_. In many an instance, the source
of wrong interpretation (or of no interpretation at all) may be traced
directly to a method of studying the composition which has not
impressed the singers or players with its essential meaning and
spirit, and with the significance of the various details in relation
to the plan of the work as a whole. This is particularly true of
choral compositions, and in taking up such works, it may often be well
for the conductor to read aloud the entire text of the chorus that is
being studied in order that the attention of the singers may be
focused for a few moments upon the imagery conveyed by the words. Such
attention is frequently impossible while singing, because the minds of
the singers are intent upon the beauty or difficulty of the purely
musical aspects of the composition, and thus the so-called
"expression" becomes merely a blind and uninspired obedience to
certain marks like _piano_, _forte_, and _ritardando_--the real spirit
of interpretation being entirely absent.

[Sidenote: DISTRIBUTING AND CARING FOR THE MUSIC]

Have the distribution and care of music so systematized that there
will be neither confusion nor waste of time in this part of the
rehearsal. In a professional organization there will of course be a
salaried librarian to see to such work, but it is entirely possible to
secure somewhat the same kind of results in an amateur body by having
two or three members elected or appointed for the task, these persons
serving either entirely without salary or being paid a purely nominal
sum. These librarians will then be expected to take the responsibility
of marking new music, of distributing and collecting it at such times
as may be agreed upon by librarian and conductor, and of caring for it
at concerts or at any other time when it is to be used.

It will be the duty also of the head librarian to keep a record of all
music loaned or rented, and to see that it is returned in good
condition. It would be well too if he kept a card index, showing just
what music is owned by the organization, the number of copies of each
selection, the price, the publisher, the date when purchased, _et
cetera_. Ask the librarians to come five or ten minutes before the
beginning of the rehearsal, and make it your business to provide one
of them with a slip having upon it the names or numbers of all the
selections to be used at that particular rehearsal. Keeping the music
in covers or in separate compa