The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-29
Music as an Art.

The fine contrapuntal hand Of Prof.
HoRATIo WILLIAM PARKER, composer
of the Hora Novissima and st.
Christopher, was disoernible in one of
the notable doings OF the commence
ment of Yale University The desirable
degree Of Master of Arts was conferred
upon that estimable organist and direc-
tor of choruses in the exclusive city of
Boston, BENJAMIN j. LANG. The hon
oring of this well-deserving person must
have given a flip to the authorities
Of Harvard, to whom such a graceful
action seems never to have occurred,
possibly because they had the reverend
Handel and Haydn Society and the
joyous Cecilia almost at the very doors
of Sanders Theatre 1t was reserved
for Yale and Prof PARKER, the head of
her musical department, to discover the
virtues Of Mr.. LANG and to honor them
with degree which was not only APP
propriate to him, but also peculiarly
suitable to his musical mastership.
Usually when degree is to be con-
ferred by a university upon musician,
that of Doctor of Music is chosen. In
England, for example. Oxford has much
delight in Transforming plain composers
of very plain church anthems into Mus.
Doc, Oxon.," while Cambridge seizes
upon distinguished composers of other
lands and embellishes them with the
title Of Mus. Doc, Cantab.' For cap
tivating grace and expressive dstinc-
ton these degrees far excel such COM
monplace siftings of the alphabet as
l., H. D., LII. d., or even Lift. Doc.
Unfortunately, it happens that in this
country the degree Of Doctor Of Music
signifies very little. While several uni
versities and colleges possess efficient
musical departments, only two or three
have reached distinction in the tone art,
either in their teaching or in the works
of their professors. On the other hand,
the degree of Doctor of Music has been
handed out without much consideration
by some colleges having no recognized
connection with music, and by many
small musical institutions utterly with
out authority to confer degrees of any
kind. The degree, therefore, has fallen
into some disrepute in America, and
there are very few laborers in the field
of music who would be overwhelmed
with gratitude by the receipt Of it,
1t seems altogether likely, then, that
Prof. PARKER, who has himself been
honored with the doctors degree from
one of the great British universities-a
very genuine and valuable honor-sug-
gested the propriety of making Mr.. LANG
Master Of Arts. But in 80 doing Yale
honored music as we'll as the man, for
she took a decisive step when she ceased
to treat it as branch outside of the pale
of scholarly culture. She gave to dis
tinguished professor Of this art such
degree as she might have conferred on
learned teacher Of Latin or a notable
practitioner Of letters.
And why not? Music ia as much an
art as poetry or sculpture or painting.
1t requires as much intellectual ability to
become eminent in it, and it contributes
quite as much to the refinement Of its
students. A distinction must naturally
be made between the scholars OF music
and mere blowers of brass and scrapers
OF catgut; but universities may be trusted
to take care of that. The main point to
be borne in mind is that Yale has acted
according to principle which seems so
clear as to need no demonstration, yet
which has hitherto been neglected, for
no degree could be more suitable to
a scholar of music than that which is
applicable to a scholar of literature,
namely, Master of Arts.