Omaha daily bee., 1915-10-03

MAHA's advance IN cultural
NI life e. shown IN no way more
strikingly than IN the develop
- ment Of music among our peo-
lIlfsN pie. THIS has been 80 gen
NttoGuN eral, 90 catholic, and yet 80
intense. In It's manifestation, that Omaha
may really be said TO have become mu-
steal. not overnight. but as n part OF the
progress OF social development The
many advantages Of music. as an accom-
plishment. as an adjunct 20 general edu-
cation. AZ n source Of enjoyment and
pleasure. to DO shared with others at AL
times. have come to be understood by the
people, and Just so has II come to pass
that more than ever n attention paid 10
music IN all its forms. Tho growth OF
the city has naturally brought together
here q large number OF earnest and
gifted men and women who arc devoting
their lives to the spread OF musical cul-
ture IN the community and beyond. For
not only do Omahans study music. but
the presence here Of 30 many competent
and artistic instructors brings In students
from over q large territory, and these 60
out into the world again. carrying the
growing fame OF Omaha a. a culture cen
ter into newer communities, and spread
ing the good work that Is being done
here by those artists who have devoted
themselves TO the art
Danger of Musical saObbishness.
Music teachers and parents are 80 often
IN danger Of being subject TO musical
snobbishness. The very best people I'm a
community are those who are not afraid
90 bow pleasantly 20 others whom they
have met who may not qualify in a social
way with their personal lines OF distinc-
ton Their position Is assured, and they
are not afraid that they are putting II IN
jeopardy BY speaking 70 those who may
be outside OF their immediate circle.
Others whose prestige IL perhaps not 40
well established viii pass up anybody who
does not belong 10 the special inner ring
which makes up their world. Many
musical people are inclined 20 cut dead
any OF tho cheaper pieces which abound
in musical literature, thus hurting the
feelings Of its champions and many times
killing the budding interest in the
language OF sounds, which a little more
diplomatic consideration might have
avoided. A taste in ragtime In better
than no taste al all. The connoisseur in
II gradually learns to drop those pieces
which DO not have even n pleasing
melody. The Fagtime OF today. compared
with that which canno out some ten years
ago. shows even more daring changes In
rhythm and the introduction Of many
more chromatics. From the best pieces
OF this style It Is but a step 10 selections
from the popular light operas, then 10
the lighter classics. and all good music
In the smaller forms.
RaEtfme Has Its Uses. \
And the social advantages OF the rag
timers. They can tell you the name Of
almost every number at a dance. and In
small crowds they can play or sing and
tho rest Join in and have all sorts of fun
with H.
hut the technical demands of this music
are sometimes OF a comparatively high
order, and ones friends have become
ssibcopsciously educated 10 mechanical
accuracy. thanks to the player pianos
which grind out all the best sellers by
the yard. 30 unless one can play such
eartickiers as He's a Devil'' right up 10
the scratch. II would be better 10 devote
their energies 60 some other line. How
ever. there are great many Of the aver
axe people In this world who are In the
ragtime stage. especially ths listeners.
who enjoy the irregular accents OF the
unexpected rhythms and do not notice
the poverty OF the musical idea. because