Primary Source: Music in America by Antonin Dvorak

Antonin Dvorak believes that music has been lacking in American and underestimated in importance to a nation. He believes that music is the weakest of the arts because it has only started to form. In 1894, when this document was dated, music had just taken coarse in the classical world. Popular music had not come to mind yet. Dvorak said, " The great American republic alone, and its national government as well as in many other states, suffers art and music to go without encouragement". When Dvorak says this, he is saying that the reason why the arts is a weak part of the nation is because the government does not help raise music in the public eye. He is contrasting between how government protects the economy and education, but not expression. Dvorak believes that some people are meant to be scholars and others, artists. He believes that if artists are not privileged to do what they are call to do, which is perform, then the government is being unjust. Another discouragement that Dvorak talks about is that his students don't get the willingness of the American publishers to create sounds new to the nation. The problem with American music at this time was that all the music was so narrowly classical, that anything that was outside of the box was rejected. Through all the discouragement though, Dvorak brought hope. He uses the example of England and how their music industry and encouragement for students grew. He stated, "A single institute can make such a change, just as a single genius can bestow an art upon his country that before was lying in unheeded slumber". He is showing that one person can make a difference and that difference is the start of the development of appreciation of music in America. When others argue to Dvorak about how it is not popular in America to have music, he counters that saying that there is so much music appreciation because every concert hall is always filled for every concert. The states cannot speak for the whole nation when saying it's not popular because the outcomes of the concerts show otherwise, making the government look stupid for even trying to argue that statement of music not being popular. He comments about how he realizes that music is not as big in the states and in other countries but he believes that this is only because the government makes music out to be boring and not needed. Those people who are afraid to fight for what they want keep the norms of the society and no room to make the change for the better. He states, " It only rests with the leaders of the people to make the right beginnings." He is saying that encouragement of music will not just come, people have to fight for it. With this quote, I related Dvorak with MLK and Cesar Chavez, who i read about earlier today. They all have a common idea: change won't happen unless someone steps up and fights for the change. I find it interesting to see what the difference musicians made in order to bring music into the popular norms of America. Musicians had to work for their rights of expression, just like the Blacks and Hispanics have to work for their rights as citizens.