New-York tribune., 1876-08-26
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE NEW SCHOOL OF MIYSIC.

THE NEW SCHOOL OF Mloit.
/. MISTAKEN IDEA-MUsIc DISTINCT PROM MUSICAL
- DRAMA.
To the Edjto- Of The Tribune
SIR: The event of the past week has doubtless
been tho Bayrcuth festival. long descriptions OF
which have been given in the columns of your
nsner. inst at this period of earnest revival of
musical art in this country, when the public mind is
interested in all that relates to it, and susceptible to
the influence of European notions, L cannot but
think that this triumph of the new school OF
music" will prove indirectly pernlcious 20 healthy
development of the art among our people. In
Europe in spite of the fond belief and vain asser-
tons OF new school disciples, the classic school has
the widest influence on national musical educa-
tion. AS a nation are ignorant OF clas-
sical music, of the works of those composers
who by general consent have been termed
STANDARD" Hence, among u.s. there is 10 conserva-
tive influence sufficiently strong to efectualy throw
of the extravagances advanced by the new school
There is no doubt but that the theories and operas
OF Wagner will become popular here. The popular
mind will thus become accustomed to consider music
only under its dramatic form. While welcoming
the many excellent reforms introduced into the
opera BY Wagner, | regret that the furoT with
which they are received should tend toward con-
fusing in the public mind the musical drama with
music as distinct and independent art. This is the
tendency Of the new school.
Working upon the imagination by startling effects
which derive their power from their novelty, strikes
the refined mind being puere, similar to the arts
of semi-civilized nations and times, and as
analogous to the artifce of early Byzantine
monarchs who, in order TO impress the uninitiated
with proper feelings of awe when approaching their
persons had the machinery set in motion that caused
the gded lions at the foot of the throne to rise up
thn change
tree loaded with fruits and singing birds. The pure
and beautiful which il is one of the missions Of art
TO give expression to, cannot be impressed upon
the soul by such means, But they are legitimate in
dramatic representations, although the highest aim
of the drama is to vivify human sentiments and
passions, and it seeks to attain this end
only by human elements, or the expression
of these elements. Music is one of the
most effectual instruments of expression,
and by introducing il into dramatic representations
il lends greater fierce and effect to them. But this
manner of looking at music, only as one means
among many to attain dramatic effect, is wrong;
music has another and divner mission. SO subtle
is its nature that il seems meant by God to be the
vehicle of expression to those intangible lOngings
and states of aspiration of the SOUL to which sculp-
ture can give no torm painting no color, and poesy
no voice The 9th Symphony of Beethoven, which
by every artist is regarded the cOnsummation OF
everything beautiful in the realm of music is of this
character 1t could not be carved in marble nor
written in Acknowledgements musical compositions
could be translated into other forms. Let American
youths who aspire to become musical artists look
to it that they distinguish the essence of music con-
sidercd as an independent art, from the musical
drama in which ii is subordinate And let our
teachers unfold to the minds of their pupils the
principles of the pure art as laid down in the DID,
Il a Il.
but gorgeous, productions of the new school
Neu- York, Aug. %, 1876. GEO. North.