Omaha daily bee., 1918-11-03
By HENRIETTA M. REEFS.

DNiNhoS hos oPPoihhSd Ani. bSh
Stanley, organist and choir mas
ter of Trinity Cathedral and dean
OF the Nebraska chapter American
Guild of Organists. as organizer and
director OF the Liberty chorus for
Omaha. The Liberty chorus will
sing at all patriotic mass meetings,
and it is designed to keep it inJ.h-
nitely as a chorus for Omaha after
the war This is part of the plan
of the National Council of Defense
to make Nthis country during the
war and afterward a singing nation.
The, state will furnish the music for
the patriotic songs to be used now,
and for the concert work which will
be done later in the life of the
chorus. The first rehearsal and or
ganization viii, be held in the chape,
OF Trinity Cathedral at 8 o'clock
Tuesday evening, November 5. Any
body who is 100 per cent American
and has "a voice is invited to be
present at this meeting Further
details will be worked out and an
nounced next week.
This is a most commendable step
which has been taken by the Ma
tional Council of Defense. The
community music idea has proven
its worth, not only in the cities
where it has been definitely recog-
nized and encouraged but more than
anywhere else in the army camps,
where its value i'll the life of the
soldiers and sailors has been great.
With the National Council Of De-
tense behind this movement and the
Nebraska Council of Defense work.
ing in our state, and with Mr., Stan
ley and an enthusiastic body of men
! and women to start it, we may look
forward to much from this chorus
in the future. ~
Three reasons for the low prices
OF the. season tickets to the con-
cert course OF the music department
OF the Omaha Woman's club are
given by Mrs. w, I. Shafer,
leader:
First, in order that no club
woman need feel that she can not
afford to pay her debt of gratitude
: to the musicians.
Second, III order that no music
students shall be shut out from con-
certs which they really should have
as a part OF their development by
financial reasons. and that no music
Nover should be kept away for the
same reasons.
Third, in order to force themselves
to sell out every seat, not only to
make it financial success, but also
to guarantee the musicians the
stimulation of large and encourag-
ing audience.
There are many more than three
reasons why every one who is III
terested in the progress OF music in
Omaha should patronize these con-
certs by local artists, great many
OF which have already been men
toned in this column. Mrs. Shafer
has also gone on record as the first
manager to guarantee that the hall
will be we'll ventilated before the
concert and that the air therein will
be real fresh air. This is another
reason why these concerts should
be we'll patronized. 1t will give All
added element of novelty to the
course. The tickets for this series
OF concerts, which includes many OF
the most prominent professional
musicians of Omaha in its programs,
are 81 and war tax, and they may
be purchased from Mrs. w. E.
Shafer, 1910 Capitol avenue, or other
members of the music department.
NJ. Andre Messenger recently
gave most interesting interview to
the New York World. M. Mesa
ger. you remember, is the conductor
Of the Societe du Conservatoire de-
Paris, the wonderful French orches-
ira which is at present in America
under the direct auspices of the
French. government. Asked about
the course of French composition in
the future he said: "Of course, the
path that French music will take is
precisely unknown to me. But mu-
sic is an individual thing, personal
expression. A man expresses his
own, inspiration, and that lies
chiefly in his, head. II man has no
talent to begin with, the war, let me
assure you, will not supply him with
any"
The Societe du Conservative de
Paris is not on a money basis. The
man receive no salaries. The So
ciety is cooperative. AT the end of
the year what profits they have are
divided among the members of the
orchestra. Musicians are chosen by
competition. Only men who have
gained first prizes at the Conserva-
toire may enter the lists. which are
held whenever death or other cause
leaves an opening. The judges of
the competitions are the players in
the orchestra, and sharper judges
would be hard to find. The con-
ductor is elected and remains at
the baton until his Goth year, after
which he must be elected every two
years. 81.
And what do you suppose this
Leading French orchestra played at
its opening concerts. The works OF
Beethoven and Schamann, two of
the greatest German composers.
Wasn't that a good joke on those
brave patriots, who would not allow
the music of any great German
classicist to be heard during the
war, who, as someone aptly said.
would turn to the wall every pic
ture which was painted by greet
German painter, no matter how long
he had been dead, and who would
not recognize>any great world truth
because it happened some great
German philosopher had also recog-
nized and expressed the same thing?
All of which goes to show that
there should be discrimination and
y 4 -