New-York tribune., 1920-11-28
Bv II. {. krehbiel

wIAr CAN SIrslc DO FOR YOU \
Cuiie % tn I'uini,ialeA ~ Harriet \
Seymour. Harper Bros. New York.
Music FOR ENERYBo -CRGANIzA-
YIoE AND LEADI.f.sHIp OF COM
NtNITN Music -ArT.s IT Is. BY Mar
The Abingdon Iress New York.
PUTTING YOUNG AMERICA IN TUNE:
4 -J' yt t~al' 81 Henriettc
"@her. FsedericA !. Oraae & Co. Chi
HOW 70 STUDY MUSIC. BY Charles II.
arHs~pttn- IAs Maenai.i44 Compsay.
Nrw York
Here are four books which have
.2te.y come from the press which may
be sad .o have their root IN a Common
convection that there has been sort
of m4saca. conversion Of the people of
the United States within the las. few
years evidenced b. Z greater interest
n tie art AID increased cesire 10 par
ticipats n j; ~ both performing and
hearing and al i y oyed standard OF
appreciation.
That a. - hem revo.7e n i greater
or less Gegrae around ant matte mu-
s-c-mach.nes and contain lists Of pieces
se-ectec from tnc cataioeues OF the
makers Of phonographs, ii i does not
-1stlfy the suspicion that their pm
poses are commercial rather thar a.
tlstlc, or artistic for more or less com
'nerclal ends, at least proceed from the
presumption that the machines have
oeen largely inst-ument4. in creating
and de7elorlLT musical interest and
appreciation.
Called Community Gings'
Tho machines, and what in the jour
Ialiatic s-aAs Of the day, wt.rh even
obviously serious writer's do not hest
ale 20 Use, are called Community
sings asst word a substantive in
contempt of the grammar.ans. Ma
chimes and "sings" have made music,
n this conception an art Of the masses
democratiled art Whetncr or nos
-His - t.1e and whether, If true, man
nd ard the art have been bettered it
- not necessary to discuss here or
now. II nigh: be admitted that music
fas become a more general possession
u that more people hear it in one form
or another than used to hear it haf
&C. t1-y ago bat even then the ques-
..eas void remain open: Is better
m4zic heard now than formerly Is
good uaa!c better unGerstood7 Has
,nere been an Improvement Of taste in
caring and judgment, in creating and
performing.
T. re were desirous, out Of a spirit
- a.sra.stic orsirnisrn, to say yes 70
maze quest.ons ne should hesitate in
me fare ~ he evidence offered in our
lyric tneaters and concert halls, by the
catalogues eI tho music machine manu-
fact1rers aad the contents o. yhono-
graph record cabinets.
Ma some II this evidence re are
f>ro ..ar; concerning The rest We knor
~ -'tt'e tnat we would not venture 20
aazard ~ opinion vpon IL. From what
80 have secn and heard We are inclined
~ believe that there nave been no in
eicatiors ~ edvancin2 artistic capacity
n or public performances E.nce pho
no2Tapne and player pianos came into
Dfpe.Y.ous gse, or of understanding and
taste IN ocr audiences
We yes down the belief; we shall not
s''fmpt - PROVE It's corrsc.ncss nor 20
nFfend u nor n discuss It's poaslHe re-
lst'onznlp ~ the prevalence of pcpa-
.af sihX rE Ia negligible fnctor IN New
fof< a. oest) end altoniatic music. 4
ie~ thoughts run through tncso BOOKS
~@ien o9ga. seFiogs.y 10 bo Dondered
ind NJ. 5i.tneiy accepted because they
IRE Frequently uttered and sonnet mes
".th = esrnestnsss and obvious sin.
csrity.
Tbs writer's ars popular educators.
or strive 10 bs. They gay that music
IS IN Individual necessity and, IL In