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THE WVSIC TRMDE
ARTISTS'
TELEPHONE
NUMBER,
DEPARTMENT.
1745.--E1OHTEENTH STREET
The Artists' Department of The Review is
published on the first Saturday of each month.
NEVTYEAR REFLECTIONS.
jVJ O one who has watched closely the prog-
*• ress of artistic matters has failed to be
impressed with the fact that progress has
always been hindered by the jealousies which
artists entertain. These are unfortunately
brought forward to hinder united action
among bodies of men who have joined forces
for the ostensible purpose of mutual advance-
ment, and until they are removed from the
scene all progress is blocked. Such has been
the case wi'h many of the bodies organized
for the purpose of advancing the cause of
music in this city, and in fact in every city
throughout the country.
The opening of the new year is the time
for resolutions and one of the first should
be the burying of the hatchet of personal
animosities and opinions that tend to inter-
fere with the progress of art. Instead of
inflicting wounds and keeping them open,
the aim should be to heal them, to unite all
factions, and place questions of art above
those of personal prejudice.
There are no people so sensitive to gen-
erous influences as musicians, and there are
few who will do as much or who will sacri-
fice more of their own time to extend that
culture which comes from an acquaintance
with, and a thorough knowledge of music in
its various branches.
The Teachers Associations, both State,
National and local, should get closer to-
gether, and the same advice may be applied
to the various other bodies in this city and
elsewhere who labor along different lines for
the holy cause of music. "In union there is
strength," and it behooves all to keep this
motto well in mind.
HAD WAGNER COME TO AMERICA ?
A N interesting fact regarding Wagner re-
' * ccntly brought to light is that he con-
templated making a concert tour in Amer-
ica in 1881. It appears he sustained heavy
financial loses from his first Bayrcuth fes-
tival and in a letter to King Ludwig of Ba-
varia, from whom he was compelled to bor-
row $25,000, he declared his intention of
giving a series of concerts in the United
States in the following year, in order to make
a large sum of money. He was going to
do this, he added, because it pained him to
think that he must yield up his "Parsifal"
after its production in Bayreuth. The King
took the hint. He could not endure the
thought that the aged master, then in his
sixty-seventh year, should be compelled, for
the realization of his ideals, to make such He compared Whitman and the rhymesters as he
would compare the forest primeval and an Italian
an exhausting tour. So he not only gave garden.
"If you will think for one moment without
orders that, beginning 1882, the Royal Or-
prejudice, you will admit that the so-called art-
chestra of Munich was to be placed annu- forms are a rut-mark of traditions only, and that
correspond to nothing whatever in nature.
ally at Wagner's service, but that all the they
When clouds floating in the east are balanced by
former agreements in regard to the perform- clouds floating in the west, and when leaves of
grow in geometrical pattern, then may we
ance of "Parsifal" in Munich should be an- grass
believe that the artifices represented by conven-
nulled. He was a friend worth having! tional poetry, or conventional music, correspond to
in nature.
And, again, the question arises, what would anything
"It was no task for me to set Whitman: he sang
Wagner have done without King Ludwig— for me. 1 did away with our partitions of keys,
and allowed myself freedom in the universal key,
and Liszt, who was Wagner's Ludwig be- including
all. After the work was nearly com-
fore he met the King ? To those two gener- pleted, I discovered that it was based on a scale of
whole steps, which must have grown out of Whit-
ous souls all music-lovers owe an incalcula- man's
gospel of equality. Though my scheme
ble debt of gratitude. A more important may be interesting, and my point of view stimu-
your curiosity, unless my music shall appeal
question still: What influence would Wag- late
to you as something beautiful, 1 shall have
ner have exerted on this country had he faikd."
lived up to his intention of paying us a visit ?
Homer A. Norris was born in Wayne,
The question is worth thinking over.
Me., and was at an early age an organist.
He studied with G. W. Marston, F. W. Hale,
"THE FLIGHT OF THE EAGLE."
"THE first production of Homer A. Norris' Stephen Emery, and G. W. Chadwick. In
setting of Walt Whitman's poem to deciding upon foreign study, he chose Paris
music occurred in Waltham, Mass., De- and had the advantage of training under Du-
cember 11. Those who gave the work its bois, Godard, and Guilmant. He is one of
premiere were Miss Laura Van Kuran, so- the leading song-writers of Boston, where
prano, Robert Hall, tenor, and Archibald he teaches and composes in the Pierce Build-
Willis, baritone, representing Walt Whit- ing in Copley Square. His first song, "Rock-
man. The very important part of the piano a-bye, Baby," is said to have had a larger
was assumed by Miss Edith Currie. The sale than any other cradle-song published in
presentation was admirable and well in keep- America. In addition to his talent Mr. Nor-
ris is a man of very charming personality
ing with the composition.
and fine mental attainments. He is highly
The poem which deals with America and regarded by hosts of friends.
the democracy of the country is deeply phil-
STRAUSS HAS^THE PLATFORM.
osophical and essentially natural in the sense
A
MERICA
is destined to lead within a
of beingi devoid of anything to produce effect.
**
very
few
years in a broad knowledge
Mr. Norris has been permeated with this and
and
appreciation
of Richard Strauss. In
has made a truly masterful adaptation of
Xew
York
during
the past month he has
one of the greatest literary gems. His col-
been played, sung, discussed and studied.
oring has been rich and his harmonies bold
In spite of the ignorance which exists abroad
and daring as the eagle and as Walt Whit-
on the subject—as illustrated by the things
man. Whereas the treatment is very free which wandering lecturers consider necessary
there is unity and it is thoroughly logical. to say when they get here—this country, and
Some of the themes are very beautiful, and particularly this city, knows Wagner better
the motives are calculated, and well calcu- than does the Old World. The critical com-
lated, to fit the words, the spirit, and the psy- ments of journalism, the extensive book lit-
chic depth. The work is dedicated to Mr. erature, the constant association with the
Arthur Andersen, an admirer of Whitman great music dramas in the opera house and
and a pupil of the composer. Mr. Norris concert hall and their performance by the
gave a short address before the performance foremost interpreters have educated the pub-
and perhaps nothing could enlighten one lic. No other people have had the same ad-
more clearly upon the matter and his sen- vantages. As with Wagner, so it is and will
timents than to reproduce a few of his re- be with Strauss. The bold conceptions of
marks.
the latter may lead his critics and admirers
He said in part: "It has been said by a wise to differ as to the means employed to attain
and clever man that if you change your thoughts
you change your friends. I was attracted by John an end. But differences are educating.
Burroughs's statement that to him Whitman
represented the highest peak in the American
literary horizon. Emerson, in passing Whitman's
poems to John Addington Symonds, said: 'Tell
Americans abroad they may come home, for unto
us a man has been born.' Symonds said that
when he read Keats, Shelley, Tennyson, or
Swinburne, he wished to become a great artist, but
that when he read Whitman he wished to become
a man.
"I must say a few words about Whitman's form.
He is no rhymester: he does n:>t prance and tinkle
in meter. In the majority of cases, the line ends
with the thought. The lines are of irregular
length, shorter or longer, as is the thought. Dr.
Edward Everett Hale said to me, only last Sun-
day, that it seems necessary for one great, original
thinker to appear about once in each century, to
prove that conformity to convention is deadening.
OT content with re-editing the "Marsel-
laise," Gen. Andre has undertaken the
N
thorough reorganization of military music in
France. Bandmasters are to take grade on
equal footing with commissioned officers.
There is also to be created at the Conserva-
toire a special class for military musicians.
The class will be composed of students aspir-
ing to the position of bandmaster or assist-
ant bandmaster. The course will last for
about a year. At the end of that time, says
the Pall Mall Gazette, the candidates will
pass a diploma examination entitling them
to employment in the army.
HANNAH L KEENE
SOPRANO
Exclusive Management of
CHARLES L YOUNG
1123 BROADWAY,
NEW YORK