The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17
MUSICAL NOTES.

In the London Standard we read that
| for some time past American compos-
erS have been engaging increased at
tention in this country. The choral
works of DIR. Horatio Parker, the in
strumental music of Mr.. Edward A.
Mcdowell and the songs by Mr.. Geo.
w. Chadwick and Mr.. Ethelbert w.
Nevin in themselves have shown that
a new school was rising that promised
to attain an important position in the
art world
After a years trial of new kind of
harp which it was hoped would super
sede the instrument now in use, the
Paris Conservatory has concluded that
the old style is better This old style
harp is the one invented by Erard in
1920; it has pedals which enable the
player to alter the pitch of a string
by Semitone or two. The new harp
does away with the pedals and in
creases the number of strings so that
there is one for each semitone. But
Pierre Salo writes in the Temps that
it was shown at the conservatory ex-
animation that its tone lacks the full
ness, and has only half the strength,
of the older instrument, and that it is
more difficult to execute on it arpeg-
gios, scales, and repeated notes.
The late Anton Dvorik, although he
lived in New York several years as di-
rector of the National Conservatory,
never quite mastered the English lang
uage. In a letter shown at the recent
music loan exhibition in London he
speaks quantity of himself as a man
whose heart sticks to all what is
English
Much curious information regarding
the origin and development of military
Farmers Memoirs of the Royal Ar
tillery Band" just issued by MessrS
BooSey. He gives his opinion that the
employment of the fife in the English
armies was the first step towards the
formation of the military band. The
chief honors apparently were beloved
on the kettledrums and their players.
Kettledrums We're mounted in the sew
enteenth century on carriages; the ket-
tIedrummer was paid four shillings a
day and his uniform cost no less than
$3.50. The smart dressing of bandSmen
was apparently considered important;
in the eighteenth century it became
the fashion to engage black men to
play the percussion instruments, which
included one formed Of small bells
hung on a crosspiece of a pole, and
ME- These musicians were dressed in
eastern style, with gorge
Gus slashed tunics, bright colored loose
Jackets, and high feathered turbans.
Germany being at once the most !
and the most musical |
country in the world, it is not surpris- |
ing that its military bands should play |
of the populace, indeed, their concerts |
are the chief musical pabulum, as they |
are given free or for q much smaller |
admission fee than is asked at other |
concerts and operas. Dr.. S. Linde |
claims in the Berliner Tageblatt that |
though the Romans may swear by their |
Monte Pincio band, and the Parisians |
by their Garde Republicaine music, the |
German bands are the best in the |
world. He admits that in one respect |
they are among the worst. Whereas i
IN France and elsewhere improved |
kinds of modern woodwind instru-
nents, particularly flutes, are used, the
Germans retain the old-fashioned |
flutes, which only a first-class artist
can blow in tune, Notwithstanding that
BOhm, who invented the better kind of |
flute 60 years ago. was a German. DR..
L4inde also admits that the conductors
Of the German military bands often
cave much to be desired. The pace at
which they are apt to take classical
and modern overtures and other pieces
s often so absurdly fast that the music
s completely spoiled. Many of these
men act as if they were automobiles
n race, or at the head of a band of
cavalry charging the enemy with the
Juror teutOQicuS.