The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22
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In every part of the United States,
universities and colleges appear to be
Weakening up to realization Of the i'm
portance of music as a branch of their
curriculum. Henry Rowe Shelley, the
song writer, who is also organist and
chOirmaster Of the Fifth Avenue Bap-
fist church, in New York city, is re-
ported to have said that the best mu-
steal training that a boy or girl can
receive is gained by joining a church
choir, preferably the choir Of a Roman
Catholic church. which has a capable
director. He mentioned particularly
the Roman Catholic church because of
the great masses that are sung in that
church. The boy or girl who receives
such a training, he insists, carried with
him throughout his whole life rever-
ence for the best music-a reverence
that only an early training in choir,
work can instill. In lieu Of such a train
ing, Mr.. Shelley insists that school
ments of music and a knack Of i'm
parting that knowledge is an excellent
substitute. He lays stress on the ne
cesSity Of beginning this study early in
life, for as he very wisely observes, it
is the first lessons that stick. But all
boys and girls cannot belong to church
choirs, and many boys and girls drift
a meager knowledge Of the basic prin-
ciples of music, and, in the majority of
cases, with no knowledge at all. Every
body has not q good singing voice, nor
is 1t possible for everyone to become a
pianist or a violinist, but everyone may
be taught to appreciate good music
just as everyone may be taught to ap-
preciate good literature. The import
ance of such instruction seems finally
to have dawned upon most of the COL
leges and the universities Of this coun-
try.
In st. Paul the smaller colleges are
accomplishing excellent results in this
branch of their curriculum. The Uni
versity of Minnesota has set an adj
mirable, if late, example by instituting
a department of music, which, it is con-
fidently expected, will develop into a
chair of music. Each Of the colleges
here in St Paul has it's musical d.
rector, and each Of these colleges is the
center of the musical life Of the suburb
in which 1t is located. The concert
given Friday night in the Manchester
Presbyterian church is an excellent
sample Of the work these directors are
accomplishing. Under the direction of
Prof. H. E. Phillips the Manchester
college chorus gave A. r. Gaults can
tata, holy City" Although this cho-
rus is not a large one and the
director has to work the vocal ma
terial given him instead Of selecting
the voices best adapted to the purpose,
the production was remarkably smooth.
The ChOruSeS were sung with under
standing and with the enthusiasm that
college students only can apply. Two
violins, cornet and an organ furnish
ed the orchestral accompaniment. This
was not an imposing orchestra, to be
Gil hut + n 70 nd
the students an understanding of en-
semble effects that can only be OBJ
tanned by such a practical demOnstra-
ton with the rehearsals that lead up to
it. The soloists. Mrs. Inez G. Won
Encke, Miss Marjorie Hall, Mr.. Her,
bert Corners and Mr.. Robert Geddes,
most satisfactorily presented their re-
spective parts.
The Blind Boone Concert company
will give an entertainment Thursday
evening in the Park Congregational
church. Boone is a colored pianist,
who has been blind since the age of six
months. Careful education developed
a pronounced musical talent, which has
ton, but in composition. Boone visited
ST. Paul ten years ago. when he was
very cordially received. Miss Smith
and Miss Wand, who sing the folk
songs of their people unusually we'll, it
is claimed, will appear with the pianist.
An opportunity will be given any ndu-
stefan in the audience to play any Sc
lection he may choose for Mr.. Boone to
reproduce from memory.
Mr.. Ashton Ellis, the translator of
Wagner's prose works and the Glase-
napp biography, denies the statement
that no less than $115, 600 had been
paid as royalties to the Wagner family
for last years performances. Mr.. FL
lis points out that no less than two
thirds of the sum named were set down
as royalties on "Tannhauser" and "Lo-
hengrin." AS matter Of fact, Wagner
sold the performing rights in "Tann-
hauser" to all the German theaters for
a mere song-Vienna, Berlin and Ham
burg being practically the sole excep-
lions among the larger theaters. The
copyright of "Tannhauser" and 10
hengrin" has long expired in England
and America, and probably also In
France. Leaving out these operas and
taking the figures as correct in other
respects, which Mr.. Ellis does not ad-
NIT, the total royalties would be some
thing like $4,000. Mr.. Ellis asserts
once more that the Bayreuth festivals
bring In absolutely nothing to the fam