slowly volunteer sf
fort could be called for and would no doubt he
forthcoming.
In fact. there must be many local amatau-s
who would regard 1t as a pleasure and privilsv.
to devote an evening occasionally toward a n,1h-
lie entertainment. without fee being desirad
On the whole. perhaps it would be wiser ~
begin In this way. with a weekly concert A.
some central hall such as the Metropolitan a.
saturday or Sunday night preferably. Thai
sucn series. II conducted by an able and en-
ergetic 'coPmittee. would form the nucleus ~
benehce9t and prosperous civic instItut,or =.
the conviction Of the writer :
For the credit of San Francisco ~,
giad 10 say that the case Is not onIts
so black as ''W. NJ" imagines ~ - I.s9 h'
ihere have been many attempts To found
just such concert series as thai ro-
wnlcn he Pleads. though for one
reason and another they have ALWAYS