7. Music, closely expressing the emotional life of each period, is the unconscious application of a remedy to a human need of rhythmic stimulus.
These points are part of the general thesis, which may be stated in the following terms: MUSIC IS A HUMAN NEED, INCREASING AND DECREASING WITH SOCIAL PRESSURE.
The tendency of a group in each stage of human development, is to produce Music fitting the character of the social disturbances of its time, and communities which most fully meet this need of rhythm by national culture of Music, tend to preserve for longer periods, the serenity of the public mind. Thus it will be seen that national control and support of Music may be assumed to be a national duty. This control and support will aid in the preservation of a healthy state of the public mind. Such a condition will make more effective all other efforts for the abolition of discontent, disease, vice and criminality.
National culture and support of Music are effective means of exercising social control, because of the calming influence of Music upon disturbed thought. Such an influence is a most necessary one at the present stage of mental agitation. Established within disturbed zones, national institutions for free musical instruction would place a check upon strained intellectualism, with its brood of idea-monstrosities, since Music would cause a relaxation of mental concentration. It is a matter of experience, that relaxation of tension generally accompanies the yielding of the excited mind to musical rhythm.
Furthermore, there are other and not inconsiderable arguments for the national support of Music. On account of the great expense of a musical education, much promising American talent is now deprived of cultivation. To all persons evidencing marked musical ability, and showing themselves worthy of aid, this rich country should give national support.
American national instruction in Music is also a duty to American industry because such instruction would open the employment field in Music to American wage earners. Some idea of the amount of private business along this line may be gained from the following:
MUSIC IN THE WEST.[2]
If music seems a needless luxury to some, what will they think of the cold economic fact of Chicago spending $30,000,000 in one year for musical instruments of all kinds, sheet music, music-books, musical supplies, and music lessons? This figure is “based on reliable information,” says Mr. D. A. Clippinger, in The Musician (Boston), and he intimates that this yearly expenditure of one Western city is only typical of what the great expanse of our country beyond the Appalachians is doing. It will be observed that this sum does not include what is spent to hear music, but to gain instruction in it.
At present America is obliged to depend both for her best Music and musical instruction largely upon foreign talent. With national support of her own talent, this deplorable condition would soon cease. This would also free Americans from absolute dependence upon private institutions.
Music has also become an important industry, employing a vast number of agents. It is high time that this employment were placed within reach of American labor. Such an end can be attained only by furnishing adequate training for this skilled work. At present foreigners are the agents for the satisfaction of this need for rhythm in orchestras, bands, hotels, restaurants, church choirs, studios, clubs, steamships, operas and at social functions. An important wage earning occupation is thus out of reach of our own talent.