SPECIAL PROJECT 

In Tribute to Charles 
Edward Ives on the IOoth 
Anniversary of His Birth 

Once a nice young man ... said to Father, "How can you stand it to hear 
old John Bell (the best stone mason in town) sing?" ... Father said, "He 
is a supreme musician." The young man (nice and educated) was hor-
rified-"Why, he sings off the key, the wrong notes and everything-and 
that horrible, raucous voice-and he bellows out and hits notes no one 
else does-it's awful!" Father said, "Watch him closely and reverently, 
look into his face and hear the music of the ages. Don't pay too much 
attention to the sounds-for if you do, you may miss the music. ... " 

Charles Ives, Memos, edited by John Kirkpatrick 
(New York: W. W. Norton, 1972), p. 132.