The San Francisco call., 1909-08-16
CALLS R[DWOODS
TRUE INSPIRATION
Arthur Farwell Discourses Upon
Ethical Value OF Bohemian
Clubs Summer Jinks
Predicts Decadence of Music OF
Buck Class and an Improved
Popular Form

Il have no hesitancy in saying that
the redwood grove music dramas repre-
sent the greatest single art movement
Of today is the opinion of Arthur Far
we'll anent the serious aspect of the
Bohemian club jinks. Farwell is the
founder of the American music society
and first among the young composers
who are trying to uplift music culture
in this country. He is also a writer.
having crossed the continent under a
commission from Musical America TO
tell the rest of the country, particu-
larly the east, what California is doing
for art.
1t is impossible to criticise a thing
like that he said Under the infu-
ence of the redwoods, one simply yields.
1t is religion. OF course, when it is
all over, 1 can look back and analyze.
In his music, Sabin has caught the
idlom of the Celt in a wonderful man
ner. 1t is in his blood, for he is of
Celtic descent. Professor stephens
book lends itself both to Celtic and
ecclesiastical music, and in the latter,
of course, Sabin has had a life's train
ing"
DEFENDS INDIAN MELODIES
Farwell regards it as unfortunate
that his own work in collecting ano
harmonizing the melodies of the south
west Indians should be eternally
thrown up" to him by those who do
not understand his aims. He does not
expect an American school of music to
spring from Indian harmonies, and, in
deed, opposes the very idea of School"
with its hardening traditions In
country of divergent tendencies, such
as this, where the people run to indi-
vidualism, he does not believe a set
art forum can develop, were it desir-
able. AT the same time the spirit of
the people will be reflected In its music.
On this point Farwell was asked how
he expects this new movement to work
MacDowell, the greatest and most orig
1naf of American composers, is known
only to the cultured class of society,
while every one knows Sousa and his
marches. AS the country is without
folk music, in what way can the popu-
lar taste be elevated above the crude
but energetic stuff turned out by com
posers far below the high Sousa stand
ard, particularly the ballad mongers?
I'VE are not trying to force high
class music on uneducated taste" Far
well answered. There is a spirit be-
x.
You observe how girl who has been
well trained plays the popular things
Of the day. She plays her Beethoven
as it should be played, but when she
picks up a thing every one whistles,
she beats 1T out harshly and mechan-
ically, without the least charm. That
is the point at issue. She should bring
out the best that is in the low forms of
music. The taste of the masses is be-
coming less crude year by year, as the
higher music reacts upon the compos-
ers of the lower
SHOULD FOLLOW MASTERS
Above all, we should not try to make
Germans or Italians, or try by stolid
effort to mold ourselves in other
forms we have our own idiom and
should speak it. We may follow GER
tain masters, but we should use him
as guide. II a composer is a. fol-
lower of Brahms, he may write as such,
yet infuse quality of his own into the
work"
Farwell was asked whether COM
posers of the Dudley Buck class are
likely to leave any mark on American
music.
Il should say a speedy oblivion
awaits the composers of the insipid
music once so popular" he replied. at
is still rendered in certain churches.
but no great music can grow out of
the churches where Buck is popular.
There is no inspiring infiuene there to
make great music. In the grove-there
,ou find religion
Farwell will attend a reception to be
given him by the Adelphian women's
club of Alameda at Walnut street and