New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-14
Artists Herded Apart.

The artists have no opportunity OF
minglinS with the guests They are
herded strictly apart and are given sup
per in private room. The reason for
this is that in order 10 be invited TO a
state concert. as To state ball. IL is 4
sine qua non that one should have been
previously officially presented either at
court OF at a levee. private presenta-
tons being Of no avail. I'm fact. during
Queen Nictoria's reign there have been
women whom she privately received at
Windsor. at Osborne and Baimoral. but
who. not having been for some reason
or other presented at court could not
be invited 10 state balls or state con-
certs
Now. artists f the lyric drama, like
those OF the ordinary theatrical profess
sion. have from time immemorial been
barred bv reason Of their calling from
presentation at court. and not even King
Edward. with all his liberality and
bread n of mind in such matters and
his liking for the companionship of peo-
ple OF the stage. was ever able through
out his -eign TO modify this condition
of affairs.
Queen Victoria. moreover. was very
particular about the conduct of the ar
tistes who were called upon 10 sing at
state concerts. and from the time that
Adelina Patti abandoned her first nus
band. the Marquis de CauX. for Nicolini.
whom she subse iuently married. the old
Queen would never permit her to be
asked TO sing again at any of her state
concerts II is known that Patti felt
keenly this tacit reproach which the
Queen was the only sovereign in Europe
10 infict on her. But while her guests
missed the artistic treat which they
would have derived from PATHS sing
ing. the appearance of fair artistic on
the programme Of one of the state con-
certs AT Buckingham Palace became a
sort Of royal patent of responsibility. IL
is probable that King George and Queen
Mary will follow the example OF his
grandmother in this matter
Al Continental courts they have a some
what different manner OF maintaining re-
spectability on the part of distinguished
artistes. II the private life Of the latter
Is above public reproach they receive The
honorary title of Royal or Imperial
"Artistes de Chambre. or hammer
sanger. which carries with it a badge
II their private life gives offence they
forfeit the title and the badge. by way
OF punishment and as a mark OF royal
disapproval. though IL does not necessa-
rily follow that the illustrious personages
Of bp
Measure of listening to their music, vo-
cal or instrumental
Xmas Master of Music.
The ARRANGEMENTS with the artists al
the state concerts at Buckingham Palace
are left entirely in the hands of the
Master of the Kings Music. whose four
hundred-vear-old Office IN the royal
household is now held by Sir Walter
parratt The accompaniments are pro-
vided by the Kings Band the members
of which wear for the occasion dark blue
veIvet faced coats. knee breeches. black
elk stockings and white waistcoats. The
members of the band are not in the PEI
manent employ of the King, but are we'll
| ,,noun professional musicians who re-
coive small retaining fee, about $3.50
% $40 a year. in return for which the
sovereign has the first call on their SER
ices and they are obliged to attend at
whatever royal residence the King may
desire They are thirty-four in number.
md there is one woman among them.
| who plays the harp
Sir Walter. their chief. who has been
u,an,ber of the royal household since
no became organ.st OF 81. Georges
chapel, at Windsor. more than thirty
years ago, has an official residence in
tho castle. besides apartments at Buck
,npham Palace He is a very busy man,
for he arrsnges the music for and con-