The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1914-03-17
CHILDREN AND CHAMBER MUSIC


good many persons have asked us
to mention in these columns the fact
that the pleasure of numerous music
lovers in the Sunday afternoon recital
of chamber music was marred by the
relatively large number of noisy, rest
less, and fretful children who were
present A chamber music recital is
not like a band concert given in a
public park for the entertainment of
a constantly shifting and more or less
informal audience. 1t is never snowy,
never loud. 1t does not compel at
tention to its charms by challening
notes, dashing strains, and great
volumes of crashing sound. 1t does
not use a great variety of instruments,
which, by their appearance as well
as by their tones, attract the eye and
the ear of a heterogeneous company.
Chamber music is essentially delicate.
1t is not bold. By listener not in
resposeful mood, its charm can not
be felt The room in which it is
given should be quiet and no distrac-
tons should diminish its subtle in
fluences.
To have number the essence of
whose beauty lies in the extreme del
icacy of the tone produced, spoiled
by the cries of an infant or by the
jumping, twisting, turning, wriggling,
whispering, or giggling of child too
young to enjoy the program is a Sc
we're tax upon the patience OF an
adult, especially one not related to
the offending child. 1t is only right
and natural that the type of music
which. to be appreciated, calls for the
intelligence of a grown-up should
prove tedious to little girl or boy
not more than ten years old. 1t is
not to be wondered at that they Will
find it imperatively necessary to talk
to their mates, take their coats and
hats off a dozen times, change their
positions, and kick the little legs, too
short to reach the floor, against the
seats in front of them. We confess
that our sympathies are all with the
children whose parents have been I'M
wise enough to allow themselves to be
wheedled into taking them to the re-
cital. We think it would be a good
deal kinder to deny the children their
inevitable petition to be allowed to |
go along" a thing all children do |
whenever anybody is going anywhere,
at any hour. 1t seems to us that par
ents might exercise for their children
the common sense the children can
not yet be expected to exercise for
themselves. Very probably the mat :
-er will be taken care of by the chill
lren themselves, who, having been in
lulged once, will hereafter find the
novelty worn off and will not ask
lgain to be subjected to the ordeal OF
'watchful waiting" till the end of
he program has come.
In the case of infants, everybody,
,
.xcept the owners of the infants,
,nows that the only safe course is to |
cave them at home. 1t is quite right
hat mothers should be given every |
,ossibly opportunity to attend enter
ailments, but it is not fair either to
hem or to the audience that no pro-
ision should be made for the care OF |
heir babies by suitable person at
ONE. No one can depend on a baby's
emaining still or asleep throughout
t a program. The first crack out OF
he box, out comes yelp. 1t is not
onducive to a Sabbath calm of spirit
} behold the agitated efforts of par
nts to quell the riot while they gaze
18th rapturous wonder, love, and
raise, let alone beaming pride, into :
le little face that is doing so much :
amage From then on, they remain
srenely oblivious of every performer
scept their own and feel quite con-
mt in the substitution of their child's
les for the music of the spheres.
In the future it would be well for
patrons of the concerts to
struct their children in the decorum
.pected of them and to make an ar
ngement for the care elsewhere of
cir infants.
-