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With which is incorporated* THE KEYNOTE.
VOL.
XXVIII. No. 9.
Published Every Saturday at 3 East Fourteenth Street. New York, March 4,1899.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES 10 CENTS.
music they began to perceive that rhythm characteristics of a race, and it was impos-
/V\ ^SIC is the most subtle representative was the first essential in that branch of art. sible to draw any line excepting the limits
* ' *• of the innermost human characteris- They misconceived in the first instance, of the actual development of civilization.
of all kinds, said Sir Hubert Parry, the and made their instrumental music like In the higher forms of art rhythm held a
celebrated English musician, in the course vocal music and quite unrhythmic. But as very important place, and no one had
of a discussion recently on "Nationality soon as they woke up, a change came over equalled Bach in the infinite complexity of
in Musio." The more so because people the whole range of art. It is rather the simultaneous rhythm which abounded in
were so completely innocent of the fact. tendency of the present day to try to ex- his works.
No doubt some day the reaction would
What they liked was in accord with their press strong emotional effects and to
neglect
the
artistic
effects.
You
could
not
come.
After the overwhelming invasion
natures, and must in the end show what
have
a
musical
art
without
something
which
of
the
noble
savage who used the accumu-
they really were. The historian of the
represented
intellect.
Violent
emotionalism
lated
resources
of technique of other na-
distant future would have to turn to the
was
only
half
representative
of
the
human
tives
with
wild
and
intoxicating profusion
music of the various times and peoples to
animal,
and
art
wanted
to
present
him
in
had
run
its
course,
it might come to the
make sure of his estimate of their national
his
higher
as
well
as
in
his
animal
qualities.
turn
of
the
more
staid
and deliberate race;
characters. Even in early periods of artis-
*
and
if
great
music
should
come ultimately
tic development national traits were per-
from
this
country
it
must
come in a form
ceptible. In national music it was a matter MOW that art possessed these abundant
which
comprises
those
high
artistic quali-
of course. But it extended to artistic mu- * ^ resources there was a danger of our
ties
which
represent
subtle
and compre-
sic as well. In British music of the past, being handicapped by our caution and pre-
hensive
faculties
of
organization
in relation
as well, perhaps, as the present to a certain dilection for organization, rejecting any-
extent, there was manifested a degree of thing that cannot be judged by the highest to the ordinary affairs of the world.
*
caution and deliberation which prevented standard and stand the test of constant in-
f~^
ARRENO,
the
magnetic,
is as enthusi-
the music produced from having the telligent attention without displaying flaws.
>
^-
astic
an
American
as
she
is unique
warmth and passion of music of some other National characteristics are discernible in
among
piano
virtuosi.
It
is
said
that dur-
nations. The great gift of the nation was early specimens of art. Thus even the ex-
ing
our
war
with
Spain,
she
never
allowed
in the direction of organization, which is amples of music of Henry VIII. 's reign
a
slighting
remark
to
be
made
against
this
the formal part of an art. We moved too were characterized by a kind of hesitancy
country
in
her
presence.
Sarasate,
the
cautiously and deliberately, seeking to try and crudeness, which is essentially English
violinist,
among
others,
was
"called
down"
every step before going on to the next. as far as music is concerned.
It is as well not to be misled by the fact by Carreno for passing some slighting
Every branch of the human race was repre-
sented closely by its music, because it was that great musicians have often written in remarks regarding the United States. In
not reason which governed men's actions the style of other nations. Mozart, for in- repartee he said significantly: "You were
but their moods, and it was the moods of stance, cultivated the Italian style, for in- not born in the United States, you were
men which were represented by music. deed there was no other style then going born in South America." She replied
Bach was the first to venture to express which was sufficiently developed to afford smartly that she was a Yankee of Yankees,
human emotion by means of music. It him the opportunity to use his marvellous that in her eyes as in the eyes of the
should not be overlooked that a multitude faculties. German art was too young, and world, the United States, is America—it
of forgotten composers by gradual progress, had been cultivated so far insufficiently and is the protector of the South American
the result of experiment, made the techni- the composers who sought to address them- Continent and moreover the greatest coun-
cal resources upon which Bach could draw. selves only to their fellow countrymen had try in the universe.
In the early ages when music was begin- been almost entirely forgotten, because the
A "CONDUCTOR" has been defined by
ning to be developed artistically composers technique of their art was not sufficiently ad- ** Philip Hale as a man who is scorned
aimed at devotional expression; artistic vanced to enable them to attain a high de- by every piano student unless he smashes
music was confined to the services of the gree of artistic interest in their work. He did through the whole program without his
church, and all the secular emotions which not think that sufficient importance had notes; who must express even to the
are represented by rhythm were left out of been given to the influence of scales upon slightest detail all the melodic, rhythmic,
count. Devotional feelings found most the melodic system. The persistent repe- dynamic developments of the work in pan-
natural vent in vocal expression which is tition of familiar strains had something tomime ; and in familiar pieces he must in-
essentially unrhythmic, unless imitated to do with particular products, and it was troduce so many nuances that criticism
from formulas of instrumental music. It the preponderating average of various com-
finds an entirely new work.
was not until many experiments had been binations which represented nationality in
*
made to adapt the resources of vocal, to music. This preponderance was very P R E S I D E N T
LINCOLN'S favorite
the requirements of instrumental art, that prominent amongst the Slavs, and to a 1
poem "Oh, Why Should the Spirit of
people began to see how essential rhythm much smaller extent, amongst the Irish Mortal be Proud ? " is being set to hymnal
was even in instrumental music. When also. Mental aberrations and even failures music by John Philip Sousa. It is intend-
men began to cultivate artistic instrumental had their inevitable influence upon the ed as a memorial to the martyr president.
NATIONALITY IN MUSIC.
I