Evening star., 1902-09-13
MUSIC IN THE DARK.
An Authority Says That All Lights
Should Be Dimmed.

From the London Telegraph.
Ladies are the best, nay, the only compe-
tent judges of a practical problem which Is
moving all Germany to it's depths just now,
and is certain to come up for discussion In
England before long. 1t IS a somewhat
mixed problem, no doubt but all the ele-
ments of which 1t Is composed come nat
urally before the womans impartial tri-
bunal, whereas the Teutons are having 1t
adjudged by a packed jury of prejudiced
males. This is the question in its briefest
form: Is it true that a pernicious effect
Is produced upon music lovers at public
concerts by feminine beauty, with it's de-
ightful accessories, as seen in a blaze of
artificial light reflected by crystal, gold and
glittering diamonds? Germany answers yes,
and declares that in future lights must be
turned down; in fact some of the bolder
spirits have already put them out and left
the audiences in darkness. The effects of
this alarming experiment are naturally some
what obscure, but even among the ladies
there some who profess to have found it
very successful
The idea was first suggested to a concert
reformer in Darmstadt, who took to read
ing Goethe, and came upon chapter in
Wilhelm Meister'' in which an eccentric
lover of music is described. He could not
live without music, more especially singing,
and he was wont to listen to it without
used to say that music is really intended for
the ear only, whereas in concert rooms it
is made to minister mainly to the eye, to
accompany movements, not sensations. The
gentleman from DarnStadt thereupOn con-
cluded that the first step in the way of ra
tional reform would be to lower the lights
and shut his eyes to the consequences, and
as many people jumped at the idea 1T has
already been realized, first in Darnstadt
and then in Frankfort on-the- Main Expert
ments are about to be continued elsewhere,
and the whole fatherland is divided into
two hostile camps. The arguments for and
against the innovaton-at least, those that
have been confided to the public-are as
follows:
A man goes to a concert to hear music.
But when he gets there he sees great deal
more than he hears, and his attention is dis
tracted. The pillars, the statues, the lus-
ters. all turn his thoughts away from the
strains meant to soothe or inspirit. That is
not as it ought to be, and yet it is not by
any means the worst. He looks around at
the ladies, many of whom come to be look
ed at, says these rude Germans. He sees
the luXuriant tresses of one sylph-lfke fig
ure before him, and, as he cannot catch
glimpse of her charming face, tries to guess
at the features. His neighbor, a rich
tradesman, is engaged in estimating the
cost of the riviere of diamonds around her
shapely neck. A third WOrshiper of Ter
psichore finds himself behind the sweetest
thing in hats, and feels moved to exclam,
like the Irishman in chapel
Sure, you wear just on purpose bonnet so
deep
That 1 can't at your sweet purity face get
peep.
Oh! lave off that bonnet, or else I'll lay on
it
The loss of my wandering sowl.
Now, all these things were brought to the
concert for the purpose of being seen, where
as people come primarily to hear. Suddenly
burst Of applause reminds them of this
fact-and of the other, that they have not
been listening to the sonata Thus far the
adVocatus diabOli.
The ladies' champions insist that being
gifted with eyes, we should use them to
some good purpose, even in a concert hall.
When number of people foregather for
common object they ought, at least, to see
each other. And, after ALL the majority
of the public are not better or more con-
scientious worshipers than those who go to
church. Moreover, some light must be
given to the musicians In order that they
may read the score, and this light in an
otherwise dark room is painful to the eyes.
If, the other hand, the person of the
singer is hidden from view, Wagner COW
cred up his orchestra, much of the effect is
marred. Lastly, it should not be forgotten
that a good deal of modern music was writ
ten for the light. Haydn's Seasons" for
instance, was never intended to be perform
ed in gloom. cantilene of Chopin might,
it is true, affect US more powerfully in the
cleaning, but that is an experiment to be
tried at home If, however, in spite of all
these arguments, the light is to be turned
down, then, adds a German critic who
might have hailed from Connemara let the
seats be turned round, so that our backs
may face the orchestra.
On Tuesday evening last Professor Kwast
and some other celebrated musicians gave
a concert in Frankfort in the dark. The
program was excellent and the gas bill was
nil. One of the critics left the haH with eye
ache before the second piece was performed,
and some of the younger visitors waited in
ecstasies of delight till all was over. An
other critic declares that the reform, to be
successful, must be thorough, and the de-
grees of obscurity should be adjusted to the
musical effects of each composition. For
an allegro, therefore, the room ought to be
inundated with light; for the finale twilight
would be the fitting accompaniment, while
Lutte darkness. Some of the ladies-only a
minority, however, and mostly the mex
perienced among them-were highly pleased
with the performance. The remarks of
other persons seated in darkness were in
minor key, and the general verdict seems to