Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-28


ture before the Society OF Fine
Arts. a short time ago, made
Spgz-W-.4 the statement that art was
IHHRYl an emotion rather than
GS mental expression. Referring
20 architecture. he said that the art 20
be found In the great Gothic catheduls
was the result Of feeling rather thaA OF
scientific measurements. He said that in
America we were inclined to measure
these works OF art and base our build
ings OF Greclan, Gothic or other, styles
OF architecture upon these measurements
instead Of building them 10 represent the
truth we felt. How much the Same Is
true in music How many times the
failure of the recitalist Is not so much
due TO lack OF study and conscientious
development OF skill but rather through
the lack OF feeling expressed. How often
the new composition does not last be-
cause Il does not have a message or II
there Is one intended, Il does not con-
Yey II clearly. How often do students
learn Just how to put down their fingers
upon the keyboard. or lust how 10 take
certain vocal tone and hold st, but do
| not ledkn 10 use these means to express
what they feel in the composition they
are studying. In the study OF music IL
II not strange that so much more time
is put upon the physical and mental
means of reproducing tho works of the
great masters in comparison to tho
emotional side
The conscientious pupil spends so much
time working upon the correct use OF
voice or fingers, hands and arms. pur-
suing the signs. and marks of expression
which are put In from time TO time 10
help him to play intellectually-gettlng
the measurmenta IN the music we might
I say-and then how seldom does no study
out or the teacher demand that he study
eut, its meaning In AN artistic way. Mr..
zucbln said that the motto of William
/ Morris, an art decorator In England. was
that ART was TO tell true thing, or
ornament useful one.
IL Is a good motto. also applicable
TO music. IL composition does not
do either. Il has little excuse for exits
tenee. II the composition is all right.
but the Interpretation does not have any
significance. white the notes and general
lines may be correct. the performer viii
not appeal srtistically because IL does
not mean enough TO him emotlonally.
Il is not all the fault OF teaching
or studying. One must have talent for
music. Talent differs from genius lac
cording 10 the Century dictionary, be-
cause the one Is dependent upon tut
ton. while the other Is entirely indie.
pendent OF It. Talent is gift com.
mtted TO one for use and improve
ment II may be small. but II may be.
come larger through use and improve
/ n a. -, A.. fs,.v ,,,a es
be stiflod IN the maze OF technical and
mental difficulties encountered and IN
the haste that marks most Of our music
! study.
| One cannot hope to succeed as a grea
musical artist WITHOUT either genius Of
} high degree OF musical talent highl!
! developed. The word artist implies ar
I In the performance, and the art in musi
as well as in architecture is no
; to be found In It's scientific exaotness
r but In the recognized truth felt ant
e manifested in every part OF t. IL Is 4
y find and properly express this that grea
D vlrtuosi spend weeks and months upo
their program numbers. that tho Flon
= Ealey quartet sometimes spend a Who'll
. afternoon upon four measures Of Mo
e Fart. and that our own Mendelssoh
n NNl0lI mas EAinfAitAtN MtA HAt-'AANA ANA'
$ bers to the public for one or two sea
e sons after beginning to study them.
J. Il would be hard 10 count the humble
2 OF people who have been making inquir,
n concerning the identity OF one specla
10 tune played IN the musical score accom-
n panying THE Birth Of Nation" nov
playing 10 crowded houses at the Bran
4 de's theater. Il is the pretty little al
n which Elsie Stoneman presumably play
. on her banjo and sings as she takes h
place al the bedside of the wounde
southern officer. Tho best available az
thoIity labels II an old Bohemian polk'
popular at the time OF the Civil war.
Il is undoubtedly true. but In sever'
a. memories turks tantalizlng convictio
that the tune was set 10 song In som
way connected with The spirit Of plants
y ton life-thopgh nobody seems able Quit
y 10 name Il. That isn't the only hauntir
le hit OF lovely musical mosaic which
le greatly heighteDs the effect OF the pi
NJ ture 1t Is In the Cleaning" which a
is ways means a romantic passage betwes
g. Margaret Cameron and her n0rthei
H. sweetheart. and saeh dear familiar al
ke as The swanee River" Home. Swe
10 Home" and Aud Lang Syne' find ths
al appropriate moments In the story,
A passage from Der Freischuetz"