Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-06-01
By HENRIETTA M. REEFS.

VIII close for the summer, June
IS, and the warm sultry breezes
OF the last few days remind us that
tins date is only two weeks distant.
There is but little ahead even now in
the line of music. few pupils re-
citals perhaps, the opening of sum-
lner classes in some studios and the
closing OF other studios, as both
tercher and pupils indulge in a rest
and vacation. Many of the teachers
20 to musical camps or centers
where they find diversion in con-
unucd personal study. and where
they gain added inspiration for next
>eason's work. Others gain their
inspiration from an entire change Of
scene and activity, associating with
The great outdoors, perhaps, and re-
bul1ding muscle and nerve tissue.
Many pupils cease both thought and
activities. and dismiss what they
have learned during the past season
as an old coat, while others use their
vacation to assimilate it and to
cIinch the most important points.
For yet others the summer months
are the months in which they do
their most serious musical work.
Where is the recital Of Clarence
Eddy to be held June 18th? There
seems to be general misunder-
standing all around in regard to its
being held at st. Cecilia's cathedral.
1t seems, as | understand it from
variety of sources, that everybody is
perfectly sincere, but that coin
cidence of events just happened.
Miss Winifred Traynor has been Or
2anist at the cathedral since the in
stallation of the new organ, which
was the gift of Frank Burnley.
Mr.. Burnley thought it would be
nice to have Clarence Eddy give an
organ recital, as Clarence Eddy is
one of the most celebrated of all
American organists. He spoke to
Miss Traynor about it, who also
thought so. Therefore, Mr.. Burk-
ley went on with his arrangements.
In the meantime, new organist,
Mr.. Silbey, came to town; why, no
body knew. Then it was learned
he was engaged to be the cathedral
organist. He is man who has held
most important organ positions, both
in London and in Washington, posi-
tons he could not have held with
out being a well-equipped musician.
In the first place he is strict
churchman, and believes that
churches should only be used for
liturgical purposes, and he does not
approve of concerts held in them.
In the second place, he thought,
since he had been engaged as organ
list, he should have been consulted
about it, as he very justly should.
As it happened the cathedral organ
ist was consulted, but it did not hap
pen to be the same organist, and
the views Of the two were very diff
ferent. At any rate he objected to
the concert, so in all probability the
recital will be held elsewhere.
Personally we can see nothing in
decent or inaproros about church
music, and all organ music was writ
ten in connection with the church,
with the exception of some music
written in the last few years and
certain prescriptions. There is a
majesty and dignity about it at times
which clears the brain, soothing
calm in its broad singing melodies
which eases the nerves and COM
forts the heart, and at other times
there is a certain clean joyousness
in it. and aesthetic happiness which
| find in no way incompatible with
religion, or with the place in which
religious services are held. There
is usually nothing undignified about
the organ programs of great artists.
But | am a very low church person,
and what is. or is not suitable in a
church. either protestant or Catholic,
is a matter upon which there is a
great deal of difference of opinion.
One of the interesting little side
features about the Metropolitan
opera in New York is the program
book. This is a nicely planned
booklet, which contains the pro-
gram, of course, advertisements, OF
course, list of the box holders for
the season. a page of information,
and two or three pages about the
opera house. with diagrams, etc.
But one of the incest things about
it is the fact that every here and
there throughout the booklet, wher-
ever there is any space, there is re-
printed some little anecdote about
some composer, brief excerpt from
the writing of some celebrated writ
.er on musical subjects, or short
article from either an interesting
musical book or magazine. Some
are called "Overtones," some have
title "Here and There" Some are