The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-19
NEWS OF THE DAY
IN SOCIETY WORLD
Municipal Music Attracting In
terest of People
NOTES HERE AND THERE
pnrtures for Mountain and Shore
MISUNDERSTANDING of For
mer Birmingham Man
BY MYRTLE MILES

1t would seem that the operate wave
which has swept over the country in
these last few years is now to be over
whelmed by wave of municipal music.
Good music for the people is a subject
which is calling for serious attention in
many American cities at the present
time, and according to reliable indica-
lions the time is not fa; distant when
the New York city government will go
on record as sponsor for a series OF
high-class orchestral concerts. admission
to which will be free.
The administrative element In the eoun-
try's metropolis Is convinced that good
music properly presented is quite as i'm
portant to the general welfare of the
community as are many of the COM
pick functions now existing under mu-
nicipal control, said recent issue of
Musical America, in an enthusiastic arti-
Gle on this subject. In view of the 10000
to $4,000 people who listen every night to
music which New York city gives them,
and whose lives are made more joyful
and richer because of it, there is little
wonder that the matter should come up
for still more serious consideration from
municipal standpoint.
One of the prime movers In this uplift
is Nahan Frankie, who has given or
chestral concerts at the Mall in Central
Park. to great masses of people over a
period of seven years. He is well known
as a man of great orchestral experience.
having been associated as conductor with
the Metropolitan Opera House for a num-
Der of years. He is also looked to In
variably to provide the music for all
important functions of all New York S
high society ss
Mr.. Frankie has always been man
of great energy and initiative and now
that the development of municipal music
takes the inevitable step from band to
orchestra it is natural that he should
be found taking a leading position In
the battle for the new idea. Mr.. Frankie
has declared strongly for the orchestra
as against the band for outdoor pur-
poses. There is ample European prece-
dent for this procedure, which requir es
only that proper acoustic conditions shall
be provided, which is neither difficult
nor very expensive.
In his appeal to the crowds of from
10000 to 5000 who have listened eagerly
to him from the Mall, Mr.. Frankie has
shown himself a master in the making
of what might be called a serious pop
ular programme, we'll balanced between
the better class of popular music and
symphonic music. While making a strong
point of the fact that he entertains his
audiences there is no doubt but that
his work is also an educational force.
The New York idea as outlined in Mu-
steal America, is similar to that found
in our own municipality. The people
themselves created the demand for OPEN
air music by going to hear the concerts
Thousands heard the programmes herd
last week. Tiny children played about
on the grass GRATEFULLY exchanging sleep
in hot, over-crowded city rooms for the
beauty of starlit nights, fresh air and
melody. The crowds are constantly
growing as the days become warmer
The number nearer the bandstand is
greatest at present. but the fact is grad
ually becoming apparent that one gets
the fullest enjoyment of the music when
some distance away, because in that
way he misses the distracting hum of
the park Is also found to be cooler. The
last concerts have found people gathered
In little groups on the grass near the
outer entrances where the waves of sound
as they carry across the night are love-
ly. The park Is lacking in sufficient
number of benches to seat the hundreds
of women and children who attend the
concerts, but as one enthusiastic woman
remarked the other day. why sit on
is there? There is little danger Of con-
tracing cold from grass that is slightly
damp, II the weather Is as hot as our
usual July day" More benches are need
ed to satisfy the preference for them,
but the grass as place to sit and hear
park music is strongly recommended.
TRAVELLERS IN ENGLAND
Gold and wet, but the Americans
still come" is the cry of those Lon
doners to whom sunshine and United
States generosity mean prosperity. Lon
country gentlemen, both the squires
and the farmers, predicted for this
country, says Town and Country
At the hotels the Americans are
arriving in gratifying numbers and
are staying in England later than usual
to attend the little dinners and dances
that hostesses from New York and 9TH
err cities postponed until the period of
was over. Mrs. Joseph
Stickney, who usually comes to this
to go to Mount Washing ton
in the White mountains in the fail, and
Mrs. william B. Leeds were two of the
American widows seen at
the Ritz during the dinner hour one
evening last week. Mrs. Frank Mack
ey, who visits Minneapolis and St T'au1,
when she returns to this country; Col,
Robert M. Thompson and his daugh-
ter, Mrs. Stephen H. p. Pen. have also
been seen at Ritz, where Mrs Thomp-
son has been recovering from an i'll
ness. With King Albert Of the Bel
CLANS going from one hotel to an.
other in search of a place to lay his
royal head. surely London is not a city
either melancholy or deserted. Mr.. and
Mrs Samuel Untermeyer. who have
been at the Ritz, have an itinerary that
includes Carlsbad. st. Moritz, Oberarn-
erRau and the exhibition at Brussels.
III