New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-08-26
MUSIC STUDY.
Nesc- FORKS Musical atmosphere Is
an Inspiration.

OF music is generally known and widely ad-
nitted. That it is not universally admitted is
due to the selfshness of teachers in cities and
towns where the something in question is not to
be had. 1t is opportunity to hear good music in
ali its forms 1t is much more necessary that
one who wishes to become a musician should
live in musical atmosphere than that one who
wants 10 become a painter should see good pict-
ures- Students of the plastic arts have models
in nature on which they can fashion their prod
ucts; music students have nothing of the kind.
They must have exemplars in their art. 1t is
all one whether they wish to become composers
or singers or players upon Instruments; it is
only upon good models that they form cor
rect tastes build sound judgments and feed the
affections which are necessary to artistic develop
ment. There is much mystery about the birth
and growth of musical talent. but the stories
that are written about prodigious violinists
springing up in wilderness and confounding
cognoscenti with their self-acquired skill are as
nonsensical as the poets hyperbole that heard
melodies are sweet but those unheard are
sweater" Unheard melodies nothing, and
music composed according to rules learned from
books but never tested by actual performance
is generally dry science and mathematics. The
greatest composers that ever lived have tested
their music by It's effect upon them while hear
ing it. 1t is because Of this that we read of
Richard Wagner sending his score of "Lohen-
grim to List at Weimar because the notes
looked to him so piteously pleading for utter
anoe, and risking arrest a political refugee in
order that he might himself hear them with
something more than his mental ear.
But music is costly luxury and its large and
varied cultivation is possible only in museums
and wealthy communities. If would hear
grand opera grandly performed he must go to
a city where the opera is an institution so gem
erously subventioned by private wealth and
public patronage as to make the engagement of
fre opponents of the operate art possible and
TO provide the accessories which they also re-
qUre in the way of scenic adornment and or
chestral help. If wishes to fit himself to
become a church musician he must go to a city
where there are many churches and where wor-
ship music is cultivated in its many varied and
beautiful forms. If one wishes to sing he must
hear good singing; to play the violin or piano.
forte we'll he must hear good violinists and plan
s5ts, not once or twice in a season. when timer
mt artists happen to pause for a concert or two
III his city, town or village. but with sufficient
frequency that the artists art may become ia
miliar in the ear, be weighed and Judged and
measured-its secrets learned. One of New
YOrks music schools has recently held forth the
advantages which the city affords in respect of
this species of training and instruction and has
made arrangements for the admission of its stu
oentS to the rehearsals of the principal orches-
tral ana choral organizations Of the city. ''By
this MEANS" says the prospectus of the school
in question, familiarity with the masterpieces
OF the greatest composers will be gained and
also familiarity with the practical methods OF
conductors and players. The musical activities
OF NeW-York City are many times greater than
thcse OF any other city in the country and rank
with those of the three or four musical ca nitaIs
OF europe For seventeen weeks in the autumn
WINTER and spring there viii be operate per
formances almost daily at the MetropoIitan On
era House. In which some of the most eminent
..nsers IN the world will take part, the concerts
IN which an orchestra will participate win nnm-
her at least hundred during the period called
the season Grom November till May) and
mere VIII be scores of concerts and recitals of
all kinds. Judicious employment of such agen
music III
As yet am speaking only of the musical ac
INVITES which provide what is called the artistic
atmosphere of the metropolis and il NAV he
well TO pursue the subject bit further and in
detail What is the nature of the offerings of
the musical institutions of New-York9 Its last
season of opera far exceeded that of Iondon
both in variety and extent 1t had q larger
Wagnerian repertory than even the German
capitals. In no other opera house in the world
are operas given in the language for which they
were Written-Italan operas in Italian French
operas in French, German operas in German
French is the language of all operas in Paris
HOW much music loses by a translation of the
words for which it written even a tvro
IN opera going must have felt. All students of
singing are or necessity students of the Ian
Eua%es and here exemplars are necessary In
the field of orchestral music there are concerts
of the highest order by the Philharmonic So
C1ety, with its band numbering from ninety to
one hundred and ten, conducted by the leading
musicians of Europe-the Russian Safonoff
the rrenchman Colonne, the German Vein
Gartaor, and so on. Its programmes are matched
by those of the Boston Symphony Orchestra I'M
der Ir. Gericke, which pays monthly visit 10
New-York, giving fifteen concerts in the two