Music Trade Review

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THE
7UTVSIC TRKDE
REVIEW
Huss, MacDowell, Loeffler and Kelley, have
made
it impossible to ignore the power of
TIMELY TALKS ON TIMELY TOPICS.
the American pen.
One might well ask—is it worth the strug-
HP HE melancholy days have come—the sad- versary of the death of the great Wagnerian
gle?
Very little is worth a struggle, but
* dest of the year. Not autumn days, exponent. It was a presentation worth re-
these
men
have not struggled, they have writ-
indeed, but the farewell to the opera and its membering, and it was a good explanation
ten
because
music was as natural to them as
contingent of artists. And this has been without words of the cause of the tremendous
breath
is
to
most
people, and they have taken
a wonderful season for society. Tt has also popularity of Frank Damrosch, who is closer
their
pleasure
out
of the music itself. That
been a good season for those in the shoe to the people of New York than any other
other
people
have
taken pleasure out of
business, for there is nothing harder upon musician.
But to know Mr. Damrosch is to under- their achievements is proven by the fact that
shoes than standing, and that has been the
chief occupation of most of the students who stand this. His personality is more truly these names are no longer obscure; they are
felt that these days and nights were too pre- translated in his music than is that of any known wherever music is heard.
The songs of the day show the advance of
other musician before the public. His earn-
cious to be lost.
the
American perhaps more than any other
Opera in America has not yet reached its estness is of that sort that effaces all barriers,
side
of the art, as the average ballad is well
mission. Socially it is quite the most bril- that overcomes all obstacles because of the
written
and acceptable all over the English-
liant thing conceivable, and artistically as purity of his motives. There is a note in
speaking
countries. Indeed, the American
well; but educationally it is a failure. Those the music of Mr. Damrosch that is unique.
ballad
compares
favorably with the ballad
who need it cannot enjoy it, and those who This note is of more value than virtuosity
of
any
and
every
other country, and that
attend are for the most part more interested of any description, or brilliancy of any lus-
this
is
the
case
it
is
only necessary to real-
in the social end of it than they are in the tre. It is the note that reaches the people
ize
that
there
is
scarcely
a program where
because the sympathy is not one brought on
artistic.
there
is
not
at
least
one,
if not an entire
through love for music—it is deeper, it is
Thus ends the Grau regime. What the greater, it is the acme of nobility. It is the group of American songs. The American
future holds cannot even be surmised. Mr. reflection in his music of his contact with is no longer "coining on." He has come.
Conried has his views, and they are expen- the people, of his labors and his understand-
The slowness of some cities! This time
sive ones. His desire and even intention to ing of their joys and their sorrows, and of
it
is
not Philadelphia, but actually New York,
give "Parsifal" will be surrounded with in- all that which can only come with a life oi
and
Boston, and Chicago, and every place
terest. He shows at least the determination work in the interests of the people who ii
but
Philadelphia,
where Fritz Scheel—he who
to overcome all obstacles, even the will of a return for what he gives to them, stamp them-
recently
won
New
York into the appreciation
woman; as Mme. Cosima Liszt Von Biilow selves upon his life and bring out of it what
of
his
great
skill
as
conductor—resides and
Wagner will stand upon all her prerogatives is the noblest and the highest thought in man.
conducts
a
fine
orchestra.
He actually un-
•to prevent such a tragedy as an American
dertook
to
give
the
nine
immortal
symphon-
The presentation of Elgar's "Dream of
production of "Parsifal." But it can hardly
ies
of
the
immortal
Beethoven,
and
they met
be doubted that the Wagnerian operas will Gerontius" by Frank Damrosch with his
with
fullest
appreciation.
The
series
were
receive most tender and sympathetic treat- Oratorio Society, assisted by the Musical Art
ment at the hands of Mr. Conried, as he is Society, also of Mr. Damrosch's creation, preceded with an analytical program talked
a German and the German theatre is to him was one of the greatest musical triumphs instead of written by H. E. Krehbiel, who is
an open book and one that he has success- ever achieved in New York. The choral one of the most delightful lecturers upon
work was as near perfection as it is possible musical topics that I have ever heard. He
fully read to others.
to conceive anything in the way of music. present "Beethoven and His Symphonies,"
When German opera is the topic at this Not only did it serve to stamp Elgar as one and it was a literary and educational treat
particular time of the year, some of us never of the greatest men of the day, but it made that would not be easily surpassed.
fail to pay a mental tribute to one who will it apparent that Mr. Damrosch stands on a
The ninth, or rather choral symphony,
forever stand at the head of Wagnerian plane of dazzling height. Ellison van Hoose, was given on the seventy-seventh anniver-
opera in America. I have said before—and who sang the intensely difficult part of Geron- sary of the great composer's death. The
I must ever say—that it is not possible to tius, and later of his soul, deserves no end Mendelssohn Club assisted in the presenta-
estimate the power that was wielded by that of praise as it was a great achievement. Ada tion and the soloists were selected from the
great and dearly loved man—Anton Seidl.
Crossley has a beautiful voice but she seemec! Philadelphians. •
Whatever we have come to look upon as to be suffering from a severe cold, and Bisp-
A Beethoven festival will be given in Lon-
tradition we learned to know from him who ham—well, what is left to say of this great don beginning May 16 and ending May 25.
exuded it from his brain and from his heart artist except that he was in perfect condi- The symphonies will be done in chronologi-
as well. When Seidl died March 28, 1898, lie tion and sang as he always does—nobly.
cal order by one hundred musicians under
left behind him an understanding of the great
Weingartner, who will appear as pianist as
Now that the day of the foreign artist is also conductor. Besides the symphonies the
Wagner, who had been as a closed book to
closing
for the season, the American is com- Triple Concerto, Op. 56, the Septet and the
the people. It is not often within one man's
ing
into
his own, and with the material that song cycle "An die Entfernte" will be given.
power to be to a nation what Anton Seidl
is
to
be
found it will not be many decades
was to America. Teacher, as only one who
An artist should be immune from the
before
the
American may hope to be heard
knew and loved as he knew and loved the
ravages
of the grippe, but alas! he is not
from
early
and
late.
work, who could interpret and interest as
—at
least
Gabrilowitsch was not. He suc-
Henry
Hadley
takes
the
matter
very
sen-
he interpreted and interested; example, as
cumbed
to
its influences and it cost him a
sibly,
in
a
way;
he
is
able
to
write
sym-
only one who is a model of sincerity and self-
pretty
number
of engagements. Boston,
phonies
and
he
is
able
to
win
prizes
out
of
abnegation in service to his art; director,
Washington,
New
York, Chicago, Buffalo,
his
efforts,
but
at
best
symphonies
never
as only possible to one as close to the foun-
all
have
had
to
forego
the pleasure of hear-
made
fortunes
for
any
man,
and
light
opera
tain head as he was to Wagner—he stood
ing
this
charming
and
altogether
fascinating
has
brought
both
gold
and
fame,
vide
De
alone. It will always remain a privilege to
artist.
But
he
has
been
persuaded
to rest
have known such a character in the history Koven's "Robin Hood." And Henry Had-
long
enough
to
regain
his
strength
and
he
of America's music. It will always remain ley's "Nancy Brown" will assuredly add ma-
will
be
ready
to
play
in
Buffalo
April
9,
and
a grief to those who knew him closely, for terially to his bank account while it will not
Chicago April 12, after which he will play
not alone his personality is missing from the detract from his prestige.
in St. Paul and then back to us in the East,
routine of musical life, but they alone can
A rare delight it was to hear Arthur
who
are waiting patiently.
understand what influence has been removed Foote in his own quartet last week, and Park-
Emilie Frances Bauer.
from the musical life' of our country.
er, too, played his own music in New York.
Study music in order to beautify your own
A peculiar coincidence was the presenta- It is very certain that these musicians must
tion of the beautiful Wagnerian program by feel satisfaction in their achievements, for heart, and beautify your own heart in order
Frank Damrosch last Saturday—the anni- they with three or four others, incidentally to make this world more beautiful to others.