Evening star., 1931-06-25
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRAcEWELL.

on it is the music, It is true, but only
such for a relatively few persons IN the
world. It is said that Beethoven never
heard many of his great compost
tions, and no doubt a sheet of paper
inscribed with notes Is greater music
to true musician than the finest rem
dition Of the same composition TO the
remainder of us groundlings.
For most human beings melody only
Is alive when it Is winging its invisible
flight through the ether. 1t exists for
as only by reason Of our ears. What
we cannot hear III music we DO not
know, although the critics unite to tell
us that the thing is wonderful.
~
That Is why 1t is necessary for any
one who Is interested in music to be
enough interested in it to make his best
determination to play it correctly.
Note we do not say ito play 1t cor
rectly." That is given to few. But every
one who loves music and who tries to
pick out a melody, even If with one
finger only, should honestly try to do
his best
Better it Is to close the piano case
forever, or to shut uup the mandolin in
its box, or the violin in its case, than
to be content to go along humping out
those precious flowers of melody as If
1t were o matter OF no concern TO any
one. whether the result were an ap-
Proclamation or worse.
1t does make a great deal Of diff
ference. 1t does make a difference
whether any one tries to do the best he
can or not. Not that the result may be
first class or even good. but that 1t may
show an attempt to do something be-
sides be willing to blunder along.
4 x y
In things musical there is a particu-
lar need for a determined effort, not
merely to Ehump by the hour but more
to do what humping one does al well
as one can.
We wish We could impress this upon
every one who amateurs around, as one
might say, with the great musical It'd
bits
They are precious things, and you
have no right to mishandle them; not,
that Is, If you have any taste at all.
The fact that you are attempting to
play them shows you have taste.
Then, for your own sake, as well as
theirs, make a real effort to play them
correctly. It Is amazing what even the
unmusical person can do If he tries.
There are thousands Of music lovers
in this country who can play but one
piece. but they play 1t SO that 1t is
possible to listen to 1t.
They are damned by the ignorant, and
sometimes their one tune does indeed
become bore, but their hearts are in
the right places. after all.
y \
One who shows his genuine apprecia-
ton of music by the selection Of great
though simple musical patterns can do
a great deal more than one tune.
The same amount Of time and energy
spent on whacking the life out Of a
piano or other instrument, q process
which displeases the player no less than
the listener. would result in something
worth while If real effort were made
to play 1t correctly.
Remember, music Is not music unless
1t Is correct. Music is mathematics Of
sort, and cannot be right II 1t Is in
correct any more than plus 2 makes 5.
Correctness is at the root OF musical
composition. Until that is achieved, in
some degree at least, the body Of the
composition cannot show. It cannot
even begin to take form. II you love
good music. respect it enough to work
at it or leave it to those who will.