The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-02
JDEES MUSICAL ES.
A Pians-t's Opinion Of Ptsno Pinycrs DR.
HHns Won BuIow ana Others.


distinguished pianist, Won Bulow, has now
been In America for over Eve months, and has
given so many demonstrations Of his executive
powers, his social proclivities, and his temper,
that IL 10 by no means premature to record our
estimate of him.
Amid the aatonishngy numerous and con-
trasted topics which divide the attention Of in
dustriOus newspaper writer's, II Is not sur
prisinR that the subtle art OF music, its com
posers, and Its interpreters, should by them be
seldom treated In a manner satisfactory to hard
musical students whose discriminating faoul-
ties are sharpened by daily attrition with the
works OF the masters. have seen II stated in
newspapers that Anton Rubnstein was a great
apostle OF the Music Of the Future" when the
truth Ia that since Mendelssohp there has not
appeared a greater master OF form, and Of all
legitimate sequential effects with reference to
tonality, than Rubinstein, nor one who hates
Waaner's principles with a more noble hatred
than he. have seen II as publicly asserted that
Won Bulow cannot play Chopln's music, from
the fact Of an Intellectual malfornl alton, so to
speak, by which IL ia mpossibIe Tor him to re-
produce the poetry Of the weird Polish genius,
however well he may have mastered the re-
This is as stupid as the Rubinstein crttiaie,
and, to be true, II infers that the anonymous
writers OF such opinions must know better than
the renowned Below how Chopin ought to be
interpreted. leave the reader to strike a bal
ance between the hkeihoods OF infainbiitty In
the two judges.
There has been deal Of illiterate cant about
the proper mood" In which to play Chopin.
love-siok school girls, have been dilated upon
until we are tired Of the subject. II was unfor-
editions Of hts works were all high priced. and
we're thus placed out of the reach OF poor ANA
teuIs, II was also unlucky That ne nrst TO be-
ana shorter polonaises. These gave the general
impression OF their COMPOSERS inysIiaoie
lima tall and Dnlt
peculiarites and these characteristics have
since been almost universally sscribed to the
larger works Of this mater--his Etudee. his
Sonata, the wonderful Concert Allegro, Ballades,
Scherzl, and fugitive concerted pieces. Nothing
thus done TO tho writer. Of course, is extended
TO any fresh Interpreter OF his works, and That
with pomposity Of diction and self-imaeined
trrefraetolity OF AUTHORITY, extremely offensive
to all wonder struck wofshtppers Of Chopin hu-
self, and inexpressiDly Irritating to those who,
while listening to mis- reproduction by the
human miracle, Won Bnow. feel as u they could
PROSTATE themselves at his feet, TO show
their homage. Alas for Music, that she should
he 50 often nothing out a diversion and
matter Of fancy, Impulse and taste, instead of
the brain fodder, the heart suncer, and the
psychological necessity for which the All-wise
Tue properest way In which to judge OF the
eminent artist whose name adorns the heading
of THIS article rs for to compare him with the
other European masters Of the plano who have
but few In number, and yet our ordinary critics
seem to be strangely forgetful of their merits,
| their achievements. and their whilom presence.
Let us 20 back Dut twenty I'VE years, ana
| shall recall the names Of Henri Herr, Leopold
| de Meyer. Alfred Jaen. Maurice straEosch Ia
very elegant player In his primeL GOeckeI, Nine.
Graever-JohusOn, 1haluerg, Gustav Satter, Ar
thur Napoleon. Cote chalk. lhoo. Ritter. RUBIN
kreos. Besides these, there have been few
worthy Of mention. Wehli and kowalski, God
dard, and one or two Others were nice artists,
| though they left but little Impression as indl
| vidunliEing their art. But each OF these Others
| had his or her specially. Perhaps the best way
| Of specializing Dr. Won Bulow would te to say
| that he has no specially, but he mas perfected a
broad generalization Of executive musical art in
| q manner the most rare OF any attribute OF mu-
| sical scholars, as n class.
Each Of the nrst foregoing artists had bis or
| her special point Of excellence. In Hen IL was
| delicate finger lace work passages. In De Meyer
| 1t was chords. In Goeckel II was brduurd dance
| music. In Jael IL was wonderful power and
elegance OF execution and orth conception
| Of the classic authors. In strackosch it was
| brilhinco and bold execution Of tho lighter
| STYLES II salon and concert music, most IL IL
Graever Johnson II was cold, clear, classic cor
rectness re Nine. Goddaru's. In fact, md
but little to distinguish between any Of the
| above named dy pIanists, unless II be the ex-
ceptional memory of MISS iopp and Miss Krebs,
| striking dines or orisinai works, they have
presented absolutely thing.
| TnaiberR's 81 ecialty was the playing OF his
| own transcnptions no the solitary one l. fat
| CONCERTO Of beethoven. Satter's greatest Of his
| many specialties, Was his score re-ding. More
| over, BIS In provisations and piano transcript
| tons Of orchestral works together with his
vellOus classical report ire undoubtedly stAfup
him the greatest European artist who has
| ever visited America before DR.. Won Bulow.
| Arthur Napoleon's specially was the neat. clear,
| aud Intelligent technique Of youth Of II, with
| huge promises wnich nave not been fulnlled
| Gottschsl9's specially was touch. Never IN
| America las plano been tOuc ed 10 he touche,;
| II. He also reversed the order OF things as in
| situated byour minstrel friends, namely. inste d
Of giving us white music IN black ( Gee, Colts
| chaik's specially was In giving US black and
| creole music In a white face, and such a face |
| foscin ting, " perfectssimo" Gottschalkl " hen
shall mis- peer ia person NY be again awakened
| what similar to that Of Herr. II was the french
school OF delicate and charming pianism, causing
| us to smile with delight, but seldom tnreate u
Ing the SAFETY Of ones new daintily nt,ing kid
| gloves.
| compositions, while the same can be said Of
| Pfeiner, much finer anu more remarkable
| artist than the public ever suspected.
| Now, compared with these, now does Dr. Won
Bnlow stand is the natural inquiry. Except
| ing the Mephstophelian touch OF Gottschalk,
the miraculous insight into partition pos
| sessed by Safer, and the creative genus Of Ru-
can brush away all this quarter century OF
piAnistS with one end OF his puenacious little
| moustache.
| Where has there ever been heard a more ex-
| quislte specimen OF the uttermost perfection OF
the French school Of piansm tnan In Balow's
performance Of Chopin's Berceuse2 (rhe
| scamp always repeats one OF the phrases in this
| piece BECAUSE he knows IL is so heavenly u
Mhere has any plani.t given more solid and
| Hummers Septet, or his Concerto In A minor
| Where or when in America has any PLAYER Ap-
| preached the threshold Of such In erpret ations
| OF Beethovens most noble as well as his III ost
| erratic works as those OF Bulow? Who mot
| even excepting Rubinstein HIMSELF has eyei
| given us moro criticism frightening revelations
| OF the romantic school than has Bulow In
| TschaikowskIs Concerto, LIszts Rhapsodies
| and Liszts arrangements OF Weber and Schu.
| bertI VINO has anronted our ordinary concep
| lions OF human musical memory AS Bnow has
| done2 Who but he has proven To us that one
| man can carry two centuries OF musical litsra-
| ture In the ends Of his fingersf
| Here IA pianist VINO II not only a mere
| digitarlan; he Is also scholar, a critic, and
| conductor. After Lassen had had thirty re-
| hearsals OF NaRner's opera. Tristan and
Isolde" in Vienna, and had despaired OF TO
| ducinR II 10 music, up stepped little Won Bulow
/ ana brought order out OF chaos made sunshine
| out Of darkness, and from the bitterest uregs OF
| discord and cdcophony distilled the sweetes
honey OF concord and harmony.
Ii such q man To DO judged by the Brobdig
naRian codeI Is such a wonder to be ntted Il
the clothes OF puppet2 Ia such an e1ecutiv,
anu intellectual giant to be placed In the san,
category with the sycophantine, bowling, scrap
Ing, hungry, pAtronized, aud contracted m md {
herd Of yenal pollcy-huRging musical petit
mdltres to whom We have been accustomed
shall the master among masters alone of ali bs
mukKled and not allowed TO he eccentric and e
speak his mind, to rebuke alike the schiUeiIihet
OF common musicians ana the bfNSQtleTie v
comm on au, fences? | think not.
Let us not then busy Ourselves with pic KIM
out spots In this art sun when We might bette