Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-08-24
SOUSA ON "CANNED MUsIC."

for September, John Philip Sousa. the March king. strikes from the shoulder at automatic music. He says. in part:
 Sweeping across the country with the speed of transient fashion In slang or Panama hats. political wnr cries or popular novels comes now the mechanical device to sing for us a song or play for us plano, in substi- ute for human skill, intelligence, and soul. 7
 ,'There are more pianos, violins. guitars. mandolns, and banjOs among the working classes of Amer ica than in all the rest of the world. and the presence of these instruments in the homes has giyen employment to enormous number of teachers who have patiently taught the children and inculcated love for music throughout the various communities.
 Right here is the menace in ma chine-made music. The first rift in the lute has appeared. The cheaper of these instruments of the home are no longer being purchased as former ly. and all because the automatic music devices are usurping their places. e.t ..sg
 And what Is the result? The child becomes indifferent to practice, for when music can be heard in the homes without the labor of study and close application. and without the slow process of acquiring a technic. | 1t will be simply question of time when the amateur disappears entire | ly. and with him host of vocal and instrumental teachers. who will be without field or calling.
 "A recent writer in the London | Spectator believes that the exclama- ton of the little boy who rushed into his mothers room with the appeal: | Q mamma. come into the drawing room: there Is man in there playing the piano with his hands, is far less l extravagant than many similar ex- curslons into the domain of humorous and human prophecy. He states from observation. that music has been steadily declining in Great Britain ns a factor in domestic life. and that the introduction of mnchine-nade music into the household is largely helping to assist in the change.
 Under such conditions the tide of amateurism cannot but recetie. until there will he left only the mechanical device and the professional executant. Singing will no longer be fine ac- complishment: vocal exercises. so im- portant a factor In the curriculum of physical culture. will he ont of vogue,
 "Then what of the national throat? Will if not weaken: What of the na- tioual chest! VIII it not shrink?
 When q mother can turn on the nhonograph with the same ease that she applies tO the electric light. will she croon her baby to Slumher with sweet Iuliahys. or will the Infant be put t0 sleep by maehineryf
 "The country band. with It's ener- xetic rerditions. Us loyal support by local merchants. it's benefit concerts. haui wagon. gay uniforms. state tournaments and the attendant pride and gayciy. Is apparently doomed to vanish in the general assault or per- sonaiity in music.
 "In flle prospective scheme of me rbauical music we shall sec msn and maiden iIi a IigiIi canoe under the summer moon upon an AdirDndark lake with a gramaphone caroiinc love songs frssn amisiships. The Spanish cavalier muSt aI,anilon his guitar and sarenasi., his heiovesl with a phOnO- graph under his ar-n.
 Shall We not exper. that when the nation once mere sounds it's call to srHns auJ tie gallant regiment marriBes forth. there will Ise no ma- jestie drum nsajJ-. na serriei ranks of S0Rorsus troabones. no Giitterinr array of b-sss. nO rolling Of druEnss In their sfe7i win be a huge yhono- graph froHutei on q 1sO IT. p- auto nloi,iIe. grinding out The 6siri Left Behipd Ne-. Dixie and The Starr and Strirsc< Forever
 How the soldiers' boeons win