Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-13
THE COWNSMAN
A Plea for Old Time Music

\ Plea for Old Time Music
SELDOM has the Gownsman attended
Ma concert which gave him such un
qualified pleasure as that which was
held last week to commemorate the
looth anniversary of the foundation Of
our Philadelphia Musical Fund Society,
The nature and beneficcnt activities of
this famous old association are too
well known to lovers Of music to need
any recital here. But the nature Of
TINS particular concert, reviving as ii .
did IN many of the elder 60: cration de-
llghttul memories of simpler and
dare we say it?-a wbolesomer past.
these are things which cannot be let |
pass by without o word.
THE entertainment of last week was
= called "a Jenny Lind Concert" |
and 1t purportcd to represent in revival .
not only the actual program of one Of .
the concerts of that sweet singer of be .
loved memory, but to show us on the
stage in the habit in which they lived. .
and more, in the concord of sweet sound
which each produced, not only Jenny
Lind herself. but Ole Bull. the superb
old wizard of the violin, and the great
tenor, Signor Mario. as well. 1t was
hitting that the grand orchestra of up
ward OF thirty pieces should be directed
by Signor Max Strakosch. notable leader
and, impresario. and that the whole
should be preceded-as was customary
in the frank old days-by one of those
eloquent and hamboyant speeches of
mingled wit, simplicity and boastfulncss
which made famous the name of L. T.
Barnum, prince of all exploiters, under
whose sole management everything
took place.
A y EFFORT of such daring aud
"A pleasantly might readily have de
generated into burlesque or wo:sc but.
sustained as il all was with vcritable
artistry. IL may well be- doubted
whether the travesty did not more than
match the excellence Of tho old concert
of which il was merely the take of.
Miss Garrison did far more than charm
ihgly look her part as Jenny Lind: she
sustained it alike in the exquisite
beauty of her voice and in her sympa.
thetic Interpretation Of the spirit of the
old music. And such as may recall the
great Norwegian, Ole Bull--although
this may. perhaps. be referablc to the
period of his fading powcrs--may re
member more of his wizardry than of
that substantial musicianship which
distinguished the violin of Mr.. Gittle-
son the other evening, as well as the
competence of Mr.. Braun in song.
plT there is something more. Did
- We older folks enjoy this old-tm
concert alone for its intrinsic musical
excellence or for the memories which
, cluster in the minds Of many of us a. to
other concerts in this famous Musical
Fund Hall? Or is there even beyond
this Il something in the simpler, home
lier. moro frankly sentimental music of
our grandfathcrs which deserves a more
respectful memory than it habitually
receives? The custom of patroniZing
Sranddad has been honorcd in the gen
crationS of the young time ont of mind
And granddad: Well. granddad is.
after all. only granddad But it is n
pcrilous business to fall in our lenses
hopelcssly into the past: for there are
fcw Of us who like thus 10 become per
feet, much less pluperfcct
rNIIE Gownsman wvud bc the last to
l. Join in anything but praise for the
growth o. taste for music among us.
The devoted work Of q small group of
music lovers here in Philadelphia. who
have persisted in their devotion. de-
serves all the recognition which we can
possibly give it. Without them there
would be now neither music Of Il worthy
! kind to listen TO nor auditors TO hear it,
/ Nor need we raise the captious question
aS to what proportion OF a Philadel
phia-or any other. for that matter
!. g.. 4.
love of music and what proportion goes
because it is tho proper thing to do. 4
similar Questiun--wcre it susceptible of
an actual answcr-might bring n dis
appointing result even in Germany.
where Gambrinus has not been as yet
baniShcd from participation in con
ccrts. nor the culinary art completely
disSociatcd from everything ''muSical'
except iaZZcry. But such matters aside
it is noticeable that music in America
has split into somewhat remarkable
separation. We have the music of the
cultivated and tho wealthy represented
in the classical. sometimes nlso in tho
IN dc steele. productions of tho accepted.
whether for orchestra, in opera or in
the recital of virtuosos And We have.
by way of very pronounced ,and noisy
protest. tho unmusic of musical com
puN, NduutNlllt, udUtC HHll ana res
tauraut. which in its supcrlativr ac-
ccntuaton gives us the grotcsQucric of
. the jazz band Is there nothing be
tween:
TT Is sometimes quoted to the dis
l. advantage of the English that they
are not really musical people. And il
, must be confessed that the popularity
in England of oratorio and of the
, church organ. played upon in most
. unchurchly wise, gives color to this
accusation. But London--at least be-
fore the war---was full Of popular con
ccrts in which musical entertainment
] vocal and instrumental. was provide,
! for the people; by which tho Gowusmal
means neither the chosen few who sub
scribe for the season and have thei
: names Nngravcn as devOteos of the arts
= nor yet for the proletariat to whom
music is rharitably provided as an clc
. ment Of uplitt, These popular or bal
y lad concerts, as they were somewha
indiscriminately called, provided, be
:. sides much good old music of the nc
cepted moro popular type. cxcellcn
classical music as well. and occasion
ally the most famous of musicians wcr
4 not unwilling to appear in them wit
q the humber members Of their profcs
il sion.
h Tn TIE times of John Milton and be
y l. fore. lovers Of music used. to sin
Is their old English madrigals in thre