The Twin City star., 1916-05-06
OUR SUCCESS IN MUSIC.
James Reese Europe Gives Secret Of
High Standard Attained.

New York.-In reply to correspond
emit Of the New York Evening Sun who
asked the question, "Why does society
prefer the Negro musician?" Mr.. James
Reese Europe, the well known COM
poser and orchestra leader, says:
This is a question recently asked by
one Of your correspondents whose let
ter on the subject was the subject Of
editorial comment in a recent issue Of
the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
If the Negro musician enjoys any
preference at all he does not enjoy It
solely because of his color. In this oc-
cupation, as in all other desirable ones
here In America, the Negro's color is
a handicap, and wherever he achieves
success he does so In the face Of doubly
severe competition. In certain branches
of his occupation the Negro musician
has been successful-in furnishing en-.
tertainment at dinner parties, recep-
tions and other social functions similar
in character, and in furnishing dance
music. For work Of the former kind
his services have always been in de-
mand because of his unfailing good ma
ture, his genial. kindly humor and his
Versatility. Until recently those who
engaged In this work were for the most
part unframed musicians who relied
solely on their natural talents for sue
cess.
In the last few years, however, q
- hoo
peared. His appearance is due to the
widespread popularity Of the so called
modern dances and the consequent de-
mand for dance music Of which the
distinguishing characteristic is an &C.
centric tempo. Such music usually
takes the form of highly syncopated
melody, which In the early period Of
its development was known as rag.
time music. Since the dance is born
Of music It is quite apparent that the
modern dance is a creature Of the sym
copated melody. Thus new field has
been opened to musicians in which this
new type of Negro musician has sue
ceeded. His success has been due to
his efficiency and his efficiency is due
to several facts.
He is a natural musician and throws
himself into the spirit Of his work with
spontaneous enthusiasm, so that the
music rendered by a Negro orchestra
rarely has the mechanical quality
which is fatal to dancing. The Negro
has superior sense of rhythm, pecul-
iarly adapting him for dance music.
The art Of playing the modern synco-
pated music Is to him natural gift.
He excels in the use Of the guitar, ban
10 and mandolin, instruments which
are now being generally adopted by or
chestras playing dance music to obtain
the "thrum-thrum" effect and the &C.
centric, accentuated beat 80 desirable
In dance music, and he was the first to
discover the availability Of these in
struments for such purpose.
In addition to his natural talent in
the above respects the modern Negro
musician is we'll trained In his art. He
reads readily, memories marvelously
we'll, interprets naturally and not OILY
understands the principles Of technique
in the use Of his instrument, but is re-
markably skillful in execution; as Is to
be expected when one considers that
the Negro possesses rare faculty for
arts requiring physical skill. Perhaps
it is fair to say that the Negro has con.
tributed to American music whatever
distinctive quality It possesses. Ger
tainly he is the originator of the high
~ syncopated melody so much in favor
today. It is therefore only natural that
the Negro musician should interpret
this music best.
Some years ago in Cole !. Johnson's
show, Of which the writer was musical
director, there was a number contain
ing a peculiarly syncopated passage
which not a single white orchestra
ever succeeded in playing correctly,
while colored orchestras played it with
out effort, unconscious Of its intrfca-
cies Such preference as the Negro mu-
stefan may enjoy is therefore due to
efficiency which is the result Of nat
mal inheritance. 1t is also true that
he is applying himself to the serious
study of his music. Many Of the mem
bers Of orchestras are arrangers and
composers. There are ten or fifteen
such men in this city who have attain
ed q high place in their profession.