The San Francisco call., 1904-10-02

ModeStly, but quite in the right di-
rection, the music department OF our
Public Library is growing. 1t will be
remembered that the department. was
established a little more than a yeari
ago-and it should not be forgotten
that 1t was at the suggestion OF Nine:
Emilia Tojetti. president Of the music
section of the California. Club. An
admirable little collection. largely con-
tributed to by the same philanthropic
hand, was got together. Opera,
naturally, here, was most Importantly
represented, but orchestral and piano
literature are both in satisfactory evil,
dence- The year has brought maryt
additions to the list, II not so many
as might have been reasonably hoped
for.
Perhaps the department. IS aa yet
too new to expect large recognition Of
its usefulness 1t may well be that
the musical philanthropist has even
forgotten its modest existence. The
cause owns no brass band, like the
crusade for pure milk-this. hopefully.
Is a small tootle in the direction, dedi-
Gated to- the aforesaid philanthropist;;
a tiny trombone phrase In his ear as
ii were.
Three OF him and her, however,
have not forgotten. The years pri-
vate gifts were contributed by the
ever faithful Nine. Tojetti Miss Cuth-
bert and Professor .Lisser. The re:
mainder OF the acquisitions the city
pocket has paid for. As will be seen,
the character of the additions is not
ably worthy. There is not a dis
pensable page in the collection. The
Mendelssohn. Bach and Beethoven ac.
quisitions are in particular valuable.
and the Mozart. Schumann and Schi1-'
bert works Importantly augmented.
Orchestral compositions are little in
evidence, and the solo literature OF
string, brass and woOdwind is repre-,
sented by only two violin compositions.
Herein is where the philanthropist has
been idle Individually there are here
as everywhere else private Libraries
1 have three in mind-that have
fallen into disuse. Commonly these col
lectfons are of orchestral and con-
certed music, but. of course, include
all varieties of musical expressions
Sentiment is sometimes the reason for
their retention. but quite as frequently
II isssheer thoughtlessness that gives
them TO the dust. and occasionally. a.
pardonable puzzlement as to what to
do with them. Let me suggest the
Public Library as. their resting place.
1t is at least as noble end as a grave
in ptinid beetles belly. Can one in
deed picture a wOrthier destiny for the
best beloved music. tones giving an
hours forgetting to the weary, Joy to
the home, light to the student-may-
nap, who knows, to a new Beethoven?
This and more is the gentle mission
of the free music library. Many a
murder" Haweis says. among much
foolishness, has been committed upon
the piano." If not quite. this is near
~ enough true. 1t is no more possible
to play Beethoven sonata and re-
main angry than to watch yourself
slam door six times and go on be-
lieving that this is a cold. cold world: .
The former process. is pleasanter for
the neighbors, that is all. mostly,
that isl But. compute therefore
prophylactic value of one Beethoven
sonata in the Public Library, and
remember that disused collection.
The years harvest since September.
1903, has been fair. After all. II San
Francisco were anything but the
musically 1bered city she is. IL were
perhaps one to be a little proud Of
AS it is. we must do better next year.
This is HOfmann week. The long
loOked-for recitaIs will take place at .
the Alhambra next Tuesday and
Thursday evenings. and Saturday aft
ernOOn. Undoubtedly Hofmann is one
Of the foremost of local pianistic favor
ties, and most worthily. He is an ad-
mirably equipped artist on every side
From the wonder child he has devel-
Oped sanely into the mature virtuoso,
and gives evidence Of further artistic
development at every visit. Mr.. Hof-
mann's programmes / have already
printed. but mention again that the
Beethoven "Waldstein'' Sonata comes
on Tuesday night, the E minor prelude
and fugue of MendelssOhn, the Chopin
minor scherzo and tone fantasy,
Through the Clouds" by Hofmann
himself
The Sousa dates are set for the week
of October Is, beginning with Sunday
evening concert. Twelve concerts will
be given by the March King at the
Alhambra-