New-York tribune., 1920-06-27


vided he fulfills the conditions Of the
academy.
Isidor Phillips Account
In an article translated by Frederick
81. Martens. in the last number Of the
Musical Quarterly" Isidor Philip
gives an interesting account Of the
French National Conservatory Of
Music, where his work as a teacher Of
piano is a tower of strength and
where the contest for the Prix de
Rome is the event which arouses the
greatest public interest.
M. Philip thinks that the Paris
Conservatory is usually looked upon
as a professional school, where one
may begin an artistic career as one
might choose a manual occupation,
without technical preparation or spe-
cial talent. In reality, however, the
conservatory Is a superior school Of
learning into which mono are admitted
without first proving technical attain
ments of high order. To-day, owing
to the increasing number of applicants,
a student must know almost enough
to leave tho institution in order to
be accepted.
The collective number Of applicants
registered In 1851 was 28o. In 1914
the number was 1000. In order to
compete with this enormous increase
1t was necessary to establish moro
drastic rules of registration. Fifteen
years ago it was only necessary for
an applicant to file a birth certificate
and an attestation of vaccination. Ap-
plications for entrance we're even re-
ceived during examinations. To-day a
final term is set for the closing Of the
registration books and the class mem
bership is strictly limited. Admission
examinations occur between October
Is and the end Of November. The
character Of the institution, which is
entirely maintained by the government
and where the pupils, regardless Of
nationality, do not pay for instruction,
made a moro severe system of rules
imperative.
The preparatory classes for tho dra-
matte and lyric stage are those which
attract the greatest number Of aspi-
rants, according to M. Philip. Per-
haps this Is because Of the extraordi-
nary success attained by certain sing.
ers and players. Perhaps it is be-
cause a career in this field seems more
accessible, or 1t may be that applicants
have an exaggerated opinion Of their
talent.
Tho budget Of tho Conservatory
amounts to 26s,7oo francs. Of This sum.
1s3,2oo francs is allotted to the staff
of one hundred salarisd persons.
About dozen of the eighty-three pro-
1essors and assistants Of the eighty
one classes receive "a meagrc. variable
and deferred indemnihcation. The
maximum salary for the others is
2,4o0 francs, the minimum 900 francs.
The amount deducted from the BUDGET
for supply and maintenance expenses
Is $500 francs, and of this $4,000 is
distributed In pensions and awards.
The cost Of upkeep, which includes tun-
ing and repairing musical instruments
light, heat, ETC., amounts to more than
10000 francs, with an allotment of
10000 francs to the library.
The teaching is by competitive
system. Where a diploma would be
awarded in another institution the
conservatory gives first prize. The
teachers are permitted the widest lati-
tudo In their methods of instruction
but tho test for all students is iden-
ticai.
In tho study Of solfesgio, which has
oeen perfected to very high degree,
the competitive examination includes
three tests, musical dictation. theory
and reading. Tho first two tests are
given simultaneously. Tho students
are assembled in tho main hall and a
melody representing the principle
rhythmic difficulties and those of in
tonation Is vocalized or played on the
organ. Sufficient repetition both in de-
tail and as whole is permitted in
order"to enable the students to make
individual copies. When the dictation
has been completed the individual
copies are collected and passed in for
inspection. Any student unable to pass
these tests is not allowed to participate
IN the reading test This is represented
BY some sixty measures in several
movements, written in seven clefs.
which must be read at sight with the
expression required by the character
OF the music.
Students in the harmony competition
are locked up individually some Sunday
IN ono Of tho classrooms, about 6
o'clock in the morning. Here bass
ana song Of some forty measures
are provided, for which the three COM
Elementary parts Of the text must be
written without the help of examples.
harmony books or piano. The student
must remain in isolation until his task
IS nnished, at the latest until midnight.
No communication whatever from tho
outside world may reach him. AT meal
time ne is watched to prevent any mes
sage being brought to him by a waiter
Ar$.