To the Editor of the "Norra-Cama Dairy News."
8in,—Your correspondent "Trouibone" says:—"Cut out the exclusive stuff and give us popular music which we all can understand and appreciate." It would be interesting to have explained just really what he means by "exclusive" and just whom he refers to as '"'we."
That the music provided at the Sunday concerts since Maestro Paci took it in hand is not "exclusive" in the sense of being above the heads of the general public is proved by the fact that the Town Hall was packed at every performance last season, the audience always being within measurable distance of 1,000 when not exceeding that figure.
That the music is "popular" in the sense that it appeals to every section of the community—excepting perhaps "we". those who prefer trouibones—was convincingly demonstrated by the fact that fully half the audience each Sunday came from Hongkew, Nangtszepoo. and parts outside Settlement limits.
Speaking as one who did not miss a single concert last season, and who is looking forward with the utmost keenness to"the Sunday afternoon performances next winter, I venture to say that it will be very great loss to music-loving Shanghai if Maestro Paci gives up his present position simply because—anite rightly in my opinion—he will not allow himself to be forced into conducting performances in unsuitable surroundings, or of a class below the standard of his own artistic ideals.
One would not expect the editor of the "North-China Daily News" to descend to "yellow" journalism or to the penny-a-line tosh of the weekly "'dreadfuls." Why then Paci to audiences of amahs, infants, and clamourers after mere noise, or to music such as one looks for from peripatetic German bands?
T am, ete., S. W. Worre.
Shanghai, July To the Editor of the "Norta-Cama Datty News."~
Stz,—Both your correspondents writing in praise of the Band (or rather as it appears in winter form—the Orchestra) and its Conductor, appear to ignore the reasonable issue which has been raised, and which might be summed up in a business phrase (that is, if your correspondents will permit such a word as business to be used in connexion with music)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.