San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-09
BY PIERRE V. Il. KEY.

ing time hovers. Presently we shal
be outward bound from Cherbourg
one of the many voyagers aboard I'M
ship which is TO convey us across
three thousand miles of sea TO thu
sharbor of New York. Outside the hote
an which We are writing are many
sounds: the babel which seems never
10 cease in that Paris vicinity Of
which the Boulevard des ltaliens ant
Rue Scribe form a conspicuous part
Somehow the footing taxi horns, will
which there mingles the steady dron
ing of the city's other noise, impels
one TO retrospection. In our cast
there is much 10 reflect upon; men
tai reviewing of three months of Euro
pean travel and observation and expe'
riences touching the music fabric Of
great nations.
Looking backward, certain essen.
tials step prominently into the pic.
ture. 1t is a moving picture; train
of events, of musicians and music or.
CARNATIONS, of institutions, of tradi-
tions, and of peoples. No more con
vincing grouping of facts could he
marshalled TO prove that a shadow
now covers musical Europe. From
time to time. since early June last,
we have set forth in this column the
significant high lights; bits of rays
/ that CLEAN in those shadows which, in
time, will grow fainter and fainter I'M
I til, finally, they disappear altogether
in the reconstruction process which
music in Europe must ultimately un-
dergo.
No one who has lately visited with
open mind and ears England, Ger
many, France, Italy and other coun.
tries can refrain from signing over ex.
listing conditions. Not that they are
uniformly discouraging, it is a fact
that in some places on the continent,
and in England also, the musical
slump has been less pronounced. But
to deny that a general retrogression
has taken place since 1914 is to refuse
to admit that one and one make two.
/ We may sympathize with those ma
tions over what has occurred, most
I of US do; yet the observer whose duty
I it is to chronicle conditions as they
I are must, in the end, write down that
I the music pre-eminence of Europe has
| passed. The United States now reigns,
as We shall presently see.
England's Position.
England's musical lapse is most
noticeable in its opera. Where
! are the former grand" seasons which
used to bring royalty and other per-
sonages to Covent Garden? They
have vanished: perhaps not for all
time, but certainly there are no indica.
/, tons Of nearby resuscitation.
The principal reason is due to a
lack of funds which the wealthy Eng
fish folk had in such abundance be.
fore the war. England's tax rate has
: put terrific burdens upon the rich.
Estates which were once the apples
of their owners eyes have gone TO
seed for want of money to maintain
them. So one finds too few amongst
the cultured people of England able
TO indulge their operate tastes, and
since the nouveau richie seem to pre.
fer spending their money for motor
cars and frivolous entertainment,
their support cannot be counted on.
Sir Thomas Beecham may get going
again: there are rumors that he will
and before long. Meanwhile there
have been only the performances OF
the British National Opera to supply
recent day desires of Londoners. In
ferior representations. it is not likely
that they will be materially improved.
symphony music is moderately
taken care of, by moderately good or.
chestras. and there is fair represer..
tatlon of chamber compositions. Re-
citallsts are given their opportunities.
and those of superior quality thrive.
But it is only in the sphere of choral
music that England has held fast 10
her erstwhile place. Here she is SUI
preme. She is attracting attention.
too. through her modern composers.
among whom may be found several
fine talents.
Germany Struggles On.
1t is doubtful il any other nation.
could have preserved as much of n
once challenged musical position a.
Germany has managed to do under
economic conditions that threatened
her existence. With the purchasing
power OF her money steadily depreci.
aung, and thousands experiencing
daily the pangs of hunger. Germany
has continued to give innumerable
concerts and quantity of opera
winch excltes the wonderment of all
who know.
The quality of these achievements
has OF course suffered. Most of the
great artists have Joined the thronr
that invaded America. which has mi
upon those who have remained at
home the humanity impossible task Of
preserving traditions. As n conse.
quence, while there are concerts in
abundance. the average excellence Of
previous times has not been attained
Experts who will conceda the truth
do not hesitate to admit that the or.
chestras. both symphony and onera.
are inferior to those Germany once
had. The players continue ploddinrlv
at their desks (at heart-breoI;inp
pay they rehearse faithfully: there
are few outspoken complaints Still
the results move connoisseurs n
shake their heads in regretful way.
1t isn't at all what it once was. Tho
constant inquiry is: "When will il
be?- WIN -
Some persons whose knowIedpe
lustifies listening 70 their comments
have expressed the belief that matter
will grow worse before they improve.