SubmittedFriday, 03 May 2019
M. Buchor’s endeavours
M. Buchor’s endeavours have been the most extensive and the most fruitful, but he is not alone in individual effort. There was, twenty years ago, in the suburbs of Paris and in the provinces, a large number of well-meaning people who devoted themselves to the work of musical education with sincerity and splendid enthusiasm. But their good works were too isolated, and were swamped by the apathy of the people about them; though sometimes they kindled little fires of love and understanding in art, which only needed coaxing in order to burn brightly; and even their less happy efforts generally succeeded in lighting a few sparks, which were left smouldering in people’s hearts.[250]
At length, as a result of these individual efforts, the State began to show an interest in this educational movement, although it had for so long stood apart from it.[251] It discovered, in its turn, the educational value of singing. A musical test was instituted at the examination for the Brevet supérieur[252] which made the study of solfeggio a more serious matter in the Écoles Normales. In 1903 an endeavour was made to organise the teaching of music in the schools and colleges in a more rational way.[253]
[Footnote 250: Mention must especially be made of little groups of young students, pupils of the Universities or the larger schools, who are devoting themselves at present to the moral and musical instruction of the people. Such an effort, made more than a year ago at Vaugirard, resulted in the Manécanterie des petits chanteurs de la Croix de bois, a small choir of the children of the people, who in the poor parishes go from one church to another singing Gregorian and Palestrinian music.]
[Footnote 251: It is hardly necessary to recall the unfortunate statute of 15 March, 1850, which says: «Primary instruction may comprise singing.»]
[Footnote 252: By the decree of 4 August, 1905. At the same time, a programme and pedagogic instructions were issued. The importance of musical dictation and the usefulness of the Galin methods for beginners were urged. Let us hope that the State will decide officially to support M. Buchor’s endeavours, and that it will gradually introduce into schools M. Jacques-Delacroze’s methods of rhythmic gymnastics, which have produced such astonishing results in Switzerland.]
[Footnote 253: M. Chaumié’s suggestion. See the Revue Musicale, 15 July, 1903.]
this was: M. Buchor’s Endeavours
go to next chapter: M. Saint Saëns and M. Bourgault Ducoudray
