New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-21
PROFESSOR OF LIGHT"
A Rhapsody on the Art Of Mr.. Claude
Bragdon.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In an age Of startling innovations,
many of a terrible kind Gas witness the new
methods of warfare), it is altogether delight
full to chronicle new departure-one that
fires the Imagination, and will contribute to
the beauty in the world, for il deals with
the potentialities of light.
II was in Central Park Mall last Sunday
whilst the New York Community Chorus
was singing) that first met Claude Brsg-
don, architect, artist and writer, and also
originator of a new system of lighting, used
in the Song and Light Festival Of the ROeh-
ester Community Chorus.
He had just been overlooking the site
selected for the festival TO be given By the
New York Community Chorus next month";
and was enthusiastic over its possibilities
as the lake would be cooperative in Vene'
tian effect.
The following evening I heard him describe
the Rochester Festival from the viewpoint
of an artist. As he spoke seemed to be
peeping into fairyland for the city arc
lights quarter OF mile away were
screened, and it was midsummer night in the
little sequestered vale (of a city park,
whose woodland vistas were mysteriously
lighted by fancifully hanging masses OF
golden globes. Imagination, aided by the
curiously quiet throng of people, ran rife
Surely. by penetrating further down that
path one would reach an Alsddin's cave!
Only upon the chorus, placed at the end OF
the vale, did the unseen white light shne'
transforming IL into q vision Of harmony
framed in rainbow colors, as the same lisn'
filtered to the audience through proseenium
formed of exquisitely colored screens evolved
from geometrical forms. .,
All about large and strangely beautfui
lanterns supplemented the hundreds OF ys'
low japanese spheres, and from the top
most branches of an enormous poplar grow
ing to one side there swung as from ysro'
ARM a great hexagonal lantern, more than
six feet long, so impressive in its size ana
solitude one might almost dub it the beacon
of the chorus.
The crowd, thirty thousand strong ana
oddly subdued were all children again from
whom worldly consciousness had droppeo'
and tot of four years, responding to tna'
psychic atmosphere, slipped into the open
space to dance TO the music, quite oblivious
of the unseen eyes in the darkness.
Mr.. Bragdon believes that just as music
is an understanding of the possibilities Of
intervals with which TO delight the ear, 70
in time there will be evolved science OF
light to charm the eye, through the deVeF
oped manipulation Of the prismstlcally sepa.
rated light. In short for lack of be'ter
name), we may look forward to professors
of Highland who dare smile at that IN
view of the maryes Of to-day? -,
The dreamers and creators Of the beau',
full are the true prophets, and II seemed
quite natural that in closing his description
he should speak Of the democracy OF tne
festival. There were no high-priced arts"
wing with one another for personal reno"n'
no separated seating of the rich and poor'
not even flag TO divide that gathering iron'
the mass of humanity, and thus Tor Two
ioyously brief evenings the dominant con
seriousness was brotherhood-a brotnerno0'
of Song and Light! j. l. NUN
New York. Aug. IS. 1916.