Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21

E~ air; the breath OF summer,
though moist with weeping, is
- sufficiently warm to entice one
HMNNrWI away from the studio; pupils
- are beginning to seek other
places wherein to spend the days and
nights of summertime. In short, the music
critic OF The Bee starts today on a three
months vacation. If during the vacation
he should hear anything which might be
of special interest TO the readers of TIL
Bee he will not fail to pass the news of it
along 20 Omaha as quickly as possible.
%
The remark was made to the writer some
days ago. Everyone has a right to his
own opinion, has he not?' And the ques-
ton was asked in such a sincere and seri-
GUS way that 1t set him thinking. At first
thought, one would be inclined, even COM
PEELED, tc answer in the affirmative. But
after mature reflection the question seemed
to grow more and more In need OF the
question mark. Has one really a right to
his own opinion?
Suppose 1 have an opinion that a certain
picture is very good art, that the painting
Is good ard the design we'll wrought out,
am ] Justified in holding to that opinion
when the opinion OF one who knows better
than I do is opposite to mine?
Suppose 1 have All opinion that a certain
person sings well OF a certain player plays
wei, whereas one who knows better than
4 do tells me that the singing was really
not UP to standard, and that the playing
was very poor indeed have I a right to
keep that opinion?
Now this little query kept me thinking
70: sone time, and the more I thought
about it. the more interesting the problem
grew.
As a rule, when one says, "I have a right
to my opinion" 1t is said with an air OF
tnality. as much as to say, you may
have yours but ! I'M right; let each have
his cwn opinion And certainly one has
a right TO his own opinion: II he wishes to
hold an erroneous one he surely has a
right to that, but the trouble is, that he
seldom thinks his or in'on al erroneous one.
On OF the best definitions Of opinion
in Webster's dictionary is this: "Belief
stronger than impression. less strong than
positive knowledge" Another definition
is: "A notion or conviction founded on
probable evidence"
One who wants a right TO an opinion
should therefore be careful to found IL on
probable evidence. It should not be merely
an impression, but 1t should be a belief
with a basis.
In musical conversation we very seldom
hear opinions; we hear people give their
Impressions. their notions. A dear friend
OF mine says that a whole lot of people
think they have ideas" when they have
really nothing but motions" It is very
aptly put. And 1t is very true.
The greatest pleasure in listening to
music is the ability to discern. Would
that each auditor were a critic, who would
really take the trouble to form an opinion.
Much of the harm caused to singers and
players when starting in their career il
the lack of opinion" and the abundance
Of Impressions" the lack of well founded
"convictiop'' and the abundance Of mo.
lions" II these dear people would sincerely
try to form an opinion Of their work and
consult those who are really able to form
an opinion IL would save a great deal OF
trouble later on.
As I write 1 am reminded of the many
promising young musicians who hav,
lapsed into mediocrity and stayed there
A cases which have come under the writer
personal knowledge during the last ffteeI
years, and all because they did not TAX,
the trouble to ascertain whether the opin
ion they had land had a perfect right 4
, have were really an opinion, or whethe
It was only a notion.
.
| Last week / had something 20 say abou
, critics and criticising in this column
4 Sometimes 1 think that the cause o
E music would be very greatly advanced l
A there were no music critics. IL is S
= hard TO keep from writing ones '1mpres
! sions." especially after an opera or con
cert, when the time is short and the pres
, is hungry. and when first editions" ar
waiting for copy" A great injustice
may be done TO real artistic merit b
. over-praising other things under the fore
of first impression, which might be mod
: fled after. mature elaboration. Man
> criticisms are written by the best know
: people which are really only notions
u about a performance. or impressions" r.
: ceived under favorable or unfavorable cor
: ditiOns.
y Criticism is a great thing II there is
i standard. But IL there is no establishe
! standard to which all must square then
s selves and their work. criticism is a daT
gerous menace TO musical progress-it
n worse than dangerous; II Is completed
antagOnistic to the true progress OF mus
and TO its development in any communit,
without a standard Il Is utterly imposs
BILE 70 form an Opinion genius
opinion"
just one more thought anent having n
/" right to ones W opinion. The right