Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-11-18
MUSIC NOTES

The Boston Symphony trustees
have made the Great Decision. After
keeping the American people on
tenterhooks since, last spring, when
DR.. Karl Muck proceeded under es-
cort to a place where all good"
nouncement was forthcoming on Fri
day of last week that the conductor
ship for the season 1918-19 had been
accepted by Henri Rabaud, of Paris.
Until Nov. 9 the orchestra will be
conducted by the Metropolitan Opera
leader, Pierre Monteux, a compatriot
of Rabaud's. 1t is known that the
baton had been offered to Camille
.Chevillard, but that distinguished
Paris.
Since its founding by the Civil War
soldier. Henry Lee Higginson, the
Boston Symphony Orchestra has been
headed by European musicians. In
deed, until Dr.. Muck laid down his
furnished baton this famous Ameri-
can institution had been presided
over exclusively by men of Teutonic
birth. Americas entrance into the
war and the enforced abdication of
Muck put an end to this dynasty. But
the spray Of the Atlantic is still lin
the eyes of a number of persons In
%f1uential in American musical affairs.
Tt is plain that there has been little
If any disposition on the part Of the
Boston Symphony trustees to open
the door to an American conductor.
Their leaning has obviously been to a
citizen of that brave republic which
bay for four years. With all the un-
bounded admiration that our people
feel for France, they will not be
blind and deaf to the existence Of
Americans qualified by training, equip
ment and instinct to lead the first or
chestra of our land. II it were pure
ly a patriotic issue the action of the
trustees becomes even less justif1able.
But the issue is a broader one. Pa
triotic considerations enter into 1t,
unquestionably, but the artistic 49,
poets are quite as weighty. An Amer
lean conductor could have-in our
opinion, should have-been chosen
for this post. A magnificent oppor-
tunity to serve American art and
ideals was placed in the handsssof the
Boston, trustees. They put it away
from them without SO much as a
. Henri Rabaud has been n of the
principal conductors Of the Paris
Opera and Opera Comique for many
lyears. His opera.A "Marouf," pro-
Iduced at the Metropolitan last win
ter, showed a sensitive hand and
highly organized musical brain. Crit
ical estimate failed to find genuinely
original or enduring musical ideas,
but Mr.. Rabaud's creative endowment
has no bearing on the present issue.
AS a conductor Americans know little
tabout him; his gifts in this direction
have not penetrated the Western con.
itinent. He shares, however, with
Rndre Messenger the distinction OF
being considered the. best conductor
lot Wagnertan opera in France. His
talents in the symphonic field have
||not brought him conspicuously to the
fore.
The in%eraqicable fact remains thai
Americans have not been given a try.
tout. A conductor was engaged pr
tenn; why was he. too, a foreigner
An American could have shown hi
mettle in a months time.
The thing has been done and de
Icided in an un-Annerican manner
Sealed DOORS. mystery. have charac
terized the proceedings. II an Amer
lean conductor was at any time con
sidered, rumor was singularly un
aware of it.