The painter sees in a great painting the beauties of execution that entirely escape the eyes of the uninitiated; yet the musician will go before an audience of whom two-thirds have probably never studied music at all, and expect them to appreciate the classical music, and because they do not, he would brand them as unappreciative, absurd; he expects the impossible.
The average audience does not care for the name of a composition as long as the music appeals to them, and this is generally a matter of how it is interpreted.
The power of a beautiful interpretation does not make itself felt in singing classics alone. Many persons harbor the notion that interpretation relates to the work of the dead masters only. This is not true. The simplest song needs interpretation, as well as the oratorio or opera and the difference between good and bad artists is largely a matter of interpretation. A simple song that emanates from the heart and soul, will have a reciprocal effect on others and will outlive all sermons in the memory.
The average audience goes to the concert, not to be educated, but to be entertained. Entertain them, interest them, win them and they will come again.
After you have endeared yourself to them, you can begin to sing more pretentious music, and before they realize it, they are listening to and enjoying the works of the great masters.
I have seen a vast audience go to hear Patti sing "Home, Sweet Home," and while listening they became acquainted with other songs, that by hearing again and again, have helped to educate them to appreciate the better music.
I love the "oratorios" and "grand operas" particularly. They are part of my life. But I do not expect all with whom I come in contact to feel the same.
I have seen more people asleep at a piano recital than I have at church, and I did not blame them, when some amateur would be wrestling with a twenty-page selection of which he had not the slightest conception, with the exception of being able to read the notes and find them on the instrument.
Let us not become so blinded that we can see only one way--our way.
In educating the masses let us not begin by driving them away with compositions which they cannot understand.
