Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-01
{ BY he Duce'

the Richmond public Is deterioatlng, and
as the year closes. 1t can hardly be sue
cessfully contended that the city pos
sesses any musical atmosphere whatso-
ever.
Every concert given here within the
past twelve months has been financial
failure, and the Wednesday Club, the only
musical organization that is sufficiently
bravetto court publicity. Is to-day, prac-
ticallyE where it was three years ago. and
within the. last month the directors of
this organization have voted, fearfully.
that the scheme of the annual festival
shall not be enlarged; that artists whose
names are familiar by old association,
shall be the only ones engaged. and mat
the Boston Festival Orchestra shall once
again be introduced.
The musical future Of this city needs
looking AFTER" wrote Mr.. Arthur Scrive-
nor recently, land 1t occurs to me that
the best way to keep the ball rolling is to
promote a healthy interest in good music
among the young peopIe-too young for
other forms of mischief. have been de-
lighted with the interest shown by the
youngest members of Holy Trinity choir
young people of from Is to Is. They will
never lose their love for the work-it Is
rivetted in. wish you would enlarge
on this-set parents to encourage the chill
dren to take an interest-and tell choir
directors that by doing little hard work
row, In training youngsters, they will
soon have a fine field to draw from for
their adult reliables.''
Inerc is world or suggestion In Mr..
ScrIyenor'S statement. The older genera
ton has been taught to despise music
which it enjoyed some years ago through
an organization. now happily defunct. at
the cut-rate Of 16 2-3c. concert, and it
has had a place at the feet of local
stars. who have been ridiculously Rlffed
into q prominence they never deserved by
homemade f1op-doodle, which has been
allowed to pass feT musical criticism.
And now the time has come to begin ali
over again with the young folks
President Meloney, Of the Wednesday
Club, believes that the advent Of really
capable music teacher will be the corner
stone OF the new structure. 1t Is to be
feared that too much mystery Is made
of the gentle art of singing, and that
many pupils are compelled to accept
fragments Of bad knowledge in anato-
r1y and physiology, instead OF practical
instruction in singing: and 1t Is for the
sake OF the deceived pupils write this
protest
Have you ever considered how many
trusting young women have had their
voice and their healths ruined by the
method of abdominal singing? Have
you the list of the number OF confiding
anna teIrs who have studied singing for
two three; or more years under ia
vortte teacher, and have graduated more
ignorant and with worse voices than
when they began their studies? Are you
aGquainted with the names Of teachers
who by their vicious method of instruc-
ton ruin every voice intrusted to their
care? The humburg Is known to every
body but the doomed pupils, and that is
the pity of 1t. was born so tender
hearted that it moves me to the point
OIL tears to see trusting young woman
going about the world with the tips of
her fingers pressed In the region Of the
diaphragm that she may discover IL it
is properly acting while she Is practic-
Ing her do, re, mi. am moved to grief
greater than tears when see an ambi-
tlous maiden thrust a patented instru-
ment of torture In her mouth that her
Jaws and her tongue may DO taught to
disobey nature for the sake Of q vicious
theory.
l find this rank humburg and ignorance
IN no other art; Imagine a painter COM
polling his pupils to learn the names and
functions Of the muscles Of the hand be-
fore they are allowed to draw! Accord
ing to my Ignorance. the basis OF instruc-
ton In any art means the doing a thing
properly with the least expenditure Of la
Dor. But half the singing teachers do
not know how to sing; they can give no
the reason why they conceal incapacity
by imposing but bad science. Whenever
art or literature was undergoing degene-
ration there Was always q superflufty OF
theory.a minimum Of practice; metaphys..
ignorance fourishes nightly over the
graves Of art
The plant regarding the decadence OF
the same lament being heard in centers
where's few years ago 1t would have been
rank heresy to have secretly whispered
it.
same the world over. and, If the signs Of
the times are not altogether misleading.
the observation may be accepted as a
truisrns The responsibility for the pres
has been variously charged to the artists
themselves, and the meretricious nd sell