Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-13

and to those who live in apartment houses
and have no flowers and you add your
share to the worlds comfort.
But there seems to be very little Of that
spirit among people, when 1t comes to
music. We are dazed by the 'virtuoso'
and If we cannot be virtuoso we won't
be anything. Absurd
Take IT. even in other things such as a
life work. Here is a young medical stu
dent He does not usually take UP his
work with the idea that IL he cannot be
the greatest surgeon or doctor in the world
he will not work at all: II he cannot prac-
tise in New York, or Boston, or Vienna,
or Parts, or Berlin, he will not take the
trouble to practise, or to become a doctor
at all.
He usually goes at his work to get his
degree, and when he has graduated he
will be content to go to even a smaller
town and begin to practise his profession,
to alleviate distress, and to help mankind.
But not so in music. How many times
has the teacher said to the young student
Of singing, What is your ambition? And
received the answer Il want to be a great
prima donna, Grand Opera for me-" And
nothing short OF a national or international
reputation win DO
Now 1t is all very we'll to hitch your
wagon to a star" IL your wagon has "rls-
ing qualities, and your hitching-st are
long enoughl
"A trolley-wire is within easier reach!
And IL you keep your trolley on the wire
you may land somewhere.
Many promising young wagon has been
wrecked because it did not get hitched to
good working healthy young horse
Virtuosity is very largely technique run
to seed. And the alteration Of It sup
presses general musical development. OF
healthy nature. in the Individual and
through that, in the general public.
.
An organization OF music-lovers for their
own development working out'' their own
musical problems, and their own abilities,
would be a great thing for any community.
And many a tired business man and many
weary lawyer, and overtaxed doctor, and
discouraged teacher and lonely clerk. and
unentertalned laboring-man would gain
undreamed-of happiness and refreshment
and enjoyment from the culture and devel-
opment OF the little patch" Of musical
talent In his makeup.
-
Pardon a personal note for the moment.
AS l write this, am thinking of my own
friends who are gifted with musical tastes
and incllnations who might be of great mu-
tual benefit IL they could be banded to-
gether in club such as have mentioned: 4:
II there could be the beginning of a move
ment to Make your own music" and a
getting-away-from the glorification Of vlr-
tuosity. There comes to my mind a lawyer
busy with his cases, who is the possessa,
Of a good tenor voice, and who loves good
music; he used to be a church soloists.
Another lawyer who plays the flute, and
plays it wen. Here Is a very well-known
business man who plays the viol 70. a re =
reation, apd another who has spent much
time in the cultivation of good tenor
voice, and another who plays the piano "a
little" Here Is a doctor who used to be
the president OF a choral society and who
has tenor voice OF sweet and pure quail
ity. Here is another doctor who can whistle
you a flute concerto and trill, and give you
cadenzas and runs that viii surprise you:
here is another doctor who plays the plano
with delicate and refined touch and loves
only the best in music.
Here is railway official who diverts
himself by playing the cello. and here is
@A"'H0A "hS HeS 'S0h hhS"H " pay aS-
compartments on the pianola for guests
who sang for him. know OF newspaper
men who get much enjoyment from singing
and whose voices might surprise some OF
their friends. Then there are several who
make a serious study of the mechanical
aids to playing and whose performances
with such aids are worth listening to.
/ suppose that every reader of this col
umn could add many more: these are
just a few. thought OF, in the midst OF
writing. Would Il not be a great thing II
these people could meet and exchange
ideas and play and sing for each other
critics excluded IL necessary-and thus
begin in Omaha a grand movement for
Making your own Music"
In the "old country" music "of your