Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-18

.
If Omaha is to be a great musical center
-(again we have that unloseable "If)-
some contend that musical critics should
extend the glad hand" and the cheerful
pat to every aspirant to public honour. on
the principle of the old western adage,
Don't shoot the pianist; he is doing his
best" These contend that it is not neees-
sary to know what the composer wrote, or
what he wished to express; IL the people
have taken the t4ouble to learn the actual
notes, that fact should count for some
thing.
Others contend that the duty of a critic
is to famiiiarize himself or herself with
the work in hand so that he may pass d
correct opinion OF the performance of the
same TO his or her readers in this public
press: that the critics duty is to know
something about the work in hand, what
is expected and what is accomplished,
and that a criticism should be printed
which would be accord with musical
students, so that 1t would be an honor
to receive a press comment from all
Omaha papers; and that the standard Of
criticism should be that of the great
critics on the great papers, a standard
accepted and acknowledged by the most
eminent authorities on musical matters.
anu dBdlIs Jill VI Nit AiANAoiNoA IN'RAN
contend that the Tuesday Musical club,
for instance. should be an organic ion
composed Of people who should assemble
to hear series after series Of pupils re-
citals and who believe that the society
should be an exclusive affair where
mutual criticism and adulation should be
developed I'm the presence of a few paying
members.
Others contend that the Tuesday Mu-
steal club should make an excursion TO
Lincoln and find out how the Matinee
Musical club there gets results. They
believe that the aforesaid Tuesday Morn
Ing Musical club should awake from its
slumber long enough to ask itself why
the New York Symphony orchestra, under
Mr., Walter Damrosch. should spend ten
minutes at the Union depot of Omaha
instead of spending at least an evening
at the Boyd theater or the Auditorium
skating rink.
They believe also that the Tuesday
Morning Musical club should grow seri-
Gus once, for a few minutes, and
ask why the great Thomas orchestra
OF Chicago, one OF the very few
really great orchestras of the world,
must perforce pass through omaha on
its way TO Lincoln. instead OF stay
ing in Omaha for a few concerts, pre-
senting programs which would draw Lin
coin music lovers and others usward.
These people think that 'if" the Tues
day Morning Musical coterie would
shake off it's torpor 1t could help very
materially in making Omaha a great
musical center, But, again. there comes
that imperturbabie and omnipresent IF"
-
Some contend that II a stranger should
come here and presents smooth ard credit
BILE scheme for the musical advancement
OF Omaha. such as a violin recital. for
instance q have heard stories about one
that occurred this summer). the business
men should support 1t. Others contend
that the Omaha business men should be
somewhat above the business Of buying
gold bricks" musical or otherwise, and
that they should lend whatever financial
support they ave to those who for many
years have been working for the upbuild-
ing Of the musical fabric Of Omaha. and
who are acknowledged. here and else
where. as those who really represent the
best that there is In Omaha public musical
matters.