The Washington herald., 1914-11-06
A Hard-hit Profession.

It is fact that those of other profession-ex-
cepting of course, that of arms-have experienced
more Inconvenience from the than musicians of
every degree 1t is for the part, too form of
inconvenience which, in many instances, amounts to
actual hardship. 1t involves series of dissRpont-
ments and perplexities which nerve-racking to
the musical temperament To be great singer or a
piano vrtuoso without the opportunity to exploit the
rare distinction would be sufficiently distressing, but
to be deprived suddenly and completely of the power
to turn genius profitable is little short of
maddening
In time of war luxuries are first to be eschewed
Although music is regarded as necessity in some
quarters, when it comes to the test food products
are vastly more convincing. Proof of this is found
in the fact that after only few months of in
Europe, the regimental band is practically the only
form of musical activity which hourshes. Berlin is
the only great capital which is making attempt to
produce grand opera but the effort to be only
another manifestation of bravado-saares have been
curtailed to such beggary dimensions and admission
fees whitfield down to vaudeville size .-
!. The opera houses of Vienna and Paris have been
transformed into hospitals and fooddistribung CEN
rters and in England the customary oratorio festivals
which have been an autumn feature from time imme-
moral have been cancelled. The present rather pro-
nounced British distaste for anything remotely
German has had the effect of putting dahnper on
the English fondness for the oratorio for it hap
pens that of the works of that form of musical
expression which have obtained great popularity in
England were made in Germany, or, at least, were
composed by Germans In France also, there is "a
disposition to abstain somewhat vigorously from the
use of German music. 1t is even regarded as un-
patriotic to avow passion for Wagner in the Paris
of the present moment
This amounts practically to boycott against Ger
man music and musicians in France and England.
Thus far Russia to have taken similar stand.
but it is reported by refugee musicians that Petro
grad will enjoy no grand opera the coming season.
If such is the final decision it will inspire profound
regret in upper professional circles for heretofore
the gay Russian capital has been an opulent patron
of the opera. The German press accepts the Eng
lish boycott only additional evidence of British
lack of culture Fortunately we be led into
similar barbarism by desire to retaliate," writes
"a German musical critic" for the English have no
music of their own"
The almost total collapse abroad of an industry
upon which so many are dependent for living is
the cause of great anxiety and there is little
lieve the depression in the present condition of mus
cal enterprise on this side Both Chicago and Boston
have been unable to bring their grand opera plans
to successful issue. From Canada where music
aourishes admirably in normal times there come dis
heartening reports of cancelled dates and disrupted
musical projects. Montreal purposes doing without
an opera company all its own and viii depend upon
touring artists to supply the deficiency.
1t is only IN New York that there seems to be no
present euraiIeht Of musical enterprise 1t is an
nouneed officially that the Metropolitan win fuialI
all its promises made before the breaking out of the
war; with the loss of no artist Of vital Importance
The subscription lists of the Philharmonic and
Symphony societies have been filed at an earlier date
than usual and there is abundant evidence that the
musical world center has come westward