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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW/
DAINTY MUSIC FOR EPICURES.
FARWELL ON FOLK SONGS.
WAGNER'S GREATEST WORKS.
The present age of music is one of hugeness, Talks on Indian and Ragtime Creations at the The Comparative Merits ot the Master's Lead-
ing Operas Interestingly Estimated and
even to the point of monstrosity in some cases.
Dinner of the Contemporary Club.
Some Deductions Therefrom.
We have huge concert halls that are yawning for
enormous audiences; we have huge orchestras
At the monthly dinner given by the Contem-
Until time, the inevitable arbiter of all true
and would have even larger ones were they a porary Club, of St. Louis, Mo., which was at-
commercial possibility. We expect modern com- tended by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest R. Kroeger and greatness shall have let its stamp of approval on
posers to treat huge objects in a grandiloquent a number of other notabilities in the musical Richard Wagner's creations, the comparative
manner, employing great batteries of instru- world of that city, Arthur Farwell, of Newton merits of his master works—"Der Ring des
ments to produce these works that are designed Center, Mass., was the guest of honor. In addi- Niebelungen," "Tristan und Isolde," "Die Meis-
for performance in great halls before vast audi- tion to being a composer, Mr. Parwell is owner tersinger" and "Parsifal"—will furnish a subject
for much discussion and provoke many differ-
ences. This is obviously the whole tendency of of the Wa-Wan Press, where compositions of
ences
of opinion. At present, we believe, the bal-
modern music, and it is logical that it should be high artistic importance by young American
so, for, acording to the contentions of music composers are published. He makes a specialty ance of choice rests between the three last named
musical dramas, with a tendency in favor of
theorists, music reflects life.
of collecting Indian melodies and other folk "Tristan" and "Meistersinger." A little book
So the idealist weeps behind the bulwark of his songs and developing them. Mr. Farwell said
published in Germany sets forth the opinions of
pet beliefs and moans at the thought that the he would not advance a theory, but would tell of
prominent musicians and critics in regard to
golden age of music is not to-day. But he should a movement actually taking place in American
Wagner's creations. Although the answers to
find consolation in the knowledge that the golden musical composition. He described it as the
the editor's question, "Which of Wagner's operas
age of music was hardly appreciated in its day, "spirit of '76 on an artistic instead of a political
do you consider his greatest?" are many and
that only in perspective has its brilliancy loomed plane."
varied the judgment is split between his drama
so impressively high. Instead of regretting the
American composers, he said, were breaking of passionate love and his story of old Nuremberg.
fact that this wonderful period has passed the away from a slavish following of European com-
Little doubt tempermental differences explain
music lover of to-day should rejoice in it, since position, and were now more fully expressing the
the differences of opinion revealed in the major-
it has left us the wonderful compositions that life of the American people. The elements now
ity of these answers. With art on so high a
sprang into existence at that remarkable time. entering into American music were the Indian
plane of perfection, the question as it presents
And it is most commendable that occasionally folk song of the North and the Southwest, the
itself to most of us is, after all, "which of Wag-
there arises some independent spirit who boldly negro plantation songs, the Spanish-American
ner's acknowledged masterpieces do I like best?"
disassociates himself from the whole movement songs of the Southwest, the Spanish-Indian songs
says Max Smith. "Parsifal" is recognized gener-
of modernity and instead delves into the masses and the cowboy songs. Continuing, he said, in
ally as the composer's most flawless work, con-
of forgotten music, bringing some of them to part:
sidered purely as an accomplishment of musico-
life and to hearing once more.
"The popular songs—the rag-time songs of the dramatic art. Yet many of those who are ready
Such work is being done to-day by Sam present day, will be an element in future compo- to appreciate it in this light do not hesitate to
Pranko, who is an enthusiast in matters of old sition too important to be overlooked. Of course, pour out their venom of disapproval on the mas-
music. His scheme is the banding together of
each individual work, as we have it to-day, is ter's wonderful poem and so do not hesitate to
a reasonably small orchestra of skilfully selected trivial, but the spirit underlying all of it must speak of it in the same breadth—as one writer
players and of rehearsing them carefully, giving be vital enough to live or it would not have the in this city actually did—with so cheap a compo-
but a few concerts, the programmes of which are hold it has at present."
sition as Donizetti's "Lucrezia Borgia." This
built of works so old that they sound positively
Mr. Farwell gave several illustrations of In- simply because "Parsifal" is not to their taste;
novel.
dian melodies on the piano, which, he said, were because the religious spirit which pervades it,
Of course there are differing opinions of the literal transcriptions, note for note, though he together with its glorification of celibate purity,
artistic value of such a task, the more head- admitted that the music reproduced on the piano "rubs them the wrong way."
strong moderns declaring that such music is by did not sound as the Indians sing it. He then
rights dead, and that it can be of interest only gave a few examples of the Indian melodies de-
MORE PADEREWSKI PRIZES.
to music students who can dig it out for them- veloped into more complex compositions to show
selves and profit by the study of it. However what might be done with them.
The Interest From the Fund Established by the
violent the arguments be either for or against
Pianist to Be Distributed Again.
this scheme of concerts of old music, the fact
STOCK SUCCEEDS THOMAS.
remains that there is unquestionably room for
There is to be another competftion among
these affairs among the vast assortment of mu-
Frederick A. Stock has been appointed director American musical composers for the prizes
sic that is fed to the ears of the New York pub- of the Chicago Orchestra, succeeding Theo. yielded by the fund established by Mr. Pader-
lic.
BDWAKD ZIEGLER.
Thomas. This appointment lasts until the end ewski several years ago. The income from the
of the season, but it is expected that he will be fund was distributed for the first time four years
reappointed next year. F. J. Wessels, treasurer ago, the prize winners being Henry K. Hadley,
BURGSTALLER AND COSIMA WAGNER.
and business manager, said: "If Mr. Thomas Horatio W. Parker, and Arthur Bird. The con-
It is said that Cosima Wagner, widow of the were living I know that Mr. Stock would be his ditions which governed the first competition will
great composer and ruler of the destinies of the choice. We have given up thinking of asking prevail again. There will be three prizes of
Wagner Theatre at Beyreuth, has written a sig- any foreign musician to take charge here. The $500 each for a composition for full orchestra,
nificant letter to Alois Burgstaller, the tenor, men of the orchestra and the trustees are satis- for a choral work with orchestra, with or with-
who is now a member of the Metropolitan Opera fied with Mr. Stock."
out solo voices, and for a piece of chamber music
House company and who created the role of
for any combination of instruments. The com-
"Parsifal" in this country last season. She an-
petition is restricted to composers born in the
KREISLER'S SUCCESSFUL RECITAL.
nounces that a production of "Parsifal" is in
United States of America. The board of judges
Fritz Kreisler gave a second violin recital in will consist of B. J. Lang and Franz Kneisel, of
preparation in Amsterdam. She declares that
she understands, the motives which led Mr. Burg- Mendelssohn Hall on Wednesday afternoon, Boston; Prof. J. K. Paine, of Harvard Univer-
staller to ignore her wishes by singing Parsifal February 1st, attracting as usual a large and en- sity, and H. E. Krehbiel and Walter Damrosch, of
thusiastic audience. This great artist has just New York. Compositions must be in the hands
in New York.
He is a young man with a small repertoire— returned from a triumphant tour of the western of Otto Roth, secretary, Boston, by July 1, 1905.
which makes engagements difficult for him to cities, and on Saturday last he played with the
secure in Germany—and a family to support. Chicago Symphony Orchestra, on Monday gave
PLAN A GREAT BEETHOVEN FESTIVAL.
But she expresses the hope that he will resolve a third recital in Boston, and the following day
gave
a
joint
recital
with
Josef
Hofmann
in
never to sing Parsifal anywhere except in New
Gabriel Astruc is co-operating with Signor
Buffalo.
York and Beyreuth.
Sonzogno to organize an Italian operatic season
in Paris and a Beethoven festival for May, like
It is likely, therefore, that the breach between
Mr. Burgstaller and the Wagner family will be MANAGERS COMPLAIN OF OUT-OF-TOWN. the Rhenish musical festival organized in con-
nection with the inaugation of the Liszt statue
healed, and that he will again be heard in the
While musical affairs in New York have pros- and the Mozart celebration at Saltzburg. The
festival theatre.
pered to an unusual degree, the managers report Beethoven concerts will last four days, the pro-
that the situation on the road has been very dif- gramme comprising Beethoven's nine symphon-
OTTO LOHSE'S TRIUMPH.
ferent. Concerts have not attracted the kind of ies, and singers of the highest international repu-
Otto Lohse, who once conducted "Siegfried" in
audiences expected and necessary to profit, and, tation will be engaged.
this city so admirably that his manager, himself
while some of the artists have received their
a conductor, thereafter kept him in the back- guarantees, little, if anything, has remained for
Now that Conried has broken the ice other
ground, and who has in recent years presided
the manager. The artists who seem certain to countries are falling in line in regard to "Par-
over the Wagner performances in London, has
earn money for their managers are those who sifal." We note that Wagner's great work is to
been appointed conductor and director of the
demand a moderate fee and are able to appear be produced next June at Amsterdam, where it
opera in Cologne. Thanks to his inspiring in- frequently. There is sure profit only in them.
is not protected by copyright. Rehearsals are
fluence the receipts have more than doubled
to commence at once, and the best German sing-
since he assumed the baton; in six weeks 20,000
Felix Weingartner arrived Tuesday by the ers will be engaged. The decorations, which are
marks more were taken in than in the same Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse to conduct the next to cost about $20,000, have been ordered from
period last year.
Philharmonic concerts in this city.
Vienna. Cosima Wagner has entered a protest.