The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-27
ON THE CONDITION OF MUSICAL AFFAIRS MSTLOuS

"NAiA. oAiu. WIN IL nave LOl pttu LlLAdl
cially successful. yet on the whole the re-
suits have been quite satisfactory. For the
Tast two years the Thomas orchestra has
been brought here. mainly through the eff
forts of Mr.. Frank Ridgely. These have
unquestionably been the most important
events of each season. Our remaining
established societies. such as the Apollo.
Morning Choral and Union Musical Club,
are doing excellent work in their respective
spheres. The aforementioned club is doing a
noble work with It's study class" begun
by Miss Marion Ralston. and carried on
mainly through the efforts of Mrs. Albert
| Hughey. This class is for the benefit of
students of ability who are unable to afford
the expense Of studying under the leading
instructors. Mrs. James l.. Blair Is also
doing a great work in her free singing
classes. This is bound to DE a telling fac
tor in our musical growth.
, The Castle Square Opera Company has
been well patronized here for this season.
and melodies from standard operas are
whistled on the streets where recently the
so-called coon songs held sway. The
music dealers are eloquent in expressing
their high estimation of what this company
has done for local musical progress. Our
choirs are. on the whole, not remarkable,
although there are a few which stand out
conspicuously for artistic work. But we
have about eight vocalsts who are capable
of holding their own in concert work any
where. There are some highly excellent
instrumentalists in st. ~Louis-pianists, or
ganists and rioiinists, whose ability de-
serves a wider recognition than 1t Is re-
cefE1ng. Now that the strong points have
Deen mentioned, it is but natural to in
quire into the weak ones, and ascertain
wherein We can better existing conditions.
lnasmuch as the majority of persons Of
mature years have fixed ideas in regard to
their likes and dislikes, and are indisposed
10 make changes II jS wise 70 conei5or fha
next generation. and endeavor to train the
artistic prejudices of our children along the
proper path. The first thing to consider is
the schools. a vast amount of improve
nent In the musical taste of the youth of
our city may be effected by working along
modern lines of musical culture in the pub
lie schools. Anticipated song books should
be discarded, and new ones substituted.
More music supervision should be engaged
and more instruments placed in the school,
rooms. The best local vocalists and pian-
lists should be asked to give occasional re-
citals before the pupils. and thus awaken an
interest and stimulate taste. Competent
musicians should give lectures or lecture-re-
citals in an interesting way. To those chill
dren holding Public Library tickets certain
books appertatning to musical subjects
should be recommended. and after they have
been read. the teachers should ask ques-
tons concerning their contents. Occasional
song competitions between the schools could
be held. and in this way encourage a friend
ly rivalry as well as improving the char
acter of the rendition of the selections. At
the cicsa of the season some of the schools
might unite for the purpose of giving a
chorus concert before the public.
These and other plans would be greatly
beneficial in extending a love for good mu-
sic among the children, and causing them
to become better acquainted with musical
history. and the lives and works of the
great masters.
A large conservatory of music is needed
in st. Louis in the district west of Grand
avenue. New York and Chicago have sew
eral large Conservatives. and the New Dng-
land Conservatory in Boston and the Gin
cinnati Conservatory BOUNDED by Reuben
~Springer) have been greatly advantageous
20 the musical growth of those cities. Hero |
In St Louis. the Beethoven and Kunkel
Conservatives are located east Of Grand |
avenue. Mr.. Clemens Strassberger has his
principal conservatory in the northern part
OF the city, with a new branch on the South
Slde. The College of Music, connected with
the Forest Park University for Women, is |
located south of our greatest park. In the |
odeon there are a number of private stu
dios. Ii a large conservatory were estab- |
iished. say on Fandeventer and Olive street. |
with a modern equipment. a first-clsss corps
or instructors and facilities for accommo-
dating boarding pupils, all under competent
II cohN IL " 6AtoI NoltC u 1
musical progress. There is room for
such an institution here, and 1t Is to be
hoped that come day in the near future it
Will be a thing accomplished. The above
are suggestions for the improvement of mu-
seal conditions among the children of our
schools, and among the music students. In
regard to persons of maturer years, the
writer would say that above all there must
be implanted a feeling within us of genuine
pride concerning our local musical institu-
We should feel happy over the
achievements of our Choral-Symphony So
ciety, and the st. Louis Orchestra should
be as generally we'll known as the Chicago
or the Pittsburg Orchestra. The
should disappear, and the push
should occupy his place. In order to
the best results, the management
Of the society should strengthen all weak
spots in the orchestra, and should insist
upon severe examinations of every appli-
,ant for membership in the. choral depart
ment. believing it to be better to have q
United number Of good voices and excel
ent readers than a large chorus containing
material. The society would
10 well, for the cause of musical education.
IS well as for the interest and edifcation
II its subscribers. to employ a musician to
1--WE analyses of each work to be presented
It its concerts. II such analyses or lecture
we're given they would greatly aid
n a comprehension and appreciation Of the
on the part Of the auditors.
another recommendation Is in reference 70