The San Francisco call., 1909-05-09
FOR
AMERICAN MUSIC
Noted Orchestra Leader De-
Clares National School of Har=
mOny Imperative Necessity
Modest AItschuIer Says Foreign
Musical Education Destroys
individuality
BY WALTER ANTHONY

Worthington Loomis. nor yet from the
deliberate patriotism Of Homer Nor
ris, shall come the American song.
Edgar stillman- Keney's wonderful alb
stractions and 8IacDowers 'tone pic
lures on wiesbaden canvas win not
develop a national type of music. But
from beneath; out of the popular mu-
sic-from George Cohan. for instance
is TO come the impulse and energy that
viii make music which the world will
recognize as printed by Uncle sam.
That is what Modest Altschuler thinks
and says about as.
The director of the Russian sym
phony orchestra, who has been spread
ing the gospel of Slav music in Amer
ica is the most patriotic man I've met
since George Washington Jr." was at
Novelty theater Yet his ideas
a5out the development of a national
school of music are convincing and
sane.
There was Glinka. for instance" he
said. "ie did not give TO Russia the
concentrated essence Of French music
or German music or Italian. Seventy
five years ago my country was like
This is. It was dominated entirely by
foreign Influences. Even Anton Rubin
stein and his brother Leopold wero
unable. later. to affect the music of
the country much. though Anton is
much beloved by my people and was
sweet singer Of true melodies But it
was not out of the trained and cul-
cured brains of thS Saristocrat that Rus
STA received its real music Il was
from the humble folksong- of the
home. ont of the heart Of the people
that the music really came and
Gluka was the one TO hear those
grooming. minor songs. Tt was ne that
gathered the flowers from the wayside
and wreathed them into form and
beauty. Die heard the mother singing
to her babe: DE heard the toiIer hum
ming at n.S work, he caught the spirit
of THE people aud with his skill to
labor over them he made great music
Russian music"
Thai is about what Altschuler said
ir his animated chat with me.
Altsohuier believes in his theories:
H. believes in himself He has the air
a+ success about him. though his name
5Iacesr- is never a misnomer He is
.rz modest and he does not boast,
t.o-ea he has received high honors
'rom the little white father by the
Neea for his work in America in be-
l.lf OF R1ssian art
, Altsel.cler has been in this country
~ years. He says he has adopted it
permanenJy. He says it reminds him
of EuSsia-because it is great in its
Reaches. and infinitely great in its stn
undeveloped resources.
America reminds me OF Russia" he
said. 1T is so wonderful It's re-
sources have hardly been. scratched. 1
was struck with this on my first trip
west When we left Kansas city on
our way here this season I said to my
self. This is like Russia 1T viii be
great in art as well as in substantial
things. Tt is like Russia was IS years
ago in art Russia. in enterprise, viii
be ike this IS years hence.
81 tell you what you need. You
need a national conservatory school
Of music subsidized by the government.
where the poor boy from the farm, the
mechanics son and laborer's child may
them the touch of the soil They can
not go to Europe. It costs too much.
But they could struggle along in a
subventioned institution. That is
where music viii spring, national music
American music. Now I wish that
man like Walter Damroseh, with the
brains, the energy and the ability.
would get to work on this plant! But
no. Your talented boys either stay at
home or are indiferently taught be-
cause they can not afford superior
training. or, if they can afford it. they
} *. abroad after getting the best you
have here TO give them and then re-
turn saturated with the idiom Of Ger
many or full Of the pretty and refined
tricks Of the French school Of tone
Nationaism is stamped out, and indi-
viduality gives place TO acquired graces.
You can listen TO the works of your
best composers and tell, even if you do
not know it. from what country their
art comes. The stream Of German in
duence succeeded the Italian influence.
Just now you are entertained by the
French school, and the Russian is af-
fecting your methods somewhat It
is with you as il was with us-you are
getting your music stamped imported
Until Russia had its imperial con-
servatory, inspired by the fact that
Glinka had discovered native music
worth conserving, we brought our mu-
sic over the borders. There was an>ar-
tistic invasion from France and Italy
and Germany. But then came Glinka
spd with his music of the people he
aroused Russia to the realization that
here at home there was a foundation
for q splendid artistic future Push
kin arose and pointed the way to