Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-29
Natives Are All Natural
Musicians.
QUICK AND RETENTIVE
FAMILIES THAT CAN AFFORD IT
HAVE PIANOS.
Passion for Gambling - Cockfghting
One of the Favorite Amusements
in the Islands.

kpecial Correspondence of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS
MANILA, May p, 1904.
All Filipinos are natural musicians. al
though the islands have never produced a
vocalist of more than ordinary repute The
inherent passion and talent manifests itself
at every possible opportunity. Every viii
iage has It's orchestra and band, and some
Of the organizations have reached high
degree Of perfection. as people who have
offended the St Louis fair will testify.
The military band and orchestra which
as been sent over there is a part of the
tonstabulary-the police organization under
The control OF the civil government-and
Ais been drilled by an American, who has
decided musical genius. and Is a graduate
T the Boston Conservatory TIL g constabu-
iiry band Is probably the most advanced
G. nj accomplished musical organization ever
known In the Philippines. 1t Is composed
OF picked men from other bands and or
chestras. has been favored by the officials
with plenty of time for training. and pro-
vided with modern instruments of the high
est class. Professional critics will notice
defects in its performances which are due
10 the superficial character of the native
He Is never thorough and never learns for
the love of learning, but rather in order to
accomplish sonnet thing or crafty his plea sure
The same characteristic is manifested in
everything he undertakes. There is only a
thin veneer Of civilization upon the savage
nature of the Filipino race.
But the constabUlary band gives most
pleasing performances. 1t is extremely
popular. and its concerts, gwen at twilight
twice a week on the Luneta. the park along
the shore of the bay, are attended by thou
sands of delighted hearers. 1t will have
similar popularity at St. Louis and will
rank high among the bands that will be
a Tn N two
posers of local fame, who have produced
operas, masses and orchestral compositions
of internationl popularity, while the num-
Der of light. dashing piano compositions
published here every year is very large.
Quick and Retentive.
Every child. particularly the girls. in the
Philippine Islands has a piano when it is
six or seven years old if it's parents can
afford to buy or hire one. and the Manila
directory contains a long list of teachers of
instrumental music, who seem to be busy.
If you take morning walk on any of the
streets in the well-to-do part of town you
will recognize that the coming generation or
Filipinos d!ligent in practicng their
music lessons, and go at them with great
zeal and pers steuce. Nearly everybody
can play some kind of an instrument, and
hundreds of families in Manila can furnish
very respectable orchestra without going
beyond their own threshold. And they play
with a good deal of sentiment and taste,
although few Of them are able to interpret
the higher classes of classical music
School teachers report that the little Fill
pinos pick up music instinctvey; that they
have quick and receptive memories and can
learn the melody and the words of a song
in two or three lessons. On the evening of
Washington's birthday there was cele-
bration at the United States Club, with a
program OF music and recitation. The most
attractive numbers Were The Star Span
Sled Banner" and other patriotic American
o. nv OH e lt.t. frr,y,,
one of the primary schools. They sang as
If their souls were In it; they sang as II
their lives depended upon it; not with the
lstless. perfunctory manner of the ord-
nary school child, but with genuine enthu-
siasm and enjoyment.
Annual Season of Opera.
A season of opera is given here every
winter. The opera house is an ugly old
building, a cross between a political wig
wan and bull ring but it has a large
stage. excellent acoustic properties and is
n source of great enjoyment to all classes
of people. The solo performers principally
come from Spain. the chorus and orchestra
are local talent, mostly Filipinos trained
by natives or Spanish teachers and they
sing and play well as those of Italy.
During Spanish times the opera was subsi
died by the government but Americans do
not approve of such uses for public money.
and the manager Is compelled to depend
upon ordinary patronage. He has raised
his prices and is able to make about as
much profit he did with a subsidy
Rich people sit In boxes. There are two
tiers around the entire house. with a big
one in the center of the horseshoe, opposite
the stage for the use OF the governor, who
appears frequently. not only for the pleas
ure it gives him. but to encourage the en-
terprise. The main floor. or parquet is
filled with chairs, which cost from 81 in
Mexican money or 50 cents gold to 50, &C
cording TO location. for ordinary perform
mr. -En,,
ira functions are given. Behind the boxes
and in the top gallery the common people
can obtain seats for % cents. and those
parts OF the house are always crowded with
sharp critics who manifest their approval
or disapproval in decided manner. They
are usually enthusiastic. and cannot re-
strain themselves until singer has fin
lshed her lines. which Is annoying to the
rest of the audience. but complimentary to
the performer.
Opera is given three nights a week, some
times In Spanish, sometimes In Italian and
the season runs four months in the year.
Certainly no city in the United States pro-
vldes so good and SO many entertainments
at so low a price
The native gentlemen appear at the opera
In ordinary evening dress but the ladies of
their families wear the native costume. The
performance does not begin until 9:30
O'Clock and continues until or In the
morning. You frequently Chinese in
the audiences and several members of the
Chinese colony are faithful patrons al
thOuBh IL is popular impression that
their race has no ear for melody or har-
mony.
We attended the farewell benefit of
popular prima donna, and In Lucia di
Lammermoor she aroused her audience TO a
tremendous pitch of enthusiasm Her ad-
mirers brought gifts OF all kinds-jewelry
and wearing apparel. as we'll as flowers
and pretty idea the release of doves
and canary birds In different parts of the
hall during the applause They flew about
the auditorium for a while and then, at
tracted by the strong lights. made their way
TO the stage. 1t was rather inapropos
but nevertheless interesting to have the
prima donna's presents displayed in the
middle of the stage during the last act
They occupied two large tables and looked
like combination OF florists and Jew
eler's store.
The Native Dancing.
The native dancing is an initiation OF the
Spanish instead OF the oriental such as
we have been seeing In Egypt. India and
Burma. The dance music Is very lively.
the dancers are animated and graceful,
and the costumes of the girls are a novelty
although they are not so picturesque as
hos h. Co.