Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-14

and other exercises In nonor Oh EuWdru u
MacDowell. 1t was the intention OF the
university authorities In the dedication OF
this building to general university pur-
poses to mark new relation between
the state university and the world of
musical education. In furthering this
intention plans were laid to make the
exercises tribute to the work of the
greatest American composer, to be Sc
lected by the vote of the musicians and
music teachers of the country. That
choice fell upon Edward MacDowen, to
whom a memorial tablet has been placed
in the new building.
The dedication of the new auditorium
of the Illinois state university seems to
me to have beer a most unusual event,
hecauses not only Is Br. Blackalrs 8
building original In design and beautiful
in proportion, but the two days musical
festival which followed being devoted
to Edward MacDowells music, gave the
whole affair national significance. was
much struck with the dedication speech
by President James, for he contrived to
| indicate not merely the nobility OF his
own purpose in thus placing tablet to
| MacDowell upon the walls of this new
| building, but also to convey to his hear
ers sense of it's historic Importance
The buildings mission was very nobly
|
Dowell's music (and his friend for many
years., the musical program which fol-
| lowed was fresh revelation of the grow
| ing power of the masters fame Never
before In this country has anything like
the same number and variety of his COM
positions been performed on single oc-
casion. By means of artists brought
from the larger musical centers. and
especially through the fundamentally of
-soIr 1I xh.,
Thomas orchestra, there was put before
the people of this inland town a more
representative program of MacDowell's Is
music than has ever been given, so far
ss know, in any American city. N. j.
Corey in his illustrated lecture on the
Eroica sonata, and Miss Sibyl Sammis,
with her exquisite rendering of Mac
DowelPs songs, one or two of them not
commonly sung, gave even those who
knew MacDowell's music fairly well a
fresh sensation of its wide scope as well
as%of it's imaginative power. Between the
simple yet appealing phrases of 1.-The
Deserted Farm" as played by Miss
Floyd and the final movement OF the
Eroica sonata as interpreted by Mr..
Corey on the second evening, the wide
range of MacDowells work was revealed.
So, too, in the case of the program given
by the Thomas orchestra. From Opus
Indian Suite" the orchestra carried the
audience with wonder and delight, and
William H. Sherwood, the veteran plan
ist in his rendition OF the First Con-
certo," interpreted vividly the young
MacDowell's brilliant first attempt at the
larger piano composition. Between these
the symphonic poem, "Launcelot and
Elaine.'' also one of the masters youth
full productions, was given the most
Inc hy T.
Stock.
So it seems to me both a prophecy and
n fulfillment of MacDowe.ls work that
this great university In a small Inland
town should make public and splendid
recognition of a composer so high In his
locals. so difficult OF Interpretation. This
high honor was due in large measure
to President James and those who worked
with him. but the enthusiasm with which
the music was received, the hearty ana
spontaneous applause with which each
rumber was greeted, was revelation to
me of the power which MacDowell' S
music is abe to exert even over an
audience not specially informed concern
ing his ideals.
In short it proved to me that his music
is much more popular than even MS
friends have supposed. 1t needs sympa-
tbetic Interpretation, as do all subtle ana
beaUt11ul WORKS OF art. II IL q hivob 5ioN
flying thing to see a poet and idealist,
dreamer, honored in this appropriate way
by an institution of the scope and power
of the Illinois state university.
Genius, like the silver~soup ladle ana
the family coffee pot may be insured
If YOU are lucky enough to be Won
derful pianist you can estimate your
little finger. at a big figure and get
good money when you are unable 10
daily with the ivory white keys. sup
nose YOU are dancer and some rude,
cumbersome, galloping creature steps
on your toe, simply sit down and foid
your hands and think of the things that
will be bought by the big check that
the insurance company is so dellghteo
to make out in your name.
Among the curiosities in insurance
policies are those issued to great art
lists. who pay immense premiums to
insure against accident to hands, eyes,
feet and throats. Kubelik's right hand
is insured for $4,000, and for this he
pays a premium of $500 year. II
Kubelik's hand were to be disabled
there is no telling what Kubelik might
suffer, he being unqualified for the or
binary job of bill collector or any
lesser role than that which he now
occupies His policy also reads to the
effect that if an accident to his hand
prevents him from fulfilling an en-