Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-08
MUSIC AN0 MUSICIANS

The musical man OF The Bee, elsewise
the critic. sometimes the musical editor
and occasionally professor" is asked this
question: els Omaha really musicale"
Sometimes the form is varied and he is
asked II "Omaha is a musical town." The
latter question was propounded to me 6
day or so ago by one Of the most eminent
jurists Of the state Of Nebraska. Defend
ing the city as a musical point, l. Of
course. stated that Omaha was one Of the
most musical places on the face OF the
map. Then why" said he. do comic
operas pay here and legitimate musical en-
terprises go ~begging?"
/ tried to argue that this fact, lament
ably tr''" in Omaha, was also true in other
cities. > instance. when grand opera 8
on in cago one may find it easy to pro-
cure good seats in the Auditorium, whereas.
one block away, at the Studebaker. one
cannot possibly secure a good seat.
Even in New York one could recently
buy tickets for grand opera. but drama
with a dash OF bacteria" in il was play
ing TO standing room only"
Yes, after all, Omaha is a pretty good
town. unsteady as we'll as commercially.
But is Omaha a musical town? That is
the question.
The answer is, Yes!
Omaha may turn out poor audiences for
a piano recital. but after all. when Pad
erewski plays here, is the audience small?
/ think that it depends largely upon the
attraction whether Omaha is there or not.
Josef Hoffman, played a pretty good
house.
Is Omaha a musical town?
Well. there are over 300 singers taking
part in church services every Sunday in
Omaha, and l think that therein is a good
sign. These are singers that ] know of.
And there are many more.
Omaha has a very exclusive choral So
ciety Of $50 voices, and, by the word eX-
elusive, ! mean that unless member at
tend all OF the rehearsals they are dropped
from the membership roll. Furthermore,
each member is examined as 10 reading
ability before securing membership.
The Woman club Is an aggressive force
for music in Omaha. Its musical depart
ment is a force thai cannot be ignored.
Every meeting makes for the progress of
musical knowledge and the maintenance
OF high standards.
The teachers. especially the piano teach
ers. give frequent pupils recitaIs" and the
! choirmasters give interesting programs
every Sunday
The society people, they Of the smart set,
do not support music as they might, al
though there are in society some very ex-
cellent musicians. There are singers, plan
lists, composers, many Of whom have re-
ceiyed thorough musical education. But
let us be honest-is any musical event in
Omaha a society afAir? Do we see such a
well dressed house for a distinctively le-
climate musical event as we do for "Kine
Dodo" or one OF the modern trivialities OF
the alleged comic opera world? No. We
must admit the sternness Of his fact. II IL
now time for Lenten reflections.
AS l commented last year, the Lenten
penRnce of society Is 10 give a series OF
musieales at private houses, We are in
elined to e~riticise a talented person who
does not study TO develop his gifts. But
should We not also ask ourselves what We
are doing as supporters and patrons OF the
art. There is room for good performers in
this world, but there is also rOoh for good
nstenersi
All Of which comes under the head of the
question. rs Omaha a musical city,"
Viewed from the standpoint Of the stu
dent. Il is a very musical place. VieWe5
from the standpoint Of SOeisty's patronage