The Washington herald., 1907-05-20
MUSIC IN AMERICA
BY FREDERIC j. HASKIN
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

During the past season this country
spent over $10,0O0.O00 for first-class music
alone. How many millions more were
spent on comic operas, musical comedies.
and like attractions has not been reck-
oned OF the 100000, more than one
third was spent at two New York opera
houses, the Metropolitan and the Man
haitian. The four hundred" set the craze
for grand opera not so much because
they know or appreciate good music. but
because the boxes always offer such ad-
mirable vantage ground for the display
Of jewels and Paris gowns. The would-be
society folk must follow the lead, and
soon the houses are almost filed, leaving
only occasional chairs here and there for
real music lovers.
The percentage Of real music lovers is
small. Less than 100000 people out OF
our S0,Ooo.0o0 population spent the $1O0O0,
90 last season. Yet with so small per
centage asking it. America had last year
the best musical attractions of the world,
the willy manager and the good American
dollar so depopulating the music world OF
Europe that il is said not a dozen good
artists were left there.
While the control of music in America
is undoubtedly German, the advertising
methods are purely American, and the
best artists Of the world owe their success
to the art and use it for all it is worth.
Paderewski and Kubelik have been adver-
tised after the most extrayagant fashion,
and their press agents have set pace
that has caused many others to give up
in despair. It is claimed that PadeUewski
is not nearly so true an artist as Lhevine.
d'Albert. Teresa CarrenO, Busoni, or
Fanny Bloomfield Zeisler. yet he received
in his last season 5000 for each two-hour
concert. with an additional S25000 from a
certain piano firm for using its instru
ment exclusively. His seven spring re-
citals brought him $4,000. or S3,2S5 an
hour Both he and Kubelik were made
popular idols by advertising. so the more
conservative critics affirm. while others
Of equal or greater ability suffered by
comparison.
Aioriz Rosenthal. who is noted for "his
tremendous technique and lack Of poetry,
was imported by & rival piano house 10
the one which Paderewski so obiigingly
advertised. Ii was a move TO subsidize
PaderewsH, and the FIRMS success was
evidenced by the fact that the thrifty
Pole was soon advocating the merits of
the new instrument as valiantly as he had
D.. sfHr
is located in Warsaw. Poland. and it was
built by the money that Paderewski
earned on his concert tours in the United
States
The pay Of successful musicians is a
encouragement 10 the ambitious
Melba receives $3.50 for each
appearance: Sembrich. 5000: Eames. the
net receipts; Nordica. $780, and schu-
one Of the most popular
women on the American stage, $3.50 It
IS not strange that the knowledge Of this
causes so many girls with voices to aspire
20 the same lucrative places. No wonder
that when Mr.. Savage advertised for
chorus girls in "Parsifal" loo applicants
responded. They all had dreams Of the
days when they might he queens Of song.
In comparison with the income from other
professions the salary of the occasional
successful singer seems unbelievable For
example I'm +57 American cities the teach
7rs receive from 500 TO $500 each per year
The expense Of preparation for a mu-
steal career is enormous. and the most of
the money spent on musical educa-
tions falls into foreign Golfers. Ber-
lin. which is justly called the musical
center of the world. has 12j musical
schools, and the American pupils in these
Institutions outnumber every other ma
tionaHty, except the German. Every year
we send over about $500 students whose
total annual expenditures are estimated
% be from 100000 70 100000 When If /
is considered that Berlin is only one Of
many musical Centers in Europe 10 which
We send scholars, IL will be seen that our
national outlay in this respect is enor-
nous. Dudley Buck is authority for the
that nobody is justified in TAX
ing up the study Of music with the idea
Of going into it professionally unless he
has money enough 20 pay all expenses. /
a prominent New York barytone has al /
ready spent $4,000 on his voice, and is
still spending and studying. The expense /
Of a musical education is usually from |
1850 to S5.lo0. and il means ceaseless !
practice, study. and discouraging work.
The artist who loves home and art
equally has a trying time. The world |
calls. the plaUdits are sweet. the money
good TO have. and yet the home life calls, |
too and is hard to resist Nine. Zeisler /
most artistic Of woman piansts. is de- |
voted 10 her home and her children /
After a most exhausting concert tour she |
will invariably catch the first train home /
ward. and during her first great success !
In Berlin she alternately wept over her
little sons letters and rebelied against the /
art that held her Ia bondage Nine |
is a notable home-lOver /
recent magazine pictures showing ner /
with her stalwart sons grouped around |
her, or busy in her kitchen like any other |
genial haus-frau.
II was half a century ago that William |
Mason went 10 Bremen 10 study and then
began teaching in America He returned
to he the guide director. and promoter
Of musical concerts. A realization of his |
hopes may be found to-day I'm the famous
lrchestras Of Boston. Chicago. New York.
and Philadelphia. Festivals
have become a regular institution and /
have more than once transcribed tho
usual ideas of artistic work with inter
ssting results. The most stupeadous
festivals ever undertaken were those
given by Patrick s. Gilmore i'm Boston in
1850 and 1872 The first Of these Jubilee
-horUses had 1000 voices, with an or
'hestra OF 10" pieces. The ambitious di-
rector doubled this number I'm the next
festival, and introduced many novelties.
Artillery nunrtnatrl rranu Of th. ~, /