The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1908-01-15

This evening at the Pavilion the A.
G. String Quartette will give the Sec
ond of It's series of four Chamber con.
certs. The Republican commends to
its readers the following criticism OF
1.-THE Portal" made after the first
concert. The Portal says:
Logan has something to be justly
proud Of! The appearance Of the
Agricultural String quartette is a
decided and important factor for civic
improvement and education not only
in Logan but in the state at large,
To be sure, after the first perform
ance considerable criticism was ex.
pressed abont the way the quartette
had overshot the mark in rendering q
kind OF music too classical for the
audience. But the criticism was too
hasty, because 1t tacitly implied that
this series of Chamber Concerts is
meant to be popular and money.mak-
ing. Onlythe direct opposite is true;
these concerts are purely educational,
as Director G, w. Thatcher is careful
to explain. II educational, then, the
concerts must all take place before
even an approximately just criticism
Is possible. Mr.. Thatcher asks only
for reasonable amount OF patience
and suspension Of judgment until his
practical theory has a fair trial, that
Is, II people hear enough OF string
quartette, classical music, they will
come to prefer 1t to the trashy popular
or seml-classical. Hence the only pro.
per attitude now is to get at the heart
Of the music offering itself through.
out the winter to the public. The
music is indeed classical, and the
word classical" seems to be q kind Of
bugaboo. But what is classical music,
what are its charms, what right has
it to be heard by people In their right
senses? The genuine classical com.
posers were Bach, Handel, Mozart,
Brahms, Beethoven and Haydn. Their
work represents a distinct kind of
musical composition, distinct because
Of its elegance OF foim, symmetry,
simplicity, clearness Of outline, per.
feccion of development" This music
builds its climaxes with sure founda.
tion and regular growth; it Is definite
and phrases with care, hence 1t Is
limited to some degree, because of its
great fondness for accords in contrast
with fondness for discords used arts.
tically by the opposite or Romantic"
composers. If there is a certain cold.
ness and severity about classical mus.
ic, IL is truly majestic and impressive
rejoicing In harmonious complete.
ness"
Haydn, for instance, illustrates now
the classical writer's did not allow
their own feelings and moods to infiu.
ence their obedience to the recognized
laws Of musical composition. 1.-THE
substance OF all Of Haydn's best work
Is the folk.music OF the Croatians, u
branch OF the Slavic race; its gayety,
elasticity and righteousness are Slavic
rather than Haydnlsh, that is, Haydn
In working up the music Of his fellow.
cOuntrymen, refused to work into IL
his own particular ideas and emotions.
But why have all these intricate, con.
fusing things, like regular intervals,
progressive climaxes, different melo.
dies, themes and cOunter-themes re.
lated to each other In mathematical
precision, why have all these different
parts TO musical works which seem
only to steal away the real pleasure
giving charm Of music?
All real music, all genuinely musical
compositions illustrate or embody the
life of a musical idea, That Is, the
composer has in his mind very SIM
pie theme Of, say, two or three notes.
He wishes TO give this the variety and
completely Of life; hence this simple
primary theme is worked up into diff
ferent rythms musical times), into
different keys musical moods and
feelings) into different situations like
a dance (menuetto) or moment of
cont on, nla ion (SloW pnusic apdaptoN