Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-25
NINE. OLGA SAMAROFF

TTNlIERE is little doubt that some of the
musical intcrprctativc artists have some
what of Il tendency TO undcrratc the taste
of the American public. says Nine. olga
Samarof Mrs. Leopold StokowSki', one OF
the foremost pinnlsts OF the world.
'I,oth from my own experience and from
what | hnvc S""n.' said Mime. Samar"il.
II am convinced that the American public
will accept and appreciate tho best thn'
the literature of music affords, it it Is given
to them. But 1t j. uni)r'unht"Iy tru" lha'
some artists, in II surrender to conlmcrc!al-
>iSm. undcrrntc III" public taSt" and l'ac" on
their programs works which ore worthy
n"ithcr of the ability of the performer nor
"f the serious confederation of the audi
rncCS.
''TEc growth ut The interest in and In"
appreciation Of music in the United States
hi, cen tremendous during the last to-. or
twelve years. II also has been r"nHtnnt,
net >pnsmodir, and the changes which hhr"
occurred in the public taste are always Tor
the better class Of music.
For Benefit cf All
u caunot say strongly enough that ar
fists. managers ami clubs which ar" fmi"i-
cst"d in the givins, of concerts can. With Ii"
loss to themselves but rather with SuhNtnu-
,ial gain. 60 definitely in the direction of
giving the public the very best that there
j. in music and not play down to the So
called popular taste. This taste is in many
instances considerably higher than ii ap-
pears to br.
''ln my own experience I havr upon scv-
crul occasions sent recital programs to man.
ayers or clubs in smaller cities and had them,
returned (" Mc with the request t" nubNlt-
tutc in plur" Of som" Of lh" lighter S"ir"-
tions c'ns>!cni numbers which i had Thought
could be successfully played only before
the audiences which are to be found in tA"
largest cities. Thus ] learned that musical
cultivati&l has become more widely spread
than has generally been imagined.
zone reason why it il possible to Il" more
| in music than iu literature or the drama Is
! bccuu.r music does not havc to be Undrr
| stood in II scientific or technical S"u,r in
! order to be enjoyed. 1t is self evident that
| "A prrSon cannot gct anything from II piece
| uf lit"rntur" written i'll lnnSuAg" watch
| hr cannot understand and in the drama
! more technical knowledge is required for the
| most thorough appreciation of the work.
But music is the common language, not only
Of all nations, but Of the arts.
An Art Entirely Developed
"Thercforc. 1t is Important for music 10
! be popuiarly Developed because il Is III" one
art which can be developed in its entirety.
| 1t is manifcstly Impossible to bring all the
| great works of painting and sculpture to
| this country, no matter how many mllion-
| aires W" may have, and hence the enjoy
| lnrnt which these great works of art can
| give Is necessarily limited to the few wllo.
| by reason of geographical location or by
! travel are able t" see them.
"iiut il is different with music No
matter where it is composed, no matter what
! the nationality or language Of the composer,
! the work can be- brought to us and played
nr sung here just as well rs IN the COM
| po>cr'N home city. because he is spraking
| in the one universal language of tUHrs.
"Whrn the cycle of the beethoven piano
eonutnS which played in Philadr'phia unl
| New York last season was first projected, |
| WAS told By many persons that they would
not 'g0' that the general public did not
| want them. But the general public die!
| want them. and the NOR" nbStruSc Of the
! souutus and the more difficult ones to uu-
| Lcrstnnd were III" ones which attracted the
| closest attention from the audience.
Faith in Public Justified
! at Is great satisfaction to the artist
| 10 have that belief in the desire "f thr
| American public for the best in music so
! justified. This turte for the best has i'm
! Irovcd immensely IN the last ten years.
| art Of it has been due to the great on
| s,mblrS Of the country in the shape uf our
! fine symphony orcheHtrns and Opcrulir or.
| !,nnzntiolls and perhaps still more Of Il TO
| the fact that an intelligent 9copl" Will rarely
| remain satisfied for u long time with any
| thing but the BEST
| 'Our country owes an enormous debt to