The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-06
MUSIO IN MODKRN THY.
IL ItaIiaa Music DyInR out THE Contrary
Demonstrated.

RoME, March 15.-It is popular belief
abroad that music ia fast decaying in Italy.
Verdi is called the last Of the great Italian mas
ters. and considered IA though he belonged to
the pnst. The young generation Ia said to pro-
duce nothing worth performing. Wagner is, rs
far M we know. the only German com poser now
living who has unquestionablo claims to great
ness. Ho too. Ia not very young; and yet mu-
ale. II is claimed. Ia in progress in Germany.
How far tho use OF two scales In consistent with
justice we leave for the unpreiudced reader to
decide We shall merely investigate whether
tho muse Of song has really deserted Italy or
whether the alleged decline OF music in thls
country Ia a mere deception.
1t Ia impossible to assign the proper place TO
contemporary Italian music without Analysing.
however slightly. the music that il now called
OF tho past. az though Donizeiti. Bellini and
Rossini belonged to another age. No sensible
person can deny the great Italian masters the
gift OF sweet. enchanting melody: but s melody
the all-in-all OF music Rossin has also shown
himself master OF harmony. but only within the
narrow compass OF the effects which itsuited
his purpose to cultivate. Many Northern critics
have gone so far as to characterize Italian mel
ody "a essentially voluptuous. MS " full Of the
languor OF passion without its real spirit" Tho
emotions 1t arouses have been styled morbid
feelings OF jaded appetite. or false. inconse-
quent spasms OF sentmentalism." Popular
Italian love songs have been treated as
things poured out by sham lover.
in the presence Of person Of
doubtful character, by the light OF an artificial
NOON" We are far from sympathizinR with
sweeping statements OF this description. II is
very easy for man Of the North to mistake for
sensualism and morbid passion the strong and
warm feelings OF Southern nations. We hold
that the majority Of Italian operas are inspira-
tions Of genius lpervaded by the purest and
most genuine feeling. but we also acknowledge
with some critics that the classic music OF the
great German composers IL more philosophical
and spiritual than the Italian. Italian melody
is too easy too spontaneous: there Is too much
OF II in the music Of this privileged nation: its
motives are too fully developed; they leave
nothing to the Imagination. and rarely do they
appeal to tho intellect. To follow movement
OF Beethoven. on tho contrary. is bracing
exercise OF the mind He leads us from sur
prise to SURPRISE: always new. the emotions
evoked, while assuming double degree OF i'm
portance by association with the analytic faculty
never become encrvated Tho Italian music
which exercises such powerful fascination
upon our senses as to render us blind and
deaf TO the merits OF its more modern rival. is
not tempered with all the middle TINT that 20 to
- ~ -
emotion unremittingy succeed one 20 another;
the listeners are subjected TO shock after shock.
until ut last we become like children who
thrust heirhands again and again into water
charged with electricity. lust on purpose TO feel
the thrill and the relapse"
As the great painters OF the Renaissance
treated religious subjects simply rs motives
with very little reference TO truth. and nature.
so did tho great Italian masters deal with the
dramatic subjects they undertook TO set to
music. Their souls overlooking with melody
they scarcely halted TO consider whether the
notes expressed in any way the feeling meant
by the words. Indeed the poet is continually
hampered by the omposer and words are con-
stantly made subsequent to music. instead Of
the latter being rendered suitable to the former.
The structure OF the best Italian oneras is often
ridiculous The development OF the dramatic
action Is often delayed in order to afford the
tenor or the prima donna sufficient time TO sing
cavatina whose motive was too pretty for the
composer to neglect it. The prima donna may be
In Imminent danger OF death, but the tenor will
not 20 to her rescue until he has told the public
at least NIFTY times that he must 20. and patheti-
cally grleved over her lot for about fifteen min
utes. Cavatnas OF the most melancholy charac-
ter are vigorously followed by ritOrnelh of the
merriest description. though nothing may have
occurred to change the situation. But, philoso-
phlcally speak ng. the absurdities of the libret
tos and music OF the old Italian opera are too
numerous and too well known to any critical
mind 70 render it necessary that we should
bring them into further relief
rne need 81 reiST 1 I'm ~ t3s direction so
lately induced to change his manner. to give
operate music development more In keeping
with the a'sthstic and philosophical laws of the
wider scope than had been formerly his wont.
THIS movement which undoubtedly marks
great progress. has received further impulse
from the rising composers.
Moreover. system prevails In the principal
conserVatories OF Italy which can hardly fail to
produce good fruit There contraipunto pu-
pills have 10 write choral. symphonic. and ope-
ratio compositions Ter competition in obtaining
their diplomas. Whenever they are found
worthy the honor by the Board Of Professors
these essays are executed by the pupils in the
great hall OF tho Conservatory. and the COM
poser may, III ne chooses, direct the perform
Ance. Tho conservatories Of Florence and
old Italian style Of music. In which melody
prevails. although tempered by greater rich
ness OF instrumentation. Bologna and Milan
The influence OF Wagner over the Bolognese
and the Milanese schools Is perhaps greater
young composers Of Italy. AIrgo Boito. is. in
Tact, thorough Wagnerian, We do not believe
ton OF Warmers works. but the spirit OF tho
latter Is felt throughout. Arrigo Boito is q poet
as well AS musician. graduate OF the Milan
Conservatory. he completed his studies in
Germany. Familiar as he was with all the in.
tricacies OF counterpoint he readily appreciated
the great power that pervades the operas OF the
Saxon composer and translated into Italian
Lohengrln. TannhAuser," and the Flying
Dutchman." He next turned to writing libretto
Tor the original opera Of his own mentioned
above. Mephistopheles' was represented AT La
Scala. in Milan in 1866. but though the author
had bestowed his utmost attention upon all the
preparatory details and conducted the perform
hnce himself. the opera was Il complete failure.
iblNp hlh NOT 1856 lhlln III MS WORK. Aiter
rrarrangtng, correcting, and modifying IL. he
had II represented at the Comunale Theatre ia
Bologna, and there the verdict of the Mlanese
pubic WIS wholly reversed The success OF
Mcphlstophel"s was Hlterward confirmed by
the principal cities OF Italy we'll as in Ger
many ana France. Buito il now earnestly WORK
ing on another opera. OF which n lew friends aud
COMPETENT Judges who have been admitted into
the secret speak IN the most enthusiastic terms.
Inc music Of Antonio CHgnoni.' writes a
good critic. sung by such genius as the world
famous AlessHndro BotterO. is To me always
Ike the advent Of spring time. driving away all
the dark clouds, squalls. and storms. which. in
the shape OF great operas and bad operas. both
foreign and Italian III foreign clothes infest the
atmosphere of our stnge." As IL known to
every musical man. II was with Michael Per-
rim thai iroi. Cagnoui lnnugurated (lS6H his
so-calied second manner. WE mean that kind Of
sentimental and characteristic comedy IN mu-
SIC, unlike any other musical compositions,
| which he created with the cooperation of the
great actor and singer. A. Bottrro. As light ms
| II often is, the music OF CaEnlni is highly
philosophical and always scientifically man
| aged, though always - plain, clear. aud melO-
! dious AS 10 be- mastered NJ least in It's outlines
| IN "A single hearing. The music never delays
| the development of the drama. both OF which
are admirably blended together. Some
| OF the scenes in his operas are the
| most perfect pieces Of spoken music"
| and 'cnAutcd drama that were ever written
| II seems as though Italy would have modified