The San Francisco call., 1910-09-11
CLAASSEN FAVORS
MUNICIPAL BANDS
Noted Director of Saengerbund
Encourages Efforts to Bet
ter Music
By WALTER ANTHONY


One Of the many BENEFITS derived by
this community from the recent saeng-
e-fest held in this city arises out of
the attention that has been paid by
hitherto serious and unmusical folk to
the heed given by other serious folk TO
music. II has been seen that love for
the fno art Of harmonizing song may be
lndulged by thrifty and prosperous men
without danger OF slipping back on the
Jeadmlu Of commercial success. Thou
sands OF sedate, thriving and hard
headed men OF affairs have been TO
this city as Mohammedans move to
their Mecca, impelled by love for
music, and have lifted their voices in
concerted efforts Of glory and for
prizes Moreover, two of the tokens
1or which they contended with the
F-arnestness OF Marathon racers for the
laurel and the lucre were placed at
the goal by foreign potentates. En-
peror William gave q cup and so did
Franz Josef For these and other
prizes Of lesser worth singers came
from ss far south as Los Angeles and
as far north as Seattle. while listeners
came from far east as Brooklyn,
A- Y, TO encourage their comrades in
song. The spectacle OF these enthusi-
sSts IN action was an object lesson to
2 material, money making, ambition
chasing world.
The exhibition became Of greater
value because Of the presence here of
= foreign born Gabriel whose birth
place. though on the Baltic sea, does
not prevent him from being a foremost
ciuzen OF the new world. Arthur
Clssssen was brought out from Brook
lyn, where for 25 years his energies
have been devoted 10 building up the
- -
wrote me 2 letter after he had left to
This effect:
L went away from San Francisco
with tears in my eyes. The people and
the reception accorded the saenger-
bund were beyond my fondest expecta-
rions. If the visit Of the German sing
srs has encouraged the development of
good music / shall indeed be happy If
81 has given an impetus TO the estab-
Eshment OF a municipality encouraged
and supported band I shall be happy,
and if it has added single suggestion
looking TO the formation OF symphony
orchestra I shall be happier still Why
San Francisco does not have sym
phony orchestra l can not see. Paul
Steindorff, VINO assisted in the conduct
ing OF the orchestral concerts given
zdllring the saengerfest, is amply caps-
bic OF directing In San Francisco
there are wonderful opportunities. Let
their development / hope 10 see you
al again"
Claassen's remark about the munich
pany supported band is particularly
timely because there has been a peti-
tiOn IN circulation looking toward the
esta blishment Of q fund from munich
pal resources 10 provide for music in
the parks for the people
New York. largely through the ef-
forts of Arthur Ez-uvp1i HaS Frz l.r
secured good municipal music and has
given an impetus TO other large cen
tiers Of population TO secure as it has
done supervisor Of municipal con-
oerts in parks and recreation piers"
John Phillip Sousa has recently paid
his respects 20 another local music
maker At his recent Philadelphia con-
certs the composer of Stars and
stripes Forever" played DR.. H J.
Stewards '-Thespis," giving the work
the advantage Of an Interpretation by
his full band. The piece was published
several years ago and was dedicated
70 Sir Henry Irving, who had it played
a. the Lyceum theater, London
II takes time for American made
music 10 get q hearing in Roosevelt's
home. The operations Of the tariff are
not against locally constructed scores,
but sentim ent seems TO be. It is to
German and Portuguese parentage and
was a lad in Washington, .. c, when
the civic war broke out: Edgar Still
man Kelly, who unprohtably to the
world wrote about music in America
before he wrote music in German. Tenn
pleton Strong, who finally had to aban-
don music and take TO painting pic-
lures before he could live reasonably;
Victor Herbert. whose best music rests
Unwritten while he writes nearly fine
music with an Irish pen in unappre-
cistiNe America Homer A Norris. who
learned his cOunterpOint with GuiInant
ia Paris and set American Walt Whit
man to music; Ethelbert Nevin. who
was touched with a wing that brushed
the Apennines, and last but by no
means least in this very incompIete
list, Edward Mcdowell, who was tbe
greatest stranger born in New Eng
land-to such men as these America
owes its growing greatness.
Locally IL is TO such as William 7
MCCOY, Oscar Well, Wallace Sahin
Frederick Zech, Doctor Stewart. Tbeo-
dor Nogt and Herman Perlst thai the
west looks for musical guidance in
musical creation. They must keep the
creative crucible hot even though there