New-York tribune., 1920-04-18
The Orchestral Mission
To Europe and Its Aim
By II. E. kreAbiel

ton from tne SiSit VI suo SymPuOuJ
soeiety's orchestra to Europe, whether
the United States or France, Belgium.
Italy and England, can only be a mat
ter of speculation as yet Mr.. Walter
Damrosch. in whose mind the enter
nr;se originated and who is it's artistic
head, has departed from our shores
vithout leaving with US anything
about what he expects to accomplish
beyond the general notion that the
visit of the musicians will help to knit
closer the bonds of sympathy between
Illustration Of the wicked designs of
Germany against the independence of
the world. We do not know that he
has given expression to his desire in
words like these, but they probably re-
feet his hope. 1t is laudable aim
benehcent, comprehensive, noble. \
similar spirit of propagandism proba-
bly, inspired the visit to the United
ki3LeS O1 tEt OIkuCoLA0 q VI ZIG aA .
Conservatoire while the nations were
still engaged in active warfare. To
what extent that mission was fulfilled
We have had no opportunity to learn.
change of international courtesy is
somewhat troubled by the present po-
itical situation, but if music shall
tend to soothe the savage breast in
this instance not only the New York
symphony Society but the whole world
will owe an inconceivably great debt
of gratitude to Mr.. Harry Harkness
Flagler, whose magnificent generosity
has made the undertaking possible.
Europe and Appreciation of America
This is but political philanthropy,
however, and we should like to turn
the popular mind to a consideration
Of some of the artistic benefits which
may righteously be expected to flow
from the splendid undertaking. 1t
may be that Mr.. Damrosch will be as
iltItc dOlC ~ A6lSS VIC oS0AN1AN W
musical culture in the countries which
he shall visit as the French conserva-
torians were to instruct US in the ap-
probation Of orchestral music. If not,
the fact will not prove that the visit
will have been made in vain. 1t is in
struction of a different kind that is
needed. We should like to have Eu-
rope better informed than it is touch
ing the present state of musical cul-
ture in this country, the attitude OF
our people toward the best things in
the art, their taste and their under
standing. Our willingness to sperd
money on foreign virtuosos and the op-
cratic institutions in New York and
Chicago is widely enough known. The
fact that we are enabling so many
singers, violinists and pianists to live
in a style of luxury which they would
never dream Of in their native lands
has not been concealed from the world.
But that fact, despite it's antiquity,
has never been recognized as an evl-
dence of our intelligent appreciation
Of art by Europe-least Of all by Ger
many and Austria, which countries, un-
fortunately, will not be reached by
Mr.. Flagler's mission. England has a
large appreciation Of the amount of
solid musical culture possessed by the
inhabitants Of the principal American
cities. 1t has had such an apprecia-
ton for a long time, because it has
not permitted national vanity and ma
tional jealousy to close its eyes to the
activities Of a people with whom its
own are SO closely related. In 1886,
when this writer spent some pleasant
and profitable hours with DR.. Hueffer,
new dead, then the critic Of "The Lon
don Times" and the most influential
writer on musical subjects in England,
that gentleman volunteered the state
ment that In his opinion New York
was many years In advance Of London
IN respect Of musical taste. That may
have been the case then; we questios
that it is true to-day. If it is, then
music must be in a parlous state In
deed IN London, for though the people
ef New York are spending perhaps ten
times as much money on music as they
did thirty-four years ago, it is our
melancholy but sincere conviction that
In comprehension and love for The art
they have retrograded steadily during
the generation that has elapsed since
then. For evidence we can point to
oar opera and our symphony concerts,
unabashed By the circumstance that
aSsndance upon these two forms Of
entertainment has increased tremen-
d"usiy. Ostrich-like capacity and os-
srich-!ike aDpetites are not evidences
oi refined taste. Our. symphony con-
esrss have been more than quadrupled
siree then, and ten times az many per-
ssns hear them. But the public sup
ported and understood them then. Now
'hey live of the benefactions Of a few
Wealthy patrons, and there is never q
esaeers at which judicious listener
car say that he perceives discriminA-
'i7s attitude On the part Of tho audi
sacss either az 70 compositions or per-
fsrmance.
Austrian Vanity and Intolerance
fars, which IN this respect stands
Aex France, has some understanding Of
the degree Of culture possessed by