Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-27
HARMONY AND GAsTRoNoMY.
The Com bination is ALI Right if the
Program is Correct.


From tie Providence Journal.
Should dinner be accompanied by muse?
Dining is in itself fine art. AS the author
of Lucille pointed out in lines too often
quoted we can live better without any
other A d,nner-a really civilized dinner
is a gastronomic symphony. 1t has its
theme, it's change of movements, its APP
peal to a certain set of emotions in the
eater. Is it not, then, enough in itself?
Does it require any addition? Is not music
rather a detriment than an aid to the con-
summate achievement of the culinary art
list? Is the combination fair either to the
cook or the composer? Such speculatfons
as these disclose a wide field for aesthetic
debate. The matter could not be COM
passed in column or a page. Neverthe-
less, certain salient points suggest them
selves for comment. And first of these Is
the assumption that any universal rule can
be laid down Is such an assumption juStf-
fed? Are there not dinners and dinners?
Is there not music and music? 1t is at least
plausible to argue that some dinners may
be accompanied by some kinds of music.
The fact that music IS the most nearly
universal form of art must be taken into
account Pure muse occupies restricted
place in the social economy today. SYM
phonies and concertoS fill only Il portion Of
our activity. Music is combined with
drama to make opera-which some severe
critics have called bastard form of art,
indeed, but which nevertheless DluS Ialr 10
survive Indefinitely. Music is added to the
poetry of motto to make the dance, one
of the oldest arts we nave Music per-
forms an important function toward relig-
ion The great Pope Gregory bulded well
when he encouraged it's use in the services
of the church; and the dour Scots who pro-
tested against the ''kist o whistles recog-
niZed the fact that an organ would event
ually modify the character of the / theology.
Why then. should music be wholly be-
barred from aiding the triumphs of Gull
nary skill? The ancients employed it at
their banquets; are we moderns so much
wiser grown? 1t is difficult to understand
the joy which is said to have prevailed in
New York on the anpouncement that
dispute between the table d hote' restau-
rants of that city and the Musicians Union
would lead to the abolition of music at din
ner. except upon the suppostion that the
music furnished is bad music.
Good wine needs 10 bush. and the
preme masters in any art can stand alone.
Thus Soyer foregoing the opportunities in
opera which fine voice offered TO him, de-
voted himself to cookery and became the
foremost artist of his time. Could music
have added to the charm of feast pre-
pared by him? Would 1t not have been, on
the contrary. a detriment? No appreciative
musician would wish to eat during the per-
Torrance of a symphony by Beethoven. But
Soyers and BeethOvens are rarely found
There are plenty of cooks who need the aid
of music and there are plenty of composers
who need the aid of cooking. Experience
has taught most of us that the usual table
dhote dinner cannot be trusted to stand
alone 1t has certain defects much music
mollifies or obliterates. a doubtful entree
may be transformed into something rich
and strange by the measures Of an over
ture. Thin claret may become nectar under
the sway of the "reminiscences which the
strains of Strauss waltz arouse. Yet this
conclusion involves the assumption that the
music is good. A violin out of tune would
only add to the misery of a muddy con-
somme Contemporary testimony is all to
the effect that the music at New York
table 'hote is bad The terrible d nner or
chestra says one authority, can be agreea-
BILE to those who are stone deaf Obviously
this argument does not affect the abstract
question of the desrabiity of music at din
ner 1t only shows that better musicians
are needed.
There is another consideration which
must not be left out of the account All
music, even if we'll played. is not dinner
music. Few makers of programs are Gull
nary experts as WELL and they haughtily
refuse to consult the chef. Great discrimi-
nation is needed here. There is SYM