New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-16
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THE PRINCIPLES OF IMPRESSION IN PIANO
Porte PLAYING BY ADolGH T., r: ShNi'iA-'''
PIP 303. New-YOrG: Harper & Brothers
MIR. Christiani, though he got his name 1ionn
Danish ia her, was German musician VINO was
long resident in New-York His book IS such
monument to the writer's care, patience al"
methodical habit of thought that one cannot Ie
press feeling of profound regret that he scarceS
lived toisee the fruit of his labors between Covers
Mr. Chrlstian died last spring an" We
do not hesitate TO say that ugi"s
left work which will maze ii'
name long remembered in the muslch Woliu'
The Durpose of the book is to give systen"'lo "a
posltion of the principles OF expression III pan"
forte plaving and TO show that this is pIactlcaDc
he first establishes the fact that intelligence anu
not feeling is the chief requirement in expression
Since genius in Interpretation is quite as rare aS
oenius IN creation it is not likely that many VIII
attempt to combat this theory; tie less HAeiS
slnce il would be easy to show thai genus w"
when it is merely intultIve, works always on III
telectual lines. The province is one tha' mas "0o,
trodde, but hUte. The only otAcI VIZ
exclusively devoted to the subject "HiS"
we know is Mathis Lussys lraI'o
pExpression Musicale" when IT au h"N,'1
version (nublished by Novello, Ever d Coz we pau
-, - ovamipe a few months ago. The two
books are characteristic of the sclehtlhc iue'nOu'
of the neooles TO which their authors belong Inc
Crencbmon is given 20 brilliant generalza'ohs'
basty deductions and empIricism the German li'9
gone TO work Systematically to puHu up "'V
structure of scientific determinations ana from 'i'
has deduced the principles when govern music"
EXPRESSION He is less ready with rules "l genera
opplication than his predecessor, whose WORK Ho
corractlv cr,tteises as beng founded more on the
casual observation of an easily mpreSSl"ie young
teacher inmping rather freely at conclusions tnan
Ii prl1ipt { u
sc,entist.v Nevertheless, M. Christian quotes Z"
o,,eyso II Jussy's observations on GccaGdRdo ana
yitnrdqado. ard with some extracts from CzeIhy ana
Kuilak let's them stand in lieu Of an Oilghal Cu'P-
Ter on the subject.
Having established to his satisfaction the 1act
that intellectual expression is the most essential
thing IN piauofolte playing, he shows how tlls can
he taught and then enters upon minute ana I'"-
sonbly exhaustive study of tie mechaileaI means
of expression. nam " Accents unA'n
mical. melodic and harmonic Dynamics ana
Time. In his inquiry he has Deeh
helped very greatly by the modern EDITIONS OF Iie
nianoforte classics Khndworth's Chopin and Won
Ruloyy's Beethoven) and his chapter on the riyth-
meaI analyses of their editors is one that All VINO
aim to be intelligent performers OF hgh-ciaSS
uianoforte music ought 10 read An admiI"oie
fcoture of fhe book is its strong common sense ana
fine absence Of those eXtravagances OF expression
10 which musicians and writers on music arc ''I
dicte1. 1l r.; a.
remarkable ono in spite of the flaws OF mannef ana
occ9S,oDal carelessncss OF statement when
closely critical reaolug discovers, III Us pa,
NE could have wished that Mr ChrSIlanl' VINO
shows unusual facility II clear ahu i'tT IL
expression, had relied more c0hhool1Y Oh III, ~
hsh language for his teennoGgX NG tonce tIouS5
Mr. Cnristani attempts to Justify iheH use, JIc
nothing else than re les Of ms German Stuul;
There is no valid reason for his 0eliei that Beuc
MD 10 .fp rynI q
"mctrcV "a German word borrowed 4:On l"1g
Creek should st.nd alone for Tyth'i.ca I"id'
in mus,c Metrik is metre and mere Is
"Metrik" whether in poetry OF music, SO met
if an English word at all ~ sense related 20 tIi'
I m w fine @ or measure. Here again Mr. Cstan
wrote in German. not L ,1aII coiuH9
by German musical historians TO
meet an exigencv The characters used 10 rep
resent tones in ecclesiastical music before the H.
vention of notes and the stan were caliGd PeEMu'
from the Greek pncuta. Among English writers
the Latiuized word has long been used: ana VT,
Chr1stiani might have AVOID 4 some OF the leu
IN, favor Which permeate- hi, book by employ
word familiar to English students instead 81 tno
coined German word. But these are lmPGIiec' tP
winch diminish the value OF the book OniY as 'ney
offnd literary taste They obscure but htlie me
writer's meaning. and MS ST ~ IS generally lucu
aud fOrceiul they can De ciaSSou "S No-i'""
The December number Of Huper's haga@"c Is so InI
of interest and Of beauty that it win make Htue non
dav of its own in whatever household it enters It's
most serious paper the opening ono on "Ihe Nativity
in Art" This serves as vehicle for divers fine en-
cravings Of some OF the most famous ana lovely pictures
Of the divine Motherand Child. There Is touching little
sketch by NJ Burty of Che French painter, Leon BonVn
n seusiuye and unhappy Of genius whose short life
was struggle against all that sordid and cruel and
whose courage at gave way in suicide The i!ustra-
tons which accompany this article are charlningy exc
outed giving in the black and white, to surprising
degree the delicate ideal grace OF Bonvms crcaton'
Air Gibsons winter sketches are a delightful in their
own way as the Bouvins and the prose dyl which H.
PRODUCES them is as POLITICALLY vivid as the little snow
mixtures themselves. Edwin Arnolds pOem "Ihe Ritu
sanbAra" the usual short poems AMI editorial matter
and an attractive mass fiction make up the rest Of the
number. Mr. Howels contributes not only an install
ment of "Indian Summer" but also farce, The Gar
roters" which brings to the surface number OF
old friends. Miss Wooson's story ia continued;
and Mr. G. II. Boughton, Mr.. Brander Mat
thews Miss Phelps and Charles Egbert Grad.
dock arc represented by stories Of than common
excellence Miss Phelps's "MsdOnna of the Tubs y has
more vpor and more truth to nature ana fewer OF hef
faults than story hers that we have
effect of aDsurdity ike this Ihelr eyes edshea'
Tereated advanced, united aud held glOriousy II is
4his kind Of wOmanIsh writing that has helped 10 spoil
much of this authors best work ,,
As "A whole this number OF HdJpcr Is remarkable one,
credable a IKE to the OF the editor the nberaty
of hc publishers and the skill Of American authors and
artists It's representative publication OF which all
Americans should he proud.