Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-14

-HEN one is really lTyink 70 pass
R&124IAN comment upon musical matters,
~ in a way which will be just and
"A fair to all, and sometimes hav-
IN ing his best efforts found fault
- with, It is refreshing to read an
article like the following. which appeared
in the New York Sun some time ago, and
which came to light in a recent annual
spring clearing Of a very topsy-turvy den.
Its writer has som ething to say which
applies most beautifully in Omaha:
Two or three hackneyed assertions come
to the surface of musical discussion about
as regularly as the days of the week come
around. One is to the effect that when a
critic disapproves of the performance Of
your pet prima donna he has dyspepsia.
That would indicate that he listened to
music with his stomach and not with his
brain. OF course people who have no
standards of art, but fashion their likes
and dislike s in obedience to the dictates
of fancy, personal inclination or admira-
ton for a pretty face cannot easily be
brought to understand that there are others
who form their verdicts according to ar
tistic law.
1.-The other assertion-and this is perhaps
the more common of the two-ls that a
critic has wholly condemned or approved
such a performer or such a work when as
a matter of fact he has done neither, but
has contented himself with a simple cata-
logue of merits and defects. He has not
wholly approved nor wholly condemn ed,
but has criticised. He has made dlscrimina-
ton between the good and the evil. This is
a practice which seems to annoy many
readers"
1t is eminently gratifying to note that
the New York readers do not read the
articles of the New York critics any more
carefully than do the local readers of The
Bee read the musical column.
1t has often seemed very strange to me
that when hearing a discussion OF local
criticism, the stress seems to be laid by the
readers on the adverse part of the article.
1t is very seldom that a person really
brings out the favorable points or the good
things which a critic may have written.
Now. the critics have been censured for
their work. and it is but right that they in
turn should be justified in asking the read
ers to be fair to the critics, and to read
everything they say on a subject and quote
1t without distortion. Just recently 1 was
asked why The Bee account of a certain
musical event contained what was ingeni-
ously termed a slam" or some ones work
1t was my pleasant duty to Immediately
take the questioner to task and remind him
of several OF the very warm words of com-
mendation which were used.
Let the critics be treated fairly. They
mean we'll. and they are doing the very best
they can. Some of them have different
viewpoints, but not one of them really de-
sires or intends to do anything which IL
not for the public good.
.
The critics task at best is not a merry
one, He has to meet every day the local
musicians whom he is obliged to pass judg-
ment upon for the local press. and it is not
pleasant to have to say unpleasant things.
But even the unpleasant things are not
said unkindly by any of the critics.
This article is not a defense OF critics and
criticism, but just a little heart-to-heart
talk with the readers of this column, be-
fore the present writer signs his last sig
nature for the present season, to the END
that p~erchance a more intimate feeling may
exist between all those who read and al
those who write the musical fol-
the local press.
? The critic goes TO a performance or an
addition or concert or recital, in probably
the same frame of mind as you; but wher
2 you are at home enjoying a gentle repasl
' or reclining on your couch already lullet
, by the caresses of slumber. he (or she) II
digging away at a serious article wherein
a he has to sum up the salient features Of
I the concert or production which you hav'
Just heard.
. He has been obliged also to listen to 1
!, throughout. with more of a nerve anC
e brain strain than you have, for he mus
o give a balanced criticism, a proper judg
c ment. Oftentimes this Is why your opin
I ion has not coincided with that OF the loca
Y critics the next morning. The fact tina
some times the critics disagree is not Il
be marvelled at. for in conversation man.
e people will have entirely different opinions
a about the same piece Of work. The differ
ence is usually in the viewpoint.
! our local critics. daily and weekly. ar
ofttimes misunderstood on the subject o
Justice. A critic must be just Now jus
: tice. from the critics standpoint is to met
q out the same justice to all There must no
be a separate justice for the rich and 70
the poor. There must not be a separat
Justice for the plaintiff and for the defend
+" ant; there must not be justice for the laz
and Justice for the active.
And so, In musical criticism there mus
not be a separate justice for the one VIII
! does good work and for the one who's
a work is not good What kind OF justic
would that BET
Suppose you take a case, Here Is a SINCE
who, after years Of experience and hard