The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-04-15
Prominent Birmingham Musicians
Express Opinions Concerning
the Coming Music Festival
BY DOLLY DALRYMPLE

| symphony orchestra and a coterie oil
world famous soloists, assisted by some
of Birmingham's best talent, will present
two programmes for the music festival
of great beauty and distinction.
| Mr.. Damrosch as a conductor stands
pre-eminent in the worlds galaxy of art
lists and the New York Symphony orches-
| ira is regarded as one of the nose excel
lent musical organizations now in exis-
tence.
That Birmingham will be materially
benefited by the appearance of Mr.. Dam
| sorch and his orchestra and soloists is
| unquestioned, and the only regret in con-
nection with the music festival is that
it is all too brief
| Local musicians are greatly interested in
the approaching festival and in asking
| the opinion of some of the most promi-
nent, it may be of interest to many to
know that music festival is regarded by
them as of even greater Importance than
opera or any other form OF musical en-
tertainment
The following are some "fve-minute
stories" with different well-lnown musi-
clans of the city in regard to the fes-
tival:
MIR. ROBERT LAWRENCE.
"a music festival, in my estimation, is
a manifestation of community's musical
activities and artistic ideals
"A successful musical festival means that
all music interests of a city are united
to sufficient extent to promote an under
taking Of such magnitude.
Such an undertaking has a distinct
commercial value inasmuch as it at
tracts the attention of many who would
otherwise never give Birmingham much
thought Every musical periodical in
America will carry descriptive notices of
this event and considering the enormous
circulation of these publications, 1t can
readily be recognized as advertising
medium of considerable value"
MRS. FLOURNOY RIVERS.
Il am glad to put into words my pleas
ure at the return of Mr.. Damrosch and
his orchestra to Birmingham. You can
write me down as an admirer of the DAM
rosches-father and sons All three have
been achfevers. You see, fate so often
tears the dreams of us common folks to
rags; that when see people who can cash
them In, / take off my hat, which is an
uncomfortable courtesy from a woman.
Leopold, the father, was at the height of
his form when l first heard him in 1880.
Frank the elder brother is head of the,
Damrosch Music school on Clairmont
avenue, New York, between Riverside
Drive and Columbia college. And Wal
ter's career is familiar to everybody.
These men have not only made good (our
American slang is forcefuD unsteady, but
they are such finished gentlemen In a So
cial sense. They're folks in New York
upper tendon. To my mind America owes
Walter Damrosch big debt Conductors
have come and gone in this country but
he "a n Frhnn1nrA mo
enough to be adaptable and stayed, there
fore have been tremendous formative IN
huences in our national taste. 1t is no
light thing to be conductor. Besides all
the knowledge and arduous training in
yolved. there must be natural leadership
to weld so many differing men and diver
gent instruments into one artistic whole.
The tax on memory and conception is
enormous and individuality plays huge
role, in the quality of tone different con-
ductors can get from the same set of
men. Mr. Damrosch fulfils every ideal
of the perfect leader of a splendid orches-
ira
1T would be commonplace for me to
speak of the aesthetic influence of music
on the character and tastes of the orsi-
nary listener; this is the time-worn argu-
ment advanced to the laymen by those
who practice any of the arts. 1t has lost
its appeal except to those who consider
II HSctSsdIN, IDI Sotldi purposes, W nave
some accomplishment and these. for
tunately for true art, are growing fewer
The benefit that Birmingham and its cit
liens will receive from this festival, we
trust, will be deeper and greater than
the arousing of the usual expressions of
conventional approval of the selections
there rendered.
We know that each auditor will be pro-
foundry stirred by the beauty of the
music and the rendition thereof we know
their aesthetic senses will be soothed; they
will think noble Snd beautiful thoughts.
and wish to do brave and wonderful
deeds But the greatest good that will
come to Birmingham from this festival
will be the lesson it will draw from OBJ
serving the results of great leadership
and unselfsh cooperation in achieving
that most difficult of all tasks-the rem
dering of good music in great manner.
This orchestra can render perfectly any
music written because each man plays
his part no matter how small, and helps
to make magnificent and harmonious
whols; so Birmingham can accomplish
any work, provided each citizen will play
evening at their home in West End. Car
nations and ferns were lavlshly used in
carrying out a green and white color
motif and a large basket of these flowers
dining table. where ices, moulded as we'd
ding bells, and cakes, We're served. Re
ceiving with the hosts We're Mrs. w. c.
Gewin, Mrs. T.. W. Ellis, Mrs. w ID.
Davis and Mrs. j. J. Lee. Mrs John w.
Wright presided al the dainty table
where coffee and tea We're served. About
100 invitations were issued
Mrs. w. I. Cochran was hostess to the
Stonewall chapter, L. ID. c., Tuesday AFT
ernoon and Mrs. Il. f. Beckham and Mrs.
H. d. Williams were selected as delegates
to the state convention to lte held next
month Light refreshments followed the
programme. =,
Mrs. j. f. Hall will entertain the Thurs
day Afternoon Fortytwo club, the Auc
ton Bridge club will meet with Mrs c.
Fl. Barr this afternoon and the Cosmos
club will be entertained Friday afternoon
by Mrs C. ii. Bradley.
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Brizenbne of Ma
rion are guests of Mrs Francis Phillips.
DR.. and Mrs. A. l.. CASTOR have named
their little daughter Grace.
Mrs. +. NJ. Sturgess will be at home in
Fairfield Friday to the members of the
Hypathian club
ITALY REMOVES
ART TREASURES