Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-18

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determined not to repeat It. That shows
that the st. Louis directors are men of
wisdom and, prudence. There Is no more
excuse for classical music at a great popu-
lar show than for ragtime at a funeral.
While one can see at once that the per-
son who wrote this article is Incorporate,
illogical and impolite in his language. and
that self-respect would have compelled
him to change his diction had he Slept
over" the article, II must yet be, conceded
that he voices the sentiments Of an un-
thinking many, who are of the opinion that
between Weber and Fields and Roster and
Balls, the music-the popular music-of
the world is to be found, and that classic
music consists Of some kind Of scales"
and difficult technical monstrosities like
algebraic propositions or geometric prob
lems-treatises for the college class room,
Let us c~almly-you who are honest lovers
Of ragtime and so forth-look over the
proposition, and / think that you will take
a different view of the entire matter.
Let us take the last sentence of the
quotation:
There is no more excuse for classical
music at a great popular show than for rag
time at a funeral
Now, what is classical music? ?" Here
are u lew VI tue huSWtlS 10 lulS Qu0H-
ton:
Conforming to the best authority in lit
erature and art: chaste: pure: refined: as a
classical style."-Webster International
Dictionary.
A classic means "a work Of acknowledged
excellence Webster.
"Of or relating to the first class or rank,
especially in literature or art."-webster.
"a term applied to a work Of art against
which the destroying land OF time has
proved powerless. DR.. Riemann Diction-
airy of Music.
"A term which in music has much the
same significance as It has in literature.
1t is used of works which have held their
place in general estimation for a considera-
BILE time, and Of new works which are gem
orally considered to be OF the same type
and style."-Ch. Hubert H. Parry, Mus.
Doc. Oxon, in Groves Dictionary Of Music
and Musicians"
The Chicago editorial writer then states,
according to these definitions, that there is
TO more excuse for musical works OF
acknowledged excellence works of the
first rank" works that are "chaste,"
pure" refined" or works which have
held their place in general estimation for a
considerable time (mark you, general"
estimatiOn). at a great popular show, than
for ragtime at a funeral.
The Chicago writer must be consistent,
however, and remember to advocate the
promotion of the spirit he suggests in all
departments.
In the Fine Arts building 1t must be re-
membered that there is no more excuse for
masterpieces Of painting or sculpture at a
great popular show than for comic valen-
tines as a funeral card"
In the horticultural exhibit, It must be
remembered that there is no more excuse
for rare and beautiful palms. flowers,
plants, perfected specimens OF cultivation.
at a great popular show. than there is for
cabbages as funeral floral emblems."
To return to the definitions Of the cIassi-
cal. Are you, Qike the writer Of the
editorial under dIscussion), under the con-
viction that classical music means Wag-
merriam music, and IL so, you are wrong.
DO you believe that classical music means
Bach and Beethoven? II so. you are wrong.
Are you OF the opinion that classic music
is music that cannot be enjoyed by the
ptOplC' Il bOs gOu u NiOhks
l admit that you do not enjoy all classical
music; that, perhaps. you do not enjoy
much OF 1t, but that you do not enjoy
anything CLASSICAL do not-can not be-
lieve.
Which would you rather hear at your
sisters wedding or your own, II Don't Like
No Cheap Man" or the Bridal Chorus
from "Lohengrin." or Mendelssohn's wed
ding March" Which do you want at your
friends funeral. Chopin's immortal melody
in his Funeral March, or Smoky
Mokes?"
Do you ever go to church at Easter and
hear the "Hallelujsh Chorus?"
Did you ever hear The Heavens Are
Telling Of Haydn. or the dreamy "Traue-
merei" OF ~Schumann, or Schubertis "Sere-
nade?" Handel's Largo or Mendelssohn's
Spring Song" Verdis popular" heart
songs. Home to Our Mountains" or the
'Miserere." Faust's Soldiers Chorus or
Garden Music" a "nocturne' Of Chopin, a
famous folk-song. or THE Last Rose of
Summer" These are not popular" COM
positions in the general acceptation of the
term, they are classics, and shall they be
excluded from a popular show?
The sentence people were indignant
ana justly 80, Nuen lnty lounu nlBn-prlced
bands and orchestras footing. banging and
saving at noisy productions unintelligible
except TO the elect"
Is IL possible that this is meant as a
slam against Theodore Thomas, who has
brought so much glory 10 the name Chi
cago," and without whose work the fair
city on the big seawster would not be SO
favorably known in the worlds great cata-
logue Of metropolitan cities?
II the mistake was made Of presenting
too elaborate programs all the time. VIII
did not the committee on music arrange q
have one branch of the musical attractions
as an educstive exhibit QRe the Art ant
other departments, congress OF religions
etc.l. and one branch for the amusements'
II I remember rightly. the Chicago
Worlds fair had some bands that were un,
worthy of the place they held. and tha,
other bands were and are popular" al
over this country. while their programs ar
far more classic" than popular"
Except in Chicago, possibly. there ar
hundreds OF thousands OF people payinI
cheerful dollars every year TO hear sousa
and his programs are certainly not Wha
people can popular" lines BeilStsdi