Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-02
ROlLo r. MAITLAND
n the Value Of Municipal Oraans

|
THE value of municipal organ to the
L general culture Of a city is very great,
poser and performer.
organ" said Mr.. Maitland. "is that 1t gives
thousands Of persons in a city an opportunity
ure. In this way 1t does what music in any
| form does in that it uplifts and in measure
| inspires the hearers.
but there are certain problems about
municipa' organ which have not been satis-
factoriy solved In many cities. In the
first place, much depends upon the person.
ality and the ability of the organist, for he
can do much toward the success of the work
he has in hand
A Matter Of Growth
''The popularity of n municipal organ is
somewhat a matter of growth. People as a
rule have not an innate appreciation of the
| possibilities of n great organ purely as
musical instrument. In this respect it has
not yet the status Of the violin, the cello or
Of that univcrsa' instrument, the piano. But
| it is one of the greatest of musical instru.
ments notwithstanding, although the expert
ence Of other cities has shown that u little
time Is necessary to bring this home to the
| people as whole. 1t seems to me that the
opportunity for development along this line
|
whole art of music.
'Scveral important cities of the United
States have municipal organs. In Portland,
| Me-. the development which ! have men.
toned is working out in splendid styc, and
in Denver. Col, also. Springfield, Mass. is
| following along the same lines with excellent
results. The experience in all these cities
has been that, as the public is not accus-
| toned to organ music on the purely instru-
mental and musical basis, little time Is
needed to convince them just what organ
| playing means in this respect.
mo really important musical movement
can ever be successfully accomplished In Il
hurry. 1t took Philadelphia almost twenty
years to awaken to the fact that the city had
one of the most wondcryu instruments in the
| world in the Philadelphia Orchestra, and
| the experience of those cities having munici.
| pal organs has been somewhat the same,
! except in u lesser degree. OF course, the
work done by the Philadelphia Orchestra
| would help to more speedy appreciation of
| great organ.
| Organ Often Regarded Wrongly
| "The organ has been too long regarded
| purely as stiff and awkward church instru-
ment, and largely for this reason people have
| not awakened 10 its many advantages as Il
| musica' instrument.
1T is my opinion that at first concerts on
| n municipal organ should not be given too
frequently. The position Of municipal
organist should, of course, be permanent
| position, but nevertheless | do not believe
| that it is wise to confinc all the concerts to
one person as organist. This plan of having
other organists play has been adopted at
Springfield, Mass, and Is working out very
well as it gives the public an opportunity to
hear visiting artists and local performers Of
| reputation.
"At the same time, I recognize the fact
that the person holding tho position of
| municipal organist Is far more apt to do the
organ full justice than a visiting artist. The
| organ Is an instrument Of extremely complex
mechanism, and 1t is only to be ex pected that
the man who IL playing on it every day will
do better than n stranger who perhaps sees
the instrument for only a short time before
he performs upon IL publicly.
How 1t Aids City
"A fine municipal organ can do for n citv
what a symphony orchestra can do for n.
and perhaps in an even larger way, as the
number of concerts can be greater aftcr a.
| Is demonstrated that the people want them
and appreciate them, and after the organ ha :
achieved II reputation as u fine instrument
every great organist In the world will will .
ingly play II he happens at any time IN
be near that city.
THE organ cannot initiate an orchestra
but it can render very acceptably an immenss
number Of the great compositions PLAYED hv
an orchestra, besides which there IL thc
entire organ literature, Q very volumiuoms
and beautiful one, upon which to draw.
! THE question of what Is 70 be played also
ls at3 lat * "a ~ la " a s. = t, ~ =