The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-03-09
:
! THE MUSICAL CORNER ;
< CONDUCTED BN 4. \. THOMPSON, Z
) Violin Maker and Teacher. y
THE MUSIC OF AMERICA"
A Paper Read Before the Woman's Club
Last Thursday by Mrs. ]. G. Boyle.

/ y. !
Herald, prepared the following paper,
which was read before that organization
at its meeting last Thursday afternoon
and was we'll rcccived:
All nations and peoples of the earth.
both ancient and modern. have an idcn-
tity i'll typical music. Every nation or
people have a kind of melody. peculiar
to itself the identity OF which there
can be no mist take. To attempt TO de
scribe these different pcculiaritics would
he too volulninoue for the present pur-
pose. 1t is not the purpose at this time
to make mention of the music of an
clients. neither of the middle ages, which
was very crude indeed, but of the music
Of America. First, that we are a music
loving people is an established fact ,
from the fact of the immense patronage
of all musical events and the support
of the musical institutions of this com-
try and the great number of students
sent TO Europe every year. Also by the
great number of musical organizations
of this country. many of which rank
very high. But these musicians do not
render the popular American music at
their concerts. 1t is true that we have
1 typical music at the present time and
it is to be regretted that it is of low
type indeed, but the Anglo Saxon did
not invent this peculiar type: it was
the negro. and although the negro has
INDUCED in it for many years in his
crude way it has very recently found
its way before the public, and has had a
patronage that is very remunerative to
the publishers and music dealers. This
music, SO called, is called rag time"
All good musicians have put their stamp
If contempt upon 'rag-timc" in its
litrerent phases, but still il lives and
has its patrons and even now it seems
to he the rage. Almost all of the dance
music is of syncopated or rag time"
movement; even many of the late popu-
lar songs and marches are strongly
tainted with ragtimc."
But this species of music, like all
other fads, will fade away in time and
The sooner the better the only appre-
hension j., will some other fad sup
plant it? The American people are a
progressive people, but in the matter of
music of national type it is to be re
gretted that the standard is low in
Iced, but this American type does not
by any means represent the talent; nci-
ther the standard or abilities of the
American people as a musical people OF
heir musical organizations of a higher
order. We have musical institutions
md organizations in America that will
not only compare very favorably with
hose of Europe, but even now it is
conceded that no one need 90 abroad to
seek a musical education. We have III
this country great many of the cream
of Italy, Germany. France and other
countries in our musical institutions and
also in our bands and orchestras. We
nave the Thomas orchestra of Chicago;
we have many fine orchestras in. New
York, in Philadelphia. in Boston. the
cradle and home of the classics of all
/ the masters both ancient and modern
These will compare with the productions
of Europe very favorably and all over
this broad land in every city. We have
military bands and orchestras that will
compare with the best. For instance,
we have our Sousa, the march king of
the world, as is Strauss, the waltz king
/ We have produced number of famed
yocalists. We have our Sussana Adams
of Massachusetts, who stands very high
in Europe as we'll as America, and is at
present a member of the Grau Opera
company in London and Paris. She is
a favorite in Paris and London. She
has sung such roles as Juliet. Marguer-
lite, and Guilda. We have our Nordica
an American, we have our phenomenal
Helen Beach Yaw, a California product
who for scope of voice has no superior
We have numerous vocalists of a high
order.
We have a great many fine yiolinists
who will compare favorably with the
best. We have our Commeha Urso; al
though born in Europe she came to
America a child, grew up in Cincinnati
and made her mark as the greatest VIC
linists of the world We have our N[vr-
tie Virginia Thompson of Minneapolis.
although only p years of age she has
no peer as lady violinist, and these
are the only few of the vast number.
1t Is only a question of time when
America will lead Che world in music
and when the people OF the old world
will seek America to get the best there
/ is in music. f n
II axafive Promo Nuin;no