instruction. This clear and logical conception has prevailed in certain
countries: it has been put into practice, notably, at the University of
Louvain.The General Student
Here we shall deal only with the relationship of music to university
education, and not with the place it may occupy in the student’s leisure.
The general situation in most countries obliges us to admit that the
student who has not specialized in musicology is even more neglected
when it comes to music education. In practice, almost nothing has
been arranged. In Europe, very few students, in medicine, law, science
and even in philosophy and literature attend a course in the history
of music. Their number is really negligible. Now, the teaching of the
history of music at the university stage unifies and clarifies all the as-
sorted cultural knowledge of the students. They have more or less
comprehensive ideas about the Gothic cathedrals in France, but have
never heard of PCrotin or Guillaume de Machault, whose masterpieces
brought life into those same cathedrals. They are acquainted with the
art of Jan Van Eyck, but are not even aware of the existence of Guil-
laume Dufay. They are familiar with the tragedies of Greek drama, but
do not know what part was played in them by music. Lully does not
come into their minds when they speak of Molikre. They go to mass,
but have no idea of Gregorian chant or counterpoint. In short, nothing
‘lives’ in their minds, stuffed with names and dates. They do not know
the music which has very often created the atmosphere in which all
the other cultural developments have taken place.
To remedy this deplorable state of affairs, the University of Louvain,
for example, has taken certain steps. All students of the history of art
are obliged to follow, at least for a year, a general course in the history
of music, which is repeated every two years. All students studying for
a degree in the history of art, in philosophy or literature may chose
as an optional course, either the general or the specialized course in the
history of music. Lastly, these courses are open to all students of the
university. Still more should be done, however, to draw their attention
to this opportunity. The total result of all the measures taken by the
University of Louvain is not very satisfactory: only 2 per cent of the
student body take these lectures as part of their examination course
or as a free choice; nevertheless, the average is much higher than that
shown in the statistics of very many other universities.