Er 1 Ev [the end of-a programme say. "ticularly good 0 THE DAILY BRITISH WHIG, TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 1919. i PAGE THIRTEEN f ® A Musician on German Music } o Interviewed by the New York Sun. Albert Spalding, formerly well known On the concert platformt and now a Heutemant in the United States-Avias tion Department, sakd; "1 do not believe in eteluding all German music, but I bbijeve that we should only listen te music of dead Germans. There are two reasons for this: First, because it is good music; and, second, the Germans who wrote it are dead and a dead German is better than a living German. "Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Schu- bert, Schumann and Brehms have nothing to do. with the hellishness of the Hohenzollerns and Hapsburgs. Their utterances are heaven storm- ing proclamations of nature's beau- ties, 2 "We have more right to the heri- tage of their beauty than has war- mad Germany of to-day. We are more their followers in our ideals and aspirations han the Germans are, and why ¢hould we deny our- selves the privilege of listening to them simply because the unhappy land from which they came has since run amuck-----temporarily we hope-- from the podsons.of Nietzsche and Bernhanrdi?"" . "Modern Cermany has produced many clever musicians, many efficient musicians, but in my. opinion their is ibe trivmph of materialism canno prodiice wpiritual results" worthy of the name and the same rothless hand that burned the kbrary at Louvidin and pointed the guns of destgiction at Rheims, Paris and Venice, has for forty years been nailing all true artis- tic effort and impulse. toward indi- vidual freedom of thought to a mild- tary cross of iron. "A Germany that would repudiile her HohenzoHerns and Hindenburgs might some day in the future have something to say to us in art, but as they stand to-day Goethe, Beethoven amd Kani would renounce and dis- inherit them as followers." w+ What place do you think America is going to take in music? . Do you t that she has a future in the art of music?" the interviewer asked. "Most certainly," replied Lieut. Spalding. 'Even before the war there was an awakening throughout America to the great need for artistic expression by 'the artist himself and artistic. experience by the laymen, And now more than ever with the sacrifices and trials © and with the purification that comes by fire, Am- erican men and, women will turn te music for consokition and for the ex- pression of their phoughts and ideals. And why should we doubt that a na- tion that has already produced great writérs, great painters and great architects should be able also to pro- lasting value is nil. fs "A nation whose avoWed purpose AAA A AAA A AA AAA A A AAA AANA Interesting Briefs v 3 Even a revolution will not go with- out singing. Techatkowsky, the most distinguish- ed representative of modern Russian musical: compositions, was born on Christmas Day. That event was quite fitting as Christmas and music are inseparable, Sir George Grove, editor-in-chief of the - monumental 'Dictionary of Music &nd Musicians," was by pro- fession a civil * engineer. He was knighted by Queen Victoria in 185683. 7 . Bt. Saens began his plano studies at the age of two and a hall years and yet some parents to-day think that at-six, or seven or eight years is 100 young. Describing how articipation in music has affected ole communi: ties, a gentleman describes one town where the man who drives you from the station will likely he singing Blgar's "'Caracthéus' $6 you the, same evening. boii oy a Picking the hits in the popular BONE Wi 4s no sineture. But they usually have a. ai story melody yr rae 0 Wd vi med atid sung. - < a ---- po A typical instance of Hapsburg policy was when in 1784 the Czechs had their choral societies suppressed by Joseph 11. These ral organiza- tions not only kept alive the people's dove of 'musie but their very national life, Fw "Inde a rec id aot" someone . asserts, 'that le in sig o foreign language better than their own because, being. a. for n an: guage, they take more pains y 21 . It is hard to eee'how that can be construed to make ay © argument against the demand for more singing in English. > "* 7 The No Encore Rule, At a new series of ballad concerts recently inaugurited in England it was made quite plain that one of the innovations was the . 'no encore" rule. © The announcement to this ef: fect was loudly applauded, which shows that the public.is coming more and more to favor no encores. Some programmes are too long ag it is without allowing for any second 'ap- pearances, 'While all assemblies would probably not assert it epenly, deep down in their hearts most peo- pie know it is-hetter to leave the con- cert hall feeling that they have not had enough than to g0 away over: loaded. It is always an asset for a singer, » violinist, a pianist, an or chestra or a chorus to have people. A a friends, *'I really would have liked another number." It may be a good "rule to give the public what the) want, Put it°18 a poor ome to givs then all they want. © 2 ap The Pryctice of "encoring is easily earfied to the extreme. The fry n "on the programme is a evlans 80 the artist {8 given a genuine éncore. The sec _ nimber is just an average one, bun 'a kind-hea is bor Two. gots' an. encorn two an , too, third encore comes, and the rule ig then established, Then there is en« core after Bncore right through to "Jor five years. ond | the management of the store provides he wouldn't d duee great musicians?" THE HOMBOOMI OF THE ARMY This Should Mean a Big Increase In the Musical Instrument Trade. The victorious Canadian army is now coming home in shiploads. These boys after Mstening to the music of the guns for years anid months, are coming home to the music of playing bands and rousing cheers. On the streets there are crowds of cheering and singing children, The men are being welcomed by the welcome stuains. Many of them are coming back 'home with a longing for music. Family reunions are takipg place; new homes are being made where some of the men-are bringing home with them brides from overseas, and where the boys are marrying on their return. . This should all' have * a vary livening effect upon the musical instrument trade. 3 Many of these men Will purchase a plano for their homes, to cele brate the return to their families. They will want to give their chil- dren the opportumity of developing and cultivating their musical -taste. The néw homes will not be complete without either a piano, a victrola or phonograph. And these men will ail want good ipstruments, for the best is none too cod for them, These facts should all help "to make for a busy time in the music trade. In every line of business the effect of the return of the soldiers from overseas will be felt, and many lines of peacestime industry will be! helped. Into this class comes the musical instrument industry, and it should have a very busy time for the mext few years. THE NEW CHURCH. Plan the Bailding to Accommodate N an Organ. 1 A gentleman stood watching the organ builders at work installing a new pipe organ in a certain church, which building had already been up a few 'years. He learned that when the ehureh itself had been completed the chugregation had felt they eould not afford the additional expense of an organ at once, so they deferred the installation of the organ for four Finally when the con- tract was let and the workmen com- menced to build It in, they found the buflding had been. put up with little or no provision made for the Mmstru- ment. The gentleman referred to said that, had the members of the church committee who neglected to allow for the future possible installa- tion of an organ in their original building plans, been present and 'heard the resultant language of the workmen -Some of the committee would have been gnrag at the names they were called or' else they would have stunk away thoroughly ashamed of themselves, < uf When the church is first BHilt is the time to provide the proper place for the organ. Musical Barber Shops. Down in New England there is a denartmental store which spedializes in selling children's needs. ~ One of] the features is a children's barber shop. "And to interest the kiddies fduring the ordeal of saving their hair cut as well as to make it.cheery for the adults accompanying them, | phonograph music. The idea is a svel one, vot why should" it be? The principle is a sound one. : . Knowledge that it has been tried Fout will make men everywhere elam- or for the same service. The pull- ing of a razor or a daub of lather which makes its way into. a man's mouth while he is telling the barber t vote for Brown for love money, would not be: arias ivere the afr je with the | the with | MUSIO AMONGST CHILDREN. , Will Reduce Crime in Future Genera $ tions, ey Chords And Discords ? At a récent conventicnu of the Can- adian Bureau for the Advancement of Music, R. 8. Gouriay, one of the sic men of Camadd 3 a significant reference to the | development of music amongst chil- {dren. He said "'Tuere are two ideas before the musical association, The first is that ninety-eight per cent. of all children in the world, in Canada and elsewhere, are born with a gen: ius for music, whether it be greater or leds, and if music, like any ovher talent, is not developed it becomes atrophied, and when these children become men and women they have lost the God-given talent wach they had when they ume iito life. The second-thought is that music is the only universal language, Mus.c fs the only language in the world that every ra¢e can talk and discourse in and understand; and to-diy when we are forming a league of nations it is appropriate that tnis mation sbould see to it that the generation, through the children beng taugat now, should be gitle to read this language and read it intelligently, and wader- stand it %s they read it, and inter pret it intelligently, through the in- strumentality of throat and mouth, or fingers and hand and instrument. This universal lunguage can be in- ter'pregped on an immense number of instruments; and it is for the Can- ada Bureau for the Advandement of Music to see that the gene ations to Come shall use this universal lang- uage, music, It would cut down our prison population by forty to fifty per cent. if everybody could use tint language. It is in leisure hours that crime is committed, and ¥ we could teadh the public to use these leisure hours through this universal lang- uage we would greatly reduce crime, and add to our happiness. That is the task for our asscciation, * f Sharps and Flats. { A AA ALAA ot tt. Before studying the music of a song one should read the words over garefully This applies to ama- teurs as well as professionals, Sound travels at the rate of |, 125 feet per second, and faster as the temperature rises. opportunities for country The greatest making Canada a musical are in the publie schools "If I were dsked to name the most important element in music," said a great organist recently, "I would un- hesitatingly say perfect rhythm." The metronome should be placed behind the plano student or some place out of sight, as the majority will instinctively watch the pendulum instead of simply listening for the stroke. A search of the biographies of the great composers, players, singers and teachers shows that 'the parents of the most of them were poor, the ma- jority of great musicians, therefore, had to struggle against adverse con. ditions in their. yquth. i rr * After school classes in instrumens tal music have been inaugurated in a westernseily. Instruction is given in plano, violin, mandolin, guitar, banjo, ukulele, cornet, clarinet, trom- bone, ete. Grown-ups as well as the school: children are now taking ad- vantage of this exceptional opportu- nity. Schubert died at the pitiably pre. mature age of thirty-one because he did not Have the twenty or thirty dollars it would have cost him to take & sununer vacation. - He re- mained in the city, moved to a cheap- er room in a street where the drain- age was bad, and succumbed to ty- phoid fever, bs Buenos Alres is to have a municl- pay opera house, under the supervis- ion of the dovernment. It 18 to be 80 commodious that provision 'can be made 'for the lavish issuance of passes, and every famiily, at some least one opera free of charge. Buy a good violin bow when you are at it." Many of the cheaper bows are much too limber, and the stick has to be tighténed until it is straight before a full tone tan be produced without, the stick ing on the strings. ~ Some people are so ignorant concerning the bow tha they screw up the stick until it is not only -strajght. but "hamp-back~ ed," and leave it that way, so that it acquires an outward instead of an inward curve. It is needless to say |S that no good violin playing can be done with such a bow. 3 ot Spohrs TY Lick. amd mas- terly inftovat'on in the field of com- ns for violin, and of his to violin instruction, it is needless to speak. ohr's "Selbst soul the dust of everyday life. part of the orchestra's For loud outdoor playing the raw- hide hammer gives the best results. Where a finer tone Is required lighter work, a padded with felt | EEE TERETE EH ERA 0 time during the season, will hear at Music washes away from the A great pianist sald once: "Any fool can play a five finger exercise, but it takes a wise person to adapt What has been learned from playing that exercise to the uses of his in- terpretive work." : Chime hammers wre an. important equipment. for hardwood mallet ie used. Having a good, ht, well-balane- ed, springy bow g@des very far in se- curing good yiolin tone. necessary to have the bow re-haired at "teeth" of the bow-hair are worn the bone is interfered with, It is also interval because when the Borrowing a violin to use for some special occasion is a bad cus- tom. n do borrow one' from should have it to practice on for at deast a week or event. Use your own fiddle. If you a friend you two before the Dangers innumerable beset the enemy of an army of singing sold- fers. they march, sing while they rest and sing while going into battle. home, for the very should perform our tasks singing-- The Allfed armies sing while We at same © reason, f Lon ] should keep up our courage by sing- ing. x King Henry the Eighth of Eng- j Innd, was intended for the church i at one time and therefore his educa- / indiuded instruction in music. He attained some skill in composi- tion writing two masses, several an thems and secular songs. His an- thfem "0 Lord, the Maker of All Things is still oecasionally per- formed. Edward Grieg, the Norwegian composer, as a boy, disliked school. Often be invented clever excuses for being late. Onte he stood'under a drippiog roof until his clothes were soaking wet so that the teacher might be forced to send him home. A boy who could initiate such a plan {n maturer years origiflate cay- tivating melodies. ~ p Artist Music Teachers ed, In Public Schools, The Place above all ¢lse where we should have artists for teachers is in the' public schools, The public schocl is not a plafe for student musicians as teachers, as so many questions come up in public schopl that demand an artist's view point, many more than in the priv- ate studio. We must have people with a broad outlook if we are going to teach musical apprecia- tion in a broad way. Sinee it is our object to educate the masses, we not only negd the ar- tist performer in the public school and must have him, but each com- munity' throughout the country EE i oa satisfy the me 1 | 1 ! | | > The lst of companies who are en- couraging music and musical organ- izations among their large forces of employees is growing. The big busi- heads see the advantage of usic in keeping a satisfied, cheery, efficient group of men and women in tireir factories, and are putting this belief tO a practical test. One large firm with four thousand employees has assisted in the organization of a male chorus of sixty-five voices and a women's chorus of ninety members: The choruses meel for practice once a week at the close of work. Supper is furnished, the singers ai the company's expense during the half-hour after the plant shuts down, Then the rehearsals commence, last- ing for ah hour-and a half, In a little better than a year's time hoth these chofuses have attained to a sufficient state of efliciency as to be able to take part in employees' concerts, and patriotic programmes, In other factories a half hour's sing is held at noon two or three ness AAA A Ani, should furnish funds for just such a propaganda. In the cities, the city councils. should take care of this fund; in cases of high schools the country should create the fund; A A A I NINA NH I NINA ii, HHH A (TT - . + STYLE L STUDIO | Factory Musical Organizations times a week. In some instances , where the work people are provided with lunch and recreation rooms, the company supplies them with a play- er piano and a good library of rolls or a talking machine and some re- cords. ' 2 Throughout Canada and the Uni- ted States there are a flumber of firms maintaining ag employees' band or orchestra which does much to pro- mote a family spirit among the work- men apd incidentally secures certain publicity: for the firm itself. To come from' the plant into the office, one case comes to mind where the head of a prominent firm believes in stimulat- ing a desire for music among the staff. Frequently he buys a half - en or ten gdmissions for a concert by some noted singer, violinist, chor- us or orchestra and gives the tickets to different of the bookkeepers, steno graphers and office help. The basis of all such practices is the recogni- tion of the powgr of music to make a better type of employees, § eventually the federal povernment should control this whole movement. Medicine and cheer ought to al- ways go together. al Music in the home is a Joy - and Contentment, Unending € have other Styles to ost fastidious.