New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-06
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
GOTTsCHALKS DIARY.

The brilliant and fascinating pianist was IN the
habit for many years of keeping diary' III WIZ
he jotted down his impressions OF places Visi,ou
during his professional tours comments upon 'ho
persons whom he encountered, anecuotes' io1o
tons aspirations, fancies Sometimes ne penheu
mage or two of sprightly criticism; sometimes he
made no more than hurried entry of single line
-" Charming town Good concert" Detestable
hoteln: Neat little village. but Will nevertheless
never 90 there again." When he died al Rio, in
1869, this diary, together with many of his other
effects disappeared and four or five years passed
before it was recovered mutilated, incomplete and
in part almost llegible. This is the collection of
"Nores" which the of alectionate sister has
given to the world. A practical hand might
have improved the publication by little more edi-
torial supervision, and surely the printer might
have put it in less repeent dress. Its defects as
a specimen of book making are the more offensive
when we contrast them with the dainty and almost
fiaical elegance of the writer of the Notes." and
the character of the Notes themselves But we
soon forget the faults of preparation when we come
TO read the diary. OF it is not always just,
nor AWAY sensible, and the thoughts which the
pianist has to express never of great value.
But these records OF his varying emotions his quick
perception his light and graceful fancy his humor
his love of beauty-almost pagan in its intensity
revive the charm which his personality always ex-
erted and the regret which stirred the public at his
quisite accomplishments and man of sensibilty
but he not great artist in the true sense of the
word because his feeling for art was not deep or
serious. He touched all things lghtly-life, music
religion, cookery. great part OF this diary be-
longs to the period of the Rebellion, and the tours
with which it is concerned were often made In the
midst If patriotic excl emept and through sad
of war but it is characteristic of Gottschalk
that American as he was. he looked upon all these
wifi fnrei un He yac ms of fine
organization, and hence they NOV ed him, but it
only they might have moved any other stranger:
The State of Massachusetts, will send in few
days ten or twelve thousand more. They fear that
the Contederacy, on taking the offensive have
design of marching upon Washington. There was
q riot yesterday in Baltimore. The people wished
TO hang man who expressed SecesslOnist sentl-
ments. An imposing force of police guard the
streets.
bad business for me, who ought to give a con-
cert there In two days. L very well understand
how to I'LL the hall, but it is dangerous 1t would be
70 anaonnse that would play my piece called
IN the first i intercaate /" Yankee Doodle" and
" Hail Columbia The second is Southern negro
all, of which the Confederates, since the commence
nent of the war, have made national air 1t is
TO the music of Dixic's Land that the troops of
Beanregard invariably charge the soldiers OF the
North. At the point at which mems minds are now
the hall would be full of paItisans of both
sections who certainly would come to blows But
/ should make thvse or four thousand dollars Ii is
true that in the tumult ! might be the first
May, .26;--Superb concert in the Academy
in Philadelphia. The passengers who left
to-day this morningl for Washington have
timore, the trains having been entirely taken
by the Government for the purpose of transporting
Northern States who pouring in from all parts are
burning to meet with the Confederates. This
diers. and colonies of the troops from the State of
Pennsylvania have received orders from the State
and leave in twenty-four hours. The State s''t Of
Pennsylvania has already furnished 100 coo men
she will send from here in four days eight thousand
more; the State of New-York 100000 men
have played EUnion." Unheard-of enthusiasm
circumstances gave to it real interest which has
been the pretext for noisy and patriotic manifes-
hurrahs. etc!
If had played it at Baltimore at this time when
the efervescence is at its height, probably should
have been knocked down.
Some of the pages of the diary were printed in
he atlantic Monthly several years ago. under the
title now given to the book We are not informed
which portions of the present publication are
fresh; but we have recollection of seeing any of
the following extracts in print before After con-
cert at Hamilton, Canada, the pianist writes
The taste for music is not we'll developed. An
officer very candidly said to me after the concert
that the people were not satisfied ought to have
played themes from the operas of " La Sonnam-
bala" La Lucia in short, London repertory
shat is" said he, "some true music" a. You
should have played some themes without orna-
ment'a Let us never listen to the public. We
should hang ourselves in despair. At St Louis the
wife of judge said to me that l was deficient in
charm; that my music was too learned Il had Just
Hail Columbia" q bikes Land etc. At Havana Havana
Count O'Reillcy discovered that played too loud
at NewYork, H said that played too soft
An incident at Worcester inspires some shrewd
observat IONS:
Gave q concert alone at Worcester (NIassachu-
are at Boston; they gave concert there last even
ing; the whole weigh, Of the concert fell thus on
Chopin UNDER the Of aps faEG IN S
Last Hope" Banjo" Union,"" TrovatOre" and
"Murmures Eoens" Recalled several times. A
crazy amateur, having book of Beethoven's
sonatas under his arm, came to seek me between the
hrst and second part of my performance, requesting
by playing that in fiat of the Sonata Pa
thetique." had the satisfaction of seeing my
text. in the English style, to see il / made mis-.
take. OF all the absurdities practised by the
makes suffer the most. Their manner of pIav-
ing music is wholly speculative; it IS play of the
wits. They like TO see such or such chords solved
They delight in the episodes of second repetition
"They comprehend music in their own wayD YOU
VII tell me but doubt if that is right one.
Music Is a thing eminently sensuous. Certain CON-
bnatons move u.s. not because they are ingcnions
but because they move our nervous system in a
Certain way ! have horror OF musical Puritans.
They are arid natures, depri ged of sensibility,
generally hypocrtes incapable of understanding
two phrases in music They never judge until they
are assured that it is proper like those tasters who
do not esteem a wine until they have the seal,
and who can be made to drink execrable wine i'm,
perturbably, which they will pronounce excellent
If il is served to them in a bottle powdered with
age These Tsrtufies of sound often commit de-
porable mistakes. 1t is the Engshman before n
picture. his look perfectly Indifferent seeking the
number in his little catalogue he takes care not Go
compromise himself by an impromptu Judgment.
catalogue says, "chef PGurre Of Rubens'; he then
lets go in all confidence the trigger of his false
enthusiasm. He thinks, in good faith he under
stands the chez foucTe because it is placed under
his notice by eonsecTated Judgment
The Anglo-Saxon race lack the pensive element,
SO indispensable in the arts Patience, persever-
ance, iaborious effort, excite heir admiration
Them again, they must find in music the stif and