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Scan 147
The violinist, 1900
20 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF MUSIC
3Music-making for the sake of the money to be gained from it was made the but of an onslaught by David Mannes, the American violinist, in an interview he gave out recently to a representative of the New York Times. With his wife, Clara Mannes, the pianist, Mr. Mannes made a most successful début at Bechstein Hall, London, in a sonata recital, the first in which the two have appeared outside of America.
5In his comments on professionalism among musicians, Mr. Mannes said:
7"We have 850 students at the Music School Settlement in New York, and the first thing that is taught is that music is not a trade or profession but merely a means of expression; therefore, professionalism is discouraged to the majority, because among a million artists there is only one great one.
9"I do not believe that there are more than twenty musical artists in the world today whom people will pay to hear unsolicited. There are Caruso, Melba, Scotti, Paderewski and Kubelik. Indeed, I do not know whom to name in making the list longer.
11"And how many conductors are there? I can count them on the fingers of one hand. If music be the most sincere form of expression, what I want to know is why artists become so insincere. Why do they all want press notices? Why do the majority stultify themselves by bending the knee?
13EXPECTS CRITICISM
15"I know this idea has not been openly advanced, but I believe that the thinking, silent world will agree with me. I know that I am likely to be criticised because I say these things and at the same time give public concerts; but I say frankly I would not do that if I did not have to or if I had anything else I could do to make a living.
17"At the school we charge twenty-five cents a lesson. I have eighty-seven teachers because I cannot get good ones to give much time at the price paid, and we lose fifty cents on each lesson. There is an annual deficit of $30,000, which is made up by benefits, subscriptions, and street concerts.
19"Through music we find out what is wrong with the East Side 'kid.' It reaches to the 'kid's' inner understanding. It is better than any physician. In twelve years I have had 10,000 students and not found a single genius, which is an added reason to discourage pro-
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