New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-04
~
W.
By H. f. krehbiel

observation his vocation for nearly
hall a century, should set down the
fact that he had fancied that the days Of
zone forever in the metropolis Of the
country, and that such meetings as
hsd occupied his attention forty-odd
wears ago would never be seen again.
Once upon q time music festivals
locked like the most significant and
interesting features Of the country's
musical life. In the early part Of my
professional career ! attended many
OF them in many places, and as q
SUDDEN. OF the history Of musical de-
velopment in the United States l have
searched as patiently and laboriously
as any man to get at the beginnings Of
musical culture in the East and Middle
West-to find the roots of the tree and
trace the source Of the springs which
nour!shed them. AS a broad generali-
cation 1t may correctly be said that
festivals-choral festivals, l mean
are admirable stimulants for commu-
mites in which musical culture is in
its infancy, and that they lose their
value when culture takes on mature
growth and stability. After that. un-
less devoted to specific ends which or
binary musical activity leaves un-
touched, they are more likely to do
harm than good, because they tend to
sensationalism, TO substitute hectic
excitement for calm enjoyment, nullify
Judgment and degrade taste. Perform
ances which would best be heard in
moderate sized music rooms are given
In vast places, i'll adapted to hearing,
and music which would make Its
most eloquent appeal if played and
sung by small and we'll balanced agen-
cies is vulgar;zed by imitation of the
forces til correct and refined perform
aaces are impossible.
Two Typical Music Festivals
For many years two cities have
maintained music festivals which in
their origin illustrate two types Of
culture. The cities are Worcester,
Mass, and Cincinnati. The annual fes-
tivals in Worcester represent almost q
century Of 81 activity which, because
cannot call it development (since ar
t;st;c growth has not marked the meet
ings for a long time). l must call eff
fort or energy. The more famous Gin
c.nnati festivals have taken place
b.annially since 1878, and they, too,
lcrg ago ceased to have the evolu-
tionary significance which they had in
the first decade Of their existence. The
two institutions were widely divergent
= in their origins. II ought to be inter
esting 70 look at those origins, in view
Of the present state Of music in the
United States. The p~rogenitors Of the
Worcester festivals we're the old. con-
v~entions which fourished throughout
New England a century ago. The Gin
cinnati festivals were an outgrowth of
the German national S~angerjeste which
had their beginnings. by q singular CO.
incidence. in Cincinnati in 1e49. These
German festivals ~antedated the first
convention, which established a success
sion o. meetings at Worcester, by nine
years, but the precursors of that conven-
ton we're many decades earlier than the
first OF the German organizations out Of
which the Cincinnati festival idea
grew. That idea, though il has re-
tained stability in It's original habitat,
was spasmod.c n its effects. I at
tended some Of the first Cincinnati fes-
tival concerts in 1878; l reported them
for The Cincinnati Gazette" until l
came 10 join the staff Of The Tribune
in December, 1880, and for years after
iourneyed TO my old home every two
years TO report the meetings for this
paper. Il was not until l was forced
70 recognize that, however inspiring
they might be TO the people Of Gin
cinna.i, they no longer could be said
70 nave a national significance, that |
gave up going TO them. Meanwhile,
under the influence Of the first festi-
walls, | had seer festivals and even
music halls, noleled after those OF
Cincinnati. spring up in ST. Louis, In
d~ianapolis, Chicago, Minneapolis, Phil
adelphia and New York-spring up Ike
mushrooms and decay like any other
fungus, giving place again TO normal
conditions Which were more conducive
70 artistic culture.
History Of the Worcester Festivals
The history o| the movement which
produced the festivals Of Worcester
and Cincinnati is Interesting and ought
70 BE- lnstr4ctive 70 the many bump.
Hous young writer's on musical mat
Nrs ~ ray nothing Of performers Anc
eondpcsorsj who think that their rp.
pearance on The scene marked the be.
canning Of musical cultivation IN the
chi,eo States. Eighty-odd years age
us sia2era IN the church choirs 0.
sew England we're eager 70 learn more
Nan local condi,iona offered about tn,
mIsler.es Il ,ne art and to practis'
'ash2e.Tes In soraething better thar
re Isa!mody Of the meeting houses
"a ins hey we're encouraged by tn
sh'!r leaders and s!nging teachers, VII
~h' appreciated the a~dvantages which
cams from association with the bette;
trained nos.cI&ns u Boston. SO tn
'An was evolved II bringing tho ANA
~15 choristsrs o7 hslf Il dozen ham