Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-14
JOSEF 4. PASTERNACk
On Music for the Masses

NHCSIC for the masses, which is now one
lVl of the watchwords Of cultural move
ments all over the world, is Of comparatively
recent development, but is making up in
energy for what it lost in time in the matter
of getting started, says Josef A: Paster-
mack, conductor Of the Philharmonic Society
Orchestra of Philadelphia.
I'm the olden days when music was
first being recognized as one OF the really
serious fine arts" said Mr.. pasternnck. t
was only for the few who could pay to main:
tnin their own Orchcstras and chorus"s, and
the public had very little chance to hear
any music outside of the church. Under
these circumstances. the mobiles and the per-
sons of high degree were the patrons OF the
art. and musicians, even as late as thr
time Of Haydn and Mozart, were regarded
M little more than servants Of little
higher degree than the ordinary one III the
houses Of titled personages.
When the Change Came
1.-THE change came in about the time OF
Mozart. and from that time on there was
q constantly increasing demand on the part
of the people for a share In the music OF
the period Compare this situation with
that Of today. when everv one feels that
music is a necessity land as the Government
Of this country so ruled during the late war;.
and one will see what an advance and what
this regard in about century and half.
'Thc effect Of good music upon the moral
character Of the people and its educational
influence upon them cannot he TOO hlghly
estimated. But tn reach this result the
music must be placed where the greatest
frequently. For this reason l nm glad to
see that the improvement in the music which
the moving picture houses are giving has
been so great, although much of this music
is still very bad. The movies unquest!on'
ably exercise Il vast influence upon the peo-
pie; and, while the matter OF music Is en-.
tirely n secondary one so far as most OF the
audience is concerned, still the repeated
hearing of the better kind OF music cannot
help doing lot of valuable missionary work.
"The mechanical music making nppara.
stusos. such as the talking machine and the
player piano also have done much 70 edu-
cate the taste Of the people in the right di.
rection. These things have brought nome
to n vast number of persons music Of which
they would otherwise have remained IN
ignorance and have familiarized them with
many masterpieces Of the worlds best COM
positions through repeated hearings.
Growth Of Orchestras
"But perhaps the greatest and most sig,
nihcant Of all has been the immense growth
The oversold condition OF the Philadcclpha
Orchestra year after year is proof of this
fact, az are also the crowds which attend
the series Of concerts OF the Philharmonic.
"There 10 great need for more orchestral
music. and the people, not only Of Phil
adelpha, but Of the country at large, have
shown that they will eagerly absorb more
than they are getting now. This has been
the experience Of the Boston Symphony, the
New York Philharmonic, the New York
Symphony Society (Mr. Damrosch's orches-
tra) and practically oil of the others This
10 further shown by the large number Of
new orches,rns, perhaps not 80 great as
those which I have mentioned, which have
been started In other cities Of the United
States.
personally ! want to play for ths masses
and 40 does every artist worthy Of the name.
He would rather appear before a large and
| enthusiastic audience. even though not so
highly cultivated from the technical musical
standpoint. than before nm audience of
critical and highly educated musicians who
| look to the form rather than to the musical
| substance Of what they are hearing.
"No man is ever so happy, no matter what
remuneration he receives. as when he is
singing or playing to a house filled to the
doors. II 70 the artists greatest joy.
!. \ III 10 sniataks Tor any conductor to play