The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-19
LITERATURE.

LII REs .a4 .v
RICHARD WAGNER, THE GREAT GERMAN COM
POSER, ON THE WORK AND MISSION OF HIS
LIFE.
The piece de vess0Rce of the August number Of the
NORTH American RsvieU IL . paper entitled. ''The
Work and Mission OF My Life." by Richard Wagner.
Mr.. Rice has been extraordinarily successful get.
ting distinguished men to write for his Reoie.o.
but he has never shown greater enterprise than
In securing the famous German composer a. q
contributor. Tho article covers twenty pages Of
the RerisW. and is. IL not mistaken only the
half OF what he has written. The next instalment
will appear In the September number. The interest
of the article continuous that it should be read
in its entirety for thorough appreciation. We shall
only quote sufficient to whet the readers appetite
for tho whole. Wagner, as is we'll known. holds q
trenchant pen. and his prose is as vigorous his
music is original. The English-reading public
have had an opportunity to judge Of his
merits author from tho TRANSACTIONS
made from his works and published
time ago in Hollis Amateur Series. The German edi-
ton of his writings in nine good sized volumes;
the American Is boiled down to one. The request
coming from America personally address the read.
ers Of q well known New York review the subject
of his artistic opinions and methods could not fail
Herr Wagner writes. to move him greatly.
ut required" he says. can appeal from another
worid-from beyond the ocean, from the so-called
new world Of Amcrics-to induce me to allow my
to appear elsewhere. in public peri
odical. aud attached TO new explanation Of my aims
in art The old world. and especially that part Of
It included in our new Germany. will hear no more
from me directly on this subject
The wrctched condition Of German musical art
called for change. Artistic culture. 'the total
all ha in md
state" appeared to him. from early point in his
study OF 1t. Ito be something unnatural narrow.
weak incapable OF producing the true realization OF
any great national idea-in . word. 10 be something
altogether un-Gcrman."
From the ssddcning recognition Of these surround.
ings In his country his eyes directed by
some encouraging signs toward "the land beyond
the ocean" He writes,--
There IL seemed though the ocrmanic spirit in
untrammelied development. were about TO open to
us . realm for the exercise Of its uncon-
querable vgcr and strength. Tho great overplus
the untouched work Of q civilization that has
a. yet history behind it, may well make
us often shrink back alarmed. and Iced to think
that culture in our sense-culsurs which can only
reach its ideal height In great development OF art
spite Of this such glance toward the New World al
ways awakened hope In hope II always aroused
be- that long time must ssii pass IN toll ana care for
the needs OF the moment before the great period
fully rounded CIVILIZATION Will De roochod: but
how much 10 already gained In the single fact that
the German mind can there develop In activity and
freedom. unoppros.ed by the wretched burdens left
upon 10 by a melancholy history When. with
the gradual establishment OF the needful quiet
I'm social and political relations. all the evils
inherited the past shall one by drop away.
then. It may be- hoped new civilization viii grow
up upon the field energctcally aud securely won.
such . civilization viii then be able turn with
like strength and freedom. and with greatness OF
lrin Srospe or toward ss a%s s.o 70 s.s ~ .
there. perhaps that the German mind will once
attain to the full glory OF an art that 10 all It's
own.
The ideal strength OF the Gern.anic spirit shows
continually. he thinks that IL 10 strength. mot
national but international" He expresses longing
for new birth" OF German civilization. To tho
stage he looks Tor this reformation. IL 10 "oniy
through the stage that . nAtionsi art become
truly the property OF the people" "Atrue. living.
national DRAMA. he writes 'elevsted to the height
artistic ideal. Is the real. pure invigorating
of all other nstionai art life and the most
complete expression OF national culture. Thus the
wretchsd condition OF the modern European stage
thoroughly transitional and insr'istic. and supplied
from the sweepinas of the lower class French
theatres s OF the surest gauges Of the spirit
modern European civilization In general"
At tho time young Germany" began 10 -
sert itself wagner. . boy OF seventeen. vas max
ing his hrst rcal-cntry into life. He never
marvel of musical precocity." he tells us, and q
an early age ataste for poetry had struggled with
taste for music" for mastery In his mind ID vss
the knowledge Of Becthoven's symphoniss. gained
when no was boy of hfteen. that decided him
FINALLY and passionate In favor Of music"
The "un-German element which began 10 eros
UP this time very distastcfui Co wagnes par
ticuiarly - 1t was led by his bsk nssrs "the ysv
Meyerbocr." From "Beethovsn's sympboniss Ia
Meycrbeer's opers-whst . fearful stride 10 thisi"
There was nothing but "coarsencss and trlviality"
In music at this time. Mcndcls~ohn with his s'sli-
hand. his exquisite special talent tor hind %
musical landscape painting" was "the savior Of
music in the salon. and with him the room.
and now and then even the church. did duty
. salon also. Amid oil the tempests of
revolution he gave TO his art . deliosss.
smooth. quiet. cool and aereesbiy tranquil
form that excited nobody and had
but to please the modern culsivsssd s.sse. aud 10
give It occasionally amid the shifting and turmoil
Of the times the consolation OF little PLEASING and
elegant entertainment new idea In art Do
velopcd-the embodiment IN IL OF . graceful. good
society element quite foreign TO the nations chars-
ter and social ife" And Robert schumsnn. - ts~se
full composer OF little spirited and pleasant songs
and pieces for the pianofortsa genre painter 10 the
others isndscape--now began 10 write symphonies
oratorios and operas" Thus. no tells us 'sthe Ger
man intellect degcneratcd into condition % com
plete unproductivcncss IN art. seversng the living
and active bonds that bound II to . great naiiossi
past and undertaking TO create. unaided art IN
tended only for amateurs and 'connoisssurs.'"
FINE ARTS.