Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-27

the success of this festival. 1t may be that
the earl of Plymouth will show you where
your section is; perhaps the mayor, with
his chain of office, will direct you as to
your seats, but whoever does pilot you
to your mornings, 1t will be done by gentle
men who make you feel that you are well
come. The magnificent sonorious peal OF
bells from the old cathedral tower Is still
ringing In your ears, when you begin to
hear another sound of music, and 1t Is
from the organ played by DR.. Sinclair of
Hereford cathedral. or DR.. Brewer oil
Gloucester cathedral, and presently you
note this the congregation is rising, and
as you do likewise, you observe q dignified
procession of clergy in Yestments, going up
the Genital aisle to the chancel; the choir
and orchestra are on a raised platform in
the west end; a voice begins to intone the
prayers and responses specially selected
by the Lord Bishop for the occasion; the
huge choir responds; the ecclesiastical part
soon is over and the festival program pro-
ceeds. This Is the method at each session.
Thought for Omaha.
During the days of this great Festival
Of the Three Choirs'' in this interesting
old city, my thoughts have often required
to Omaha and It's possibilities as a festival
musical center. Time WAS, when Omaha
tried to do something worthy along that
line and promised to get into the class Of
cities which should attract serious atten-
ton, keeping step. as II were, in the march
Of progress with such places as Cincin-
natl, Worcester, Ma~ssachusetts), Oberlln,
Milwaukee, Rockford, Lincoln. or Mount
Pleasant. OF late years the fact that
Omaha has been making a standard all it's
own, instead of working on the lines of
progress. has made som of the judicious
grieve. and policy has silenced the voice of
disapproval which should have been heard,
while wholly unprepared and unsteady
weak. presentations have been accepted as
a musical festival by press and public alike.
Some of us in Omaha nave felt this very
keenly and nave spoken Of 1t to others.
We are usually met by the flatteringly
unctous remark hat Omaha must be given
time in which TO Develop statement
hopelessly absurd, because Omaha has
been not only standing still muAicaIly. but
going
Omaha's progress in public musical man
nsrs and matters has been like to hat of
the horses which run In a stage production
OF a chariot race; some work and some
strain. but no movement forward These
AAaNN AhAAAG ~ INV 80 4 A9Nb -
under the spell Of wonderful music in this
stately and beautiful cathedral; they are
not the emanations of a cToss-grsined
spirit which is peevish. but the plain,
simple, straightforward expression OF a
pitiable and unwelcome fact. whose truth
has come home to me under the gentle In
fluence OF the most harmonious atmosphere
and amid surroundings which make one
feel that It is wicked TO temporize or to
keep silent about wrong conditions Of must
| cal health, when one stops to contemplate
the tremendous influence and possibilities
OF a sincere and earnest musical endeavoT
] Musicians and music lovers must waken &c
the truth that their own interests are, In
the end. only served by their unflinching
loyalty to the best aud only the pest IT
the art, and by their frown and d~isapproval
Of false standards. Whethe- Omaha IL
broad-mindeI enough to accept this and
act accordingly rema ms to he seen.
Great Musical Possibilities
Omaha has as great musical possibilities
SIS u has prospects commercial; but Omaha
ms, begin to be more selectiye and less
! eager TO take everything that presents IL.
se!f. Omaha has no great cathedral suol
as Worcester has, and that need not mat
ter. for one noted critic says OF thesS
three choir festivals The programs ant
the character OF some OF the performance
have deepened the feeling that II these fes-
rivals wish 10 play any real part in this
musical life OF the country they must bTeai