Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
8
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
-^—^-ii. i"n
i^>,n
".J.I"^,.!"^,^—1
• —
»
i
- .
-.,.
-I.
i_
' . _
.
• • S
J
* ^ > ^ J - V ^ V ^ N , ^ ^ ^ ' \ ^ V J ^ . ^ % I
&&&&&£<*&&&?Z*
THE PLAYER-PIANISTS' DEPARTMENT
[It is in every way eminently desirable that a publication
which undertakes to give so much space and so authoritative
a treatment to the great player industry, as does The Re-
view, should not neglect what is after all the real excuse
for the player's existence, namely, the music that is evoked
from it. Recognizing the extraordinary importance of do-
ing everything possible to spread more widely appreciation
and love for music among player-pianists, The Review's
Player Section for the present month contains below, and
will in future regularly contain, a department devoted to
the musical interests of player-pianists and of the player-
piano. Each month one musical article of general interest
will appear, together with useful hints, notes and comments.
This is in addition to the regular sub-section of the Player
Section which analyzes the monthly issues of music rolls,
Professional demonstrators, salesmen and player-pianists of
every degree will find each month on the "Player-Pianist's"
page of the Player Section much valuable information. And
the Editor of the Player Section will at all times be glad
to answer inquiries on any and all musical player matters.
SCHUBERT'S UNFINISHED SYMPHONY.
An Analysis and An Appreciation.
Most of us poor human beings are obliged to
contend for whatever of skill, or facility, we may
come to possess in our particular line of en-
deavor, through a whole life time of strenuous
and painful effort. We are not all geniuses;
which is, perhaps as well. "Genius is an infinite
capacity for taking pains," said Carlyle, but the
Scotch philosopher was hardly better informed
in this case than he was in some others. Gener-
alizations are proverbially unreliable.
For the fact remains that from time to time in
all departments of human activity there arises
some natural born genius, some master descends
from Heaven, who upsets all our previous con-
ceptions and puts to flight our most cherished
beliefs. In the realm of music, Carlyle's defini-
tion of genius seerns to meet more exceptions
than anywhere else. Mozart, Mendelssohn, Franz,
Schubert, were not these indeed masters descended
from Heaven? The child Mozart composed son-
atas at the age of six, and conducted an opera of
his own composition when less than thirteen years
old. Mendelssohn, at the age of seventeen, wrote
the "Overture to the Midsummer Night's Dream."
Thus early rising to a height which even he never
exceeded during the rest of his life. And Franz
Schubert, too, born in misery, living in misery,
dying in misery, gave to the world in his short
thirty-one years, more than it had ever heard
before of perfect crystaline musical treasure.
More than 600 songs, nine orchestral symphonies,
dozens of wonderful pieces for piano, quartets,
quintets, operas, all of these flowed from his
pen with never ceasing copiousness. Tedious
studies in musical theory, laborious hours of prac-
tice, were not for him. Sublime conceptions seem
to. bubble forth spontaneously. Immortal songs,
now the cherished treasures of a whole world,
were carelessly noted down on the backs of menu
cards in taverns, on old envelopes, on scraps of
paper.
Yet Franz Schubert never earned the equivalent
of $10 a week in his life, and when he died, the
total of his possessions was appraised at less than
that pitiful sum.
Of the nine symphonies which Schubert com-
posed, not one of which he- ever heard performed,
the eighth, more generally known as the "Un-
finished," is perhaps the noblest and most perfect.
And this is true in spite of the fact that it is, in
fact, "unfinished," since it has but two movements
of the customary four. And yet we" would not
have it otherwise. For, as Weingartner has well
said, in this case at least, we can only be thank-
ful that Schubert left his symphony a fragment.
For as it stands, it is so perfect, so unutterably
lovely that we cannot think of any addition to it
without a feeling as of sacrilige. It is indeed a
fragment, but the loveliest fragment the world
of music has ever known.
In the year 1821, Schubert was notified that
he had been elected an honorary member of the
Musical Society of the City of Gratz. To show
his appreciation of the honor, he informed the
society that he would compose for them a sym-
phony. Two movements of it were written, and
moving and yet so marvelously well sounding a
then for some unexplained reason, the work was work.
put aside and remained unheard of for many
Even in the piano arrangement, the harmonic
years. To Mendelssohn belongs the honor of dis- and melodic beauties of the "Unfinished Sym-
covering, amidst a wealth of other music left in phony" stand out for all to hear. No suggestions
the hands of Schubert's brother after Franz's as to interpretation need be made to the player-
death, these two precious movements. But Men-
pianist, except to say that the analysis so briefly
delssohn himself never lived to conduct this given above, will furnish all necessary clues. And
beautiful work, which, indeed, had its first per- he, or she, who can love and appreciate Franz
formance in 1865.
Schubert, and his "Unfinished Symphony," needs
not definite instruction. These things will be-
The "Unfinished Symphony" consists, then, of
two movements, the first "Allegro Moderato," in come plain of themselves.
three-four time, and in the key of B minor, and
the second "Andante Con Moto," in three-eight
THE ART OF SALESMANSHIP.
time and in the key of E major. The first move-
ment opens with a slow and majestic theme, sung Some Points in Address Delivered by C. F.
by the double basses and 'cellos. The violins then
Goes Before the Cincinnati Division Na-
take up a rippling accompaniment in sixteenth
tional Sales-Managers' Association.
notes, over which appears after four measures,
a second theme intoned by the oboe. This sec-
The salesman's work is improving every day
ond theme is of a subsidiary nature and is sub- and I do not see how business can go forward
jected to some development in wood-wind, brass without successful salesmanship.
and strings, which leads up to a short episode
Nothing in the world is easier, I believe, than
taken by the clarinets. These prepare the way to produce the goods; the mere raising of them,
for the second principal theme, which is very and the mere manufacture of them, is compara-
beautiful and sweetly sung by the 'cellos, and tively easy. Let there be a great demand for a
repeated by the first violins. With the develop- commodity and the average intelligence of the
ment of this theme, the first section is brought human race can easily produce it. But what are
to a close and the whole is then repeated.
you going to do when you cannot dispose of it?
The second section is devoted to a general Nothing paralyzes the nerves of business more
working out of the material which has been ex- than a depressed market.
pressed in the first section. There are several
I fully realize that the salesman is one of the
episodes of striking force and majesty, while to- promoters of civilization, and I think that I realize,
wards the end the original theme, as first sung as well as a man can, how dependent civilization
by the double basses, is brought forward in is on the successful art of salesmanship, for what
one choir of instruments after another, though we all know is that humanity, unless its desires
in a modified and softened form. The feeling are artificially stimulated, does not demand many
of rest and peace thus produced is, however, at things of life. You leave a company of men and
the last moment rudely shattered and the first women anywhere to themselves, without creating
movement ends in thunderous rolls of the kettle artificial wants or stimulating natural wants and
drums.
then ask but very little of life.
That which was said stormily and sternly in the
I read a story of a missionary, who, through
first movement, is in the Andante said once more his efforts had the sight of a blind man partially
in peace and serenity. A very strong resemblance restored. He went away and after a few weeks
is to be noted between the themes used in the reappeared, leading twenty blind men whom he
latter movement, and those which form the ma- had gathered in the wretched places where they
terial of the Allegro. At the opening of the lived and who had followed him to the city.
Andante, three different themes are sounded simul- Now, do you suppose that these men would have
taneously, in double basses, bassoons and violins come to the city of their own accord? No! It
respectively. These form the material of the took the man, whose eyes had been opened, to go
Andante, together with an episodic theme of
and create in them the desire to be helped.
great beauty in ascending tones which is continu-
People sit down and accept the situation as it
ally brought forward at intervals throughout the is, and their wants and desires are not shaped until
movement. There is also a very beautiful melody the salesman either creates an artificial desire, or
sung by the first clarinet against a syncopated stimulates the natural desire, and therefore
accompaniment in the strings, which is heard twice through the very nature of his work occupies the
as an independent theme. The episodic theme position of a promoter of civilization.
above mentioned brings the very beautiful move-
How many men would buy automobiles, air-
ment to a close.
ships, machines, watches or any of the con-
Strength and power mark the first movement, veniences of life unless somebody came along and
peace and heavenly serenity the second. It makes convinced them that they were needed? To you
one think of some bright spirit contending men I pay my tribute and realize that you are the
manfully upon earth and, at last weary of its promoters of civilized life, because you stimulate
labors, ascending into celestial repose. Musicians, the desire of people for the possession of those
musical critics and music lovers by the thousand instruments by which civilization is promoted and
have attempted to convey in cold print their im- for the conveniences which go to make up so
pressions of this wonderful work. No one has large a part of the civilized life of man.
yet done so adequately, and probably no one ever
If you have never thought of your profession
will. Perhaps the very best comment that could in this light, I beg of you to believe that what you
be made on it is implied in relating the simple are doing in the world is the promotion of civili-
fact that, although Schubert wrote it down di- zation, which is influenced by bringing within the
rectly upon the paper and then put it aside with- reach of people those improvements without which
out correction, never even hearing a perform- the civilization of man cannot be carried forward.
ance of it, it has never been necessary to alter
I can quite understand how salesmanship may
one single note. When we add to this statement not only become an art but a fine art. There is
the further one that Schubert's orchestration, as much involved in this subject.
shown in this symphony is far in advance of his
age, and that he used combinations of instru-
The Weatherholt Piano Co., Nashville, Tenn.,
ments never used before, we can only be more have furnished all the pianos for the new Hermit-
astonished at the marvelous perfection of geuius, age Hotel, that city, all of the instruments being
which could produce in this manner so noble, so of the Steger make.