The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-05-03
Editorial ~
~ Comment
HIGH-BROw MUSIC

fBy r. IT. Patten)

| tBy r. T. Patten)
| From the earliest dawn of history
the quality OF music prevailing with
any people has been an almost exact
index of their civilization. This Is
still true. We find that uncivilized
| tribes have music of some sort; 1t
is invariably as crude as their man
ner of living. Those nations which
have gone far in refinement have ar
rived at a. highly developed state in
musical culture.
Judged by the above we unavoid-
| ably conclude that those among us
who cannot appreciate classical and
superclassical music are rude or un-
civilized. At this point | discover
that l have argued myself into the
barbarian class, for | cannot appre-
ciate, what is more, can scarcely en-
dure or tolerate, highbrow music, Ell
Their vocal or instrumental. This
| is a misfortune to me and to no one
else. | realize there is a part of
existence, filled with the very high
est and most refined enjoyment,
! which | can never know. Could this
loss have been avoided had I studied
music from an early age? Some say
yes; others no. For my own part
l am uncertain. 1t does not seem
possible that any sort of training
| could have prepared my dull musical
mind to enjoy soprano solo in a
foreign language and in which I am,
| in my present state of musical ignor-
| ance, unable to discover either soul
inspiration, rythm, hum or harmony.
7 .1p
! in my rude state. AS matter of
| fact there are thousands, perhaps the
majority, as badly off as | am. No
doubt, teaching music in the public
schools will slowly remedy this mat
| ter but in the present generation OF
grown-ups there are multitude pass
| ing who will never know and never
enjoy classical music more than my
self.
With the above strongly in mind
| must entreat the unsteady elect
to be gentle in their judgment as to
! the rest of us. Let them comfort
and condone rather than emphasize
our misfortune. Speaking for my
self and others let me say that we
! like to be invited when really high
grade entertainments are in prospect
1t makes us feel that we are looked
upon as civilized. But do leave it to
us to come or not as we see fit and
don't ask us too persistently after
wards how we enjoyed the event.
1t may be argued of course that if
we only suffer and persist long
enough we may come to enjoy refined
music and that the general standard
of civilization will thereby be raised.
There is some merit in this POSSIBLE
ity but in my own case | think 1t
would work out result similar to
the Irishman's horse, who finally
learned to subsist on shavings but
died Immediately thereafter.
After the above confession you will
be surprised to know that | once took
part in an Opera, produced on the
stage of old Coburn Hall. When |
came to town in May 1879 everybody
Twas talking about the Cantata of Es-
Ether This had been produced by To-
cal talent under the direction of Har-
rison J. Kimball. In the caste and
chorus I think were A. r. Smiley,
Mrs l.. L. Morrison. Mrs. Addie Bou-
cher, Mrs Mida Hoyt Mrs. Withee.
Mrs. Emma Halves Dunton, DR.. and
Mrs Charles F. Haynes. Miss Leora
Withee and others who were really
excellent singers. Soon after my ar
rival, | was invited to take part in
one called, "The Hermit of Cashelle."
| had never breathed in my life any
thing like harmonious note and my
musical education otherwise had been
about fifteen minutes instruction on
the piano, my sister, an accomplished
pianist, having evidently discovered
in that short period that / was a
hopeless case But | went with the
other young people and was instruct
ed how to march and otherwise take
part in the stage movements. The
attempt was made to get me to sing
with the chorus. Anyone familiar
with rehearsals of that character will
know the difficulty the director has
in getting amateurs to "let OUT and
produce volume This man would
storm up and down the line demand
ing that everybody open his mouth,
throw up his chin and make noise.
Enough of this sort of thing induced
me to fairly below. AT the next
trip by he cast his ear downward and
listened from point to point in the
line and as he passed my vicinity he
said, somebody growls along here"
A little later he called me one side
and said that | need not thereafter
pay any attention when he exhorted
for more volume. Such urging it
seems was not intended to applyNin
my case. Thus was promising
musical career nipDed in the bud :
thus was my only hope of musical
refinement shattered; thus was l ex-
cluded from the musical world and
thrust forever into the outer dark
ness of nnmusical barbarism.