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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
TIMELY TALKS ON TIMELY TOPICS.
an entire chapter to the German philosopher,
who is one of the most fascinating, if deca-
dent, of modern writers.
Perhaps one of the most interesting but
most dangerous chapters is the one devoted
to the "Eternal Feminine," and in this no
one need be told that Mr. Huneker took more
pleasure than in all the rest, for the oppor-
tunity which it gave him for satire is one
which he never neglects. Not that he ob-
jects to "The Eternal Feminine" anywhere,
except in the broader runs of life, and espe-
cially at the piano or in any branch of music.
However, it makes good reading, whether we
agree with him or not. His treatment of
Flaubert, Turgenieff, Balzac—indeed all fig-
ures in literary or musical life, shows a
breadth and an understanding that is fairly
bewildering, and it is safe to say that who-
ever picks up "Overtones" for an hour's
perusal will not lay it down until every word
has been read, even if it reach into the "wee
sma' hours."
There is little to do in regard to this num-
ber except to take it in the spirit of mischief
(it has been so impressed upon us that
Strauss is a humorist of the most violent
type), or to accept the music and reject all
thought of the title. At any rate, it would
seem as though a public performance of this
work, which Dr. Strauss elected to call a page
out of his own daily life, would have been
sufficient grounds for a divorce in Europe or
America! If Dr. Strauss has many days of
that sort of pandemonium and dish-smashing
episodes, he must be a greater genius than
our wildest imagination could picture him to
come out of it with the calm, noble exterior
which is one of his most distinguishing traits.
The work itself is a masterpiece of ingenuity,
and of adroitness of technic as is everything
that Strauss does, and if he were to disasso-
ciate himself from the programmatic side he
would gain, if nothing else, at least in dignity
In place of Edward A. MacDowell, who
—indeed it would raise him to infinitely resigned from Columbia College, this noted
greater heights.
institution has engaged Dr. Cornelius Rub-
On Saturday night the Philharmonic sea- ner, of Carlsruhe, Germany. The matter
son closed with Strauss at the baton, and this would be serious if it were not so humorous,
very remarkable conductor, and still more re- and what this staid German professor will
markable composer, opened the programme do in the face of conditions which abound in
with the Mozart "Jupiter" symphony. It American colleges, notably Columbia, Har-
must be said that Strauss conducting a Mo- vard, etc., is a question that seems to agitate
zart symphony made one think of Hercules a good many minds. And just what the
playing with butterflies. David Bispham, the musical department will do after the profes-
ideal Lieder singer of the day, sang a num- sor realizes these conditions, is still more
ber of Strauss's songs, and the rest of the serious. The time has come when our Amer-
programme included the excerpt from the ican teachers stand for as much as anything
"Feuersnoth,"»and closed with "Death and 111 Europe, but the trustees of Columbia Col-
Apotheosis," which remains his most in- lege do not know this. Against the Leschet-
spired and noblest work. Dr. Strauss and izky, the Jedlizcka of Europe, we have in-
Mme. Strauss De Ahna are now making their numerable teachers who have made of Amer-
Western tour, and before they sail there will ica the intelligent musical center that it is,
and if it was just for the benefit of a Eu-
be still two concerts in New York.
ropean reputation the trustees were short-
sighted,
as Dr. Rubner has not as much repu-
Directly in line with the presence of Strauss
tation,
even
in his own country, as a great
in America, Charles Scribner's Sons issue the
many
of
our
Americans have over there. It
The orchestral conditions are growing out- last creation of that brilliant rhapsodist and
would
no
doubt
interest Dr. Rubner to hear
side of New York as well, and now the orches- fantastical prose-poet, James Huneker. Un-
of
the
student
at Harvard, who, having
tra forms the basic elements of music through- der the title of "Overtones" and a sub-title of
gained
much
inspiration,
not from the piano,
out the country. And this is as it must be be- "A Book of Temperaments," Mr. Huneker
indeed,
but
from
something
more spirituous,
fore a locality can be considered musical at has presented his views upon Richard
if
not
spiritual,
gave
vent
to
his feelings by
all. Because not until after music in its larg- Strauss, Parsifal, Verdi, Balzac, Flaubert,
playing
a
Liszt
rhapsody
on
the keyboard
est form is understood and appreciated do Nietzche, Wagner and a few others. The
with
his
feet,
and
when
finally
exhausted
lay
the smaller expressions of it mean so much. book is dedicated to Richard Strauss, and
down
upon
the
top
of
the
instrument
to
sleep
The intention of the Philharmonic Society, if bears his portrait as frontispiece. Mr. Hun-
we understand correctly, is to have another eker's avowed admiration for Strauss is it off. However, that was Harvard and not
season of visiting conductors. It would seem brought forward lucidly and thoughtful- Columbia. We will wish him better success.
as though some of the other cities might ar- ly. It is not that Strauss is the , fad At the same time as a German unable to
range to engage a couple of these during of the hour, nor that Mr. Huneker is understand the English language as she is
their season, as the managers may be sure carried into extravagant depths from vernaculared, he will hardly have a bed of
that the star conductor has been quite as any side, except that after analyzing the roses at Columbia College.
EMILIE FRANCES BAUER.
popular this season as any star soloist that man and his works, Mr. Huneker has not
found
him
wanting.
Interesting
as
is
his
has been in the country. Richard Strauss is
THE SONZOGNO $10,000 PRIZE.
the only conductor who will be heard outside summary of Richard Strauss, it is nothing in
The three works selected by the jury for
of New York, notwithstanding the fact that comparison to the delights offered in some
we enjoyed Colonne, Kogel, Weingartner, of the other sketches. The chapter upon the Sonzogno prize of $10,000 are to be per-
Wood and Safonoff, in addition to the tone- Nietzsche must be regarded as one of the fin- formed at Milan next May: "Domino Az-
painter of domestic iconoclasm, if we are to est delineations which we have been per- zurro," by Franco de Venezia; "La Cabrera,"
judge from the symphony presented in Amer- mitted to read, and those who do not know by Gabriel Dupont, and "Manuel Menendez,"
Nietzsche from his own writings, will gain by Lorenzo Filiasi. They will first be given
ica for the first time on any stage.
a closer approach to Richard Strauss and his on separate evenings in presence of the jury
The presentation of Richard Strauss's thoughts and philosophies through Mr. only; then they will be repeated coram pop-
"Sinfonia Domestica" was one of the events Huneker, who, not content with touching ulo; and before the final verdict, all three on
much talked about before it occurred, and upon the relation of Strauss to Nietzsche by one evening. The performances will be un-
much more talked about after its occurrence. way of "Also Sprach Zarathustra" has given der the direction of Maestro Campanini.
To the season of 1903-4 we may say fare-
well. Nor is it straggling out as has been
the custom of former seasons. The Boston
Symphony, the Philharmonic—all have laid
away their batons to rest after a season's
work that well deserves the name of one of
the most remarkable on record. Outside of
the enjoyment derived from the different mu-
sical sources New York had the opportunity
to hear orchestral music from its broadest
side. What the art of conductorship entails
few people understand. Perhaps it never
could be understood until six or eight great
men have been heard within as short a period
of time as that in which we have had the
great conductors this season. We have been
enlightened upon methods, mannerisms and
temperaments, and we have seen how far
each obtains in the grand ensemble which
means orchestral art. We have been shown
the traits of different countries ; we have been
permitted to judge of the interpretations of
one and then of the other; nor was this the
only feature of the season's orchestral music,
as one of the most important events was the
establishment of the Russian svmphony con-
certs, which we must concede to have been
among the most entrancing music that has
been offered the public, notwithstanding the
modest manner in which this offering was
made. There has also been a tremendous ad-
vance in the work which goes on among the
less favored classes—those who are not sur-
feited with the best of everything in life—-
through the Peoples symphony concerts un-
der F. X. Arens, who was the instigator of
this movement. The Russian symphony con-
certs which have been given at Cooper Union
Hall will be transplanted next season to Car-
negie, and here be it said that there has been
no more fascinating music heard in Carnegie
even in this season of seasons.