The Detroit times., 1910-08-01
DECORATED D
EUROPE RULERS
Dustin Wright, organist, Who Fas
Made Great Name for Sell Abroad,
Visits Old Home Here.

Visits Old Home Here.
Despite the fact that he has been
resident Of Paris for ~ years, has
been decorated By the French repub.
lie and every crowned head In
Europe and honored In the world Of
music to . degree seldom attained by
. young American. Gustin Wright, the
well.known organist Of Paris, son OF
DR.. and Mrs. e. NJ Wright, No 136
Clairmount-ave., II intensely Ameri-
can and 90 loyal 90 ever TO his native
Detroit. Mr.. Wright with Nine.
Wright--who II native Partsienpe-
ID now the guest OF his parents, and
although he has been In the city only
two days has already been asked to
accept several different organ posi-
tions now vacant In Detroit churches
Mr.. Wright. however. II In America
only on q brief visit and will return
to Paris, the end Of August,
Il have, OF course, very enviable
position In Paris a. organist OF the
Hugeonot church, L'Eglise de Passy.
where l have played for the past IL
years." said Mr.. Wright. II am the
only American who ever held the posi-
ton Of organist In French church
In Paris. There have been American
musicians In American churches In
France, but not Americans In the
French churches. The fact that /
have earned my living In France for
SO many years and that that coun-
try gave to me my equipment and
subsequent musical career caused me
to feel that in common gratitude |
should do something inxeturn, SO on
my visits to other European countries
/ have presented the works OF the
French composers and have done
everything In my power to make
them and their works known as wide
ly as possible.
81 am glad to know that the French
composers are meeting with SO much
success and appreciation In America,
through the Boston, the Thomas and
other great orchestras Of the country.
We have a wonderful group Of young
| musicians in France whose compost
tons are proving to the musical worlo
what the works of Balzac, de Maui
PEASANT and such men meant to the
literary world. Russia too. is won
| derfully musical nation and | believe
that the Russians are destined to
sweep all before them In music One
hears the most perfect choral sing.
| ing In that country. The soldiers sing
in the most beautiful fashion, unac-
companied, and with such marvellous
voices and technical finish as to be
astounding because so unexpected,
considering the national environment
Here in America music Is getting on,
but l wish that 1t might show pro-
gress in the establishment of SYM
phony orchestras, municipal opera
companies and choral societies. Just
think OF this beautiful Detroit-the
finest city in all the world to me-
without any ONE of these things and
nearly a half million inhabitants! It
is astonishing and inexplicable. In
Europe, every little town OF few
thousand population has It's orches-
ira and its opera company singing all
the year round in its own opera
house. And here in Detroit, where
one of our millionaires could buy up
half a dozen of these European
/ towns and not notice 1t. there Is alb
solutely nothing permanent In the
way of musical endeavor, and I am
| told that the barren old armory still
shows vast seatless spaces on the oc-
| casions of concerts. Every time l re-
| turn home hear about the same con-
dition of affairs and / simply cannot
understand II when In every other
business, II one may be allowed to
| call music, business, the progress
is in leaps and bounds"
Early this summer Mr.. Wright was
! give the decoration of an Officer de
ll'Instruction Publique Of the Legion
of Honor by the French government,
an honor that ranks just one below
that of the Legion Of Honor itself.
The latter Is given only to men Of
years as we'll as eminence and Mr..
Wright is still In his mid-thirties or
he probably would have received that
honor also.
Last fall after playing privately for
Pope Plus x, in the Santa Polino
chapel, his holiness presented mr.
Wright with magnificent gold
medal, a mark of appreciation given
by the pontiff only to personal
friends and token that il in no sense
a public decoration. Mr.. Wright,
also, is the happy possessor of sill
yer medal from the late Pope Leo,
for whom he played on several occa-
sions. The Order Of the Crown con-
ferred upon him few years ago by
the King and Queen Of Roumania 10
one of Mr. Wrights most cherished
treasures. Recognition from royalty
and music patrons all over Europe
has come to this talented young De-
troiter who In spite of fame and a
high measure of artistic greatness can
still speak with affectionate regard
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