Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-04
MUNICIPAL MUSIC OF RIGHT sORT
ny FREDERIC j. HAskIN.

BALTIMORE, MD. May 3.-Thls city
arises to challenge the dictum that the
American people want nothing but rag
time. The municipal government Is
trying the experiment Of furnishing
its citizens with musical classics OF
the sort that are generally supposed
TO put the tired business man to sleep.
1t is furnishing these classics in an
unromantic, business-likc, way. exact
~ as 1t supplies police and fire protec-
ton. And the ordinary citizen, who, II
ne lived up to his reputation, would flee
from wagner as from It plague. is step
ping all over his nelghbors In the rush
to get tickets.
The Baltimore Symphany Orchestra
is an interesting and significant d.vcl-
opinent. 1t may point the way to real
popularization OF the classics in this
country. such as obtains in Europe
1t has gone far enough pretty well to
explode the theory that so-calied
heavy" music goes over tho heads OF
those who lack special musical train
ing. The problem is no, one OF lower
ing the program to meet the average
mans taste. II is one OF lowering the
price TO meet the average mans pocket
book.
The Symphony Orchestra turns the
trick by getting its appropriation from
the city Council. There is no individ-
ual benevolence- or philanthropy con
nected with the proceeding at any
point The Taxpayer foots the whole
Dill There is nothing to prevent any
other city from establishing siml-
lar series OF classical concerts ire
spcctive or whether or no the Weather
element of the community is Interested
enough to come forward with financial
backing. II the experience OF this
city means anything. it means that the
taxpayers are quite willing to sup
port their own orchestra.
There has been no attempt to COM
promise with the taste for what we
have been calling popular" music. no
slipping down little~Beethoven be-
tween waltz and n song medley
The audience takes it's classics straight
a typical program is made up Of
Schumann symphony. Wagner over
lures and preludes. and Saint-Saens
concerto.
Seats Are Sold Quickly.
The advertisements announcing the
date OF each concert summarize the re-
ception that these programs have been
meeting. They carry a standing line,
"All Seats Sold" The management
knows that 1t can count on selling
every ticket within al hour or so
after opening the box Office. where tho
waiting line Is block long. AS the
orchestra is a municipal one, however
every citizen has right to know when
and where the concert will be held, so
that IL he cares TO come and stand up.
he may get a chance TO do IL as long a
the standing room lasts.
Admission costs % and so cents. In
view OF the numbers turned away at
each concert, there Is some talk OF
taking the tabernacle where Billy
Sunday is holding revival at present
and giving a 10-cent concert there fter
his departure. The tabernacle holds
10000 people. and ought to give every
body chance to get seat.
The audience is drawn from all
classes. The 26-cent price Is within
the reach of practically every one, and
the quality OF the music is such that
society" turns out In force. Some of
the big stores have been giving certain
attend. but for the most part the pub
lie makes its own arrangements and
adjusts it's duties and engagements so
as to be there, with the same pre-
cision that II manages to have an
| evening free for the movies.
The orchestra promises to be a valu-
| able accessory in the development of
! local music. 1t produces the work of
Baltimore composers, of whom the city
| boasts several. 1t has also adopt ed
| the policy OF fostering local pride and
| adding ar intimate touch to the pro-
| grams by securing, when possible. ma
| tive Baltmoreans who have risen TO
musical fame for the soloists on each
oCCdSlOU. TOT lnSlduCe, III tue req
| ruary IL concert Miss Mabel Garrison.
| of the Metropolitan Opera Company,
! sang Miss Garrison was originally a
| Baltimore girl On April a the soloist
| was Ernest Hutchinson, who Is an Aus
| tralian by birth, but who lived for some
| years in Baltimore.
Wording with the Schools.
Another feature of the orchestra Is
| the work 1t does in connection with
| the schools. The rule has been made
that the final rehearsal for cacr FRO.
gram shall BIO given ut some one of
| the local schools, thus affording 1900
to $500 young people a chance to hear
| some real music. Each school per-
| Torrance is preceded by short talk,
! clearing up some OF the fundamental
| points connected with the particula,
forms Of composition concerned and
| giving n sketch OF the life and signif-
| cameo OF the composer. That such eX-
| plantations cannot be regarded as en-
| tirely unnecessary WAS illustrated at
| one OF the recent rehearsals. An audi
ence of 1900 girls whose ages ranged
| from twelve to nineteen years. was
| asked what they understood by a
symphony" Only thirty Of them
knew what the word meant, and a
large proportion had never heard IT
| before.
The same educational idea is car
ried out at the concerts. themselves by