Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-10
4 Heavy Composition Lightly
Treated. .s
rs n Franclsco Chronicle. !

/ rs Franclsco Chronicle
At cOnce 1T Of strictly classical music recently
! given In this city the principal number was the
extIs meiy difhcult and very rarely played Bee
| Cutnicle man who was present 1t seemed a
/ heavy composition. without tune and for all
/ the world like lot OF scales and exercises. Yet
the Irogramme said It was the musicians
! entranced. The sonata was divided into five
! parts, the whole lasting about forty minutes
NOW outstanding bis honest endeavors to follow
or perceive the musical ideas OF the composer,
and tetng still unable to say that he had really
! enjoye ed the Interpretation OF the work, he be-
came convinced that there must be something
radically wrong In his musical training and de-
| Jermined to discover from some friends who
| were present what the grandeurs or exceilences
OF the sonata were. Taking advantage OF the
quaihtance whom he had noticed as being
among the most effusive applauders OF the
SAID she, after the brief salutations were over.
81 was, /" said he, land have come as a vandal
TO inquire OF you what it all means"
"Means!' echoed the lady. "Why-why,
don't exactly understand YOU"
II have always thought" said he, s'that a
musical composition is written to give express
sion In the most charming form to some Idea,
passion or sentiment In an opera, for instance,
The situation or the spirit anmating the singers
Is explained ia. Is by voice and Instrument. Now,
Ppndg rae same ne test to this sonata what did
wen, really" said the lady, hesitatingly, 81
nau never thought OF asking myself such ques-
t lion. 1t Is scarcely as descriptive compost
"But, said ne, Il saw you just now applaud
ing with heartiness that certainly meant an
enjoyment rent Of the music Tell me, please, what
- was charmed" said the lady, with vigor
or defence that did her Infinite credit, 'by the
g g. ae Of the different movements and the unity
DO you call strain OF six notes, repeated
hfteen times In as many minutes" he was
1Leglnlnllng, when she wrapped him over the
cross-quest1oner WHO did not know what CLASH
cal music was.
With a healthy sense Of his degradation he
appToached mild young man who had follow
and said, What magnificent sonata eh?"
Was 1t mott" said the young man enthusiast
tl 1a[y: such consonance, such harmonic pro-
erosion, such fundamental themes"
Here is the well Of knowledge at last. Which
f nn6a theme do you like best'7 said he
"oh, that in the andante," said the young
man. where it goes rum, tum. ii, to. ii, to, tuif
with to, Il, ii, to, tiddi, iddi tum.'
sounds Sood deal like the last part Of
Yankee Doodle, don't it," said the reporter
There may be chance resemblance" said
the young man patrontzingly; "but the gran
superb
~, What What do you suppose the composer intended
thiS sonata to express ?"
" Express, express, it expresses-why, sir, this
sonata Is one of the best examples of Classical
music extant.' And the young man turned his
g1tter1ng eyeglasses upon his questtoner with
minor scales
But few seats off from this terrible young
man sat couple or young girls, sweeping the
orchestra seats with their opera glasses Know.
Ing them as school companions Of his sister, the
chronicle man worked his way down until he
planted himself directly behind them.
Game to hear the sonata, suppose?" sad
he, suddenly. Both girls turned round in
stantly. prepared to look very serious, saw who
1t was, and at once began to smoker.
"Oh, wasn't 1t altogether too beautiful?r said
the plumper of the two
80 classical, you know, tee-hee-hee," said
just too classical for anything, think, y
said the comfortable blonde.
'Oh, lovely" said the other.
(Which part OF 1t did you like best?n ssSed
the Chronfcle man. The pretty pair looked
Olankly at each other, then both Uttered and
Why. the whole Of it, OF course"
"Of course" repeated their tormentor. "Let
me see; whose sonata is it?.'
" Handlers, to be sure, you stupid feI1oy.n
said brown eyes.
s W msn no. Angys said the farsklnned GIRL
81 thought it was Beethoven's," said ina in
quis1tOr, with malice aforethOught.
The gold and ebon heads went shar II to-
gether, both being bent over the progri % ne.
+
"Tee-hee-hee," laughed both. "Why, it's
Beethoven's, after all What ridiculous mis-
take"
The brunette was the first to regain her COM
posture. "Oh, see, Rose,'' she cried, there's
G, orge looking up at u.s." And with the coolest
possible bow OF acknowledgment to the Cnroni-
wheat in breeze to handsome George.
Well-known musician was just then pass
llg up the aisle, and the reporter, clinging in
despt ration to the skirts OF his coat, pulled MIN
a vacant Inn hot h
thought Of the sonata Technically" said the
musician, 1T was abOminable."
Now, that's exactly what Think said the
reI o1ter. what strikes you as being his worst
why" said the musician, "the fellow actu-
ally played passage written for sixteenth
notes in full chorus, While in the third move
mcnt. where there are five pages or scales. he
positively skipped three"
Wogld you ever play this sonata for your
musician smiled addy, and said: '.Wel, no,
Is very useful"
The musician oddly again smiled; Sa1d seer
talnly, certainly and went out,
| At this moment the Chronicle man caught the
eye OF Mrs. x, and knowing her to be rather
proud OF her plain speaking, decided that here
was presented a possible short cut to the tnfor-
| nation desired.
How ala you like the sonata9nhe asked, with
| out any attempt at varying the formula.
y. 'They all seem the same to met
lis not this heresy?"
Eyes. as an opinion in opposition to an estab-
| lShed fashion,
But said her astonished querist, "you do
not mean to say that all this appreciation OF
! classical music Is only fashion,"
| Nothing else In the world" said the lady.
| crisply. 81 venture to say that not one person
out OF fifty here present has the fainteSt idea of
what the sonata was all about or who enjoyed
the music; This fashion OF pretending to under
| stand and admire half hour Of runs scales
and exercises is just like that other fashion of
| pretending to see beauties in some old smoke
dimmed, cracked piece OF canvas supposed to be
the masterpiece OF some great painter who
lived, heaven knows how many hundred years
| ago. Sometimes there is a pretty mtnuet or a
charming air to be found In a sonata, but taken
| all together the pearls are very few, and the
| whole Is to me most unproductive pile of
oyster shells. It is small gem in very heavy
and valueless setting. ii' C the ADVANCED stu
dent In music 1t Is possible that correct iiodu-
ta.lon, or the task OF sustaining the dominant
iI may be interesting, but to nearly all
the rest OF US listening to this sonata is but fol-
loHMins FASHION whose service is boredom"
me second part OF the concert began at this
moment, and the writer took his departure