Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-13

T~N HE following editorial from the
Chicago Record-Herald speaks
for itself. Somebody has cried
1fI8tl9Nl out against the cut and dried
- programs which are compiled by
the majority Of people and organizations.
And yet, upon reflection, a great many
listeners seem to want to hear the same
old things to the end of time-witness our
English opera season, when the votes were
for "Lohengrin," "Tannhauser" and Car
men, Why indeed, can we not have a
little love OF novelty In our makeup? This
article Is plea for variety and some of
the old new compositions" also recogni-
ton for many lesser lights who have never
theless written charmingly:
CONCERTS AND PROGRAM MAKING.
II appears that at the end of June the
pon concert season, which had opened with
1Ssssy prospect or success, ana that the
peILoTmers and their managers were
eIf1uy puzzled and disposed to blame the
public What has happened in London has
repeatedly occurred In American musical
tteh,fHIrs, &c efI ana the phenomenon is Of interest
The explanation offered by the leading
fTiles OF the Eritish h capt a. is not n wv,
Is not, tney 1ay, that tn concert-goers
are hckle ana capricious, or tnat tneir
satisbnasd LOT mn music is quickly and easily
glvers repel true lovers of music by their
programs; The latter do not want arti-
nclal, tedious, long-winded compositiOns
hhor can lhey get much pleasure out OF the
hackneyed popular pieces which are
played and sang ad nauseum
Ihere Is quantity or light music in
existence says the critic OF the London
truth, IRON the pens OF the bigger COM
PoseEs Mhlch Is usually ignored. Think
too, OF the charming music by the lesser
men, which never gets hearing. In a
WORD, there Is need of more variety, more
progrems.' Thus "a single movSmsnt :
from long classical works would often be
astensd to with pleasure by those who
Ions" 'OO
Mr. Runeiman. the severe and somewhat
peIaooNoal music critic OF The Saturday
ReVieW, says In his own extravagant way
ihAt everlasungly to play the same things
not the way TO attract the public. IL
hSrS rs no music written nowadays did
not Purcell. Bach, Beethoven and Mozart
leave thousand beautiful things that one
can ever hear In a concert hall?
Let us have the new or the unfamiliar old -
what concert goer has not said this 10
hiInseH again and again? The concert and
recital programs especially the latter,
Almost look stereotyped. Certain favorite
s9mposiuons are sure to be there, and In
one, ought TO like. Certain Wagner and
Tsehaikowsh selections have been so over
woTked that the music lover who used 10
leel that ne could walk miles TO hear them
would now walk miles not to hear them.
ghe same Is true OF some Chopin and
sehlmann and Schubert compositions,
NOW, the nnest musical work, like the
nnest poem, will lose It's fascination and
interest II repeated to the point OF safety
ana music lovers, like others require now
city and freshness and stimulation. Pro-
gram making Is an art, but while not every
conductor or player can become a master
IN II, every one can attend TO its simplest
principles and endeavor TO avoid the stale
and haokneyed things as we'll as the unin-
spired, wearisome works that have nothing
but form" to recommend them. People
go 70 concerts not merely to admire form
but to enjoy beauty and melody and artistic
expression OF sentiment and emotion.
A conservatory OF music, with Mr.. VIII
cEsk at the head. would indeed be a hnS
thing for Omaha. Mr.. Wilczek is a man OF
unqvestioned ability and genius; his pres
ence would be felt IN a most satisfactory
way. II Is doubtful whether the engaginl
Of wholly foreign talent would be advisabl,
OF fair in the makeup OF the list OF in
struetors There are a few musicians nov
teaching In the city who might II thel
could be prevailed upon to give up thei
private classes nh the other vacancies. I
q policy 70 cater a little TO local feeling
Nine. Melba arranged a farewell bensh