New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-08-18

ahape and reshape a composition many times
before giving it to the world, 1t Is not of record
that IL evolves " symphonic poems by extending
aud remodelllng pianoforte studies. They may
justly refuse to recognize anything else than
skifully orchestrated and ampllhed pisnoforte
compositions in such pieces MaZeppa" and
"Festklauge." Tho history of these compositions
furn shes their magazines with effective ammunition
and those who wish to nterpose the music itself as
vncing more than very few that its beauty 10
bullet 'proof There Is tact confession that
LISTS music Is not its own best advocate in the
organization recently of society in Germany Tor
the purpose of making propaganda for him as
composer. This is not the way IN which Genius
wins recognition for itself Wagner conquered the
lyric stage of Germany not by his poismicaI
writings but by his dramas. and when the Wagner
societies were called into existence 1t for the
purpose of making posi- BILE the production of
work of phenomenal proportions freed from the
restricting influence of theatrical conventions.
similar necessity does not exist in the case OF
LISTS compositions. They have all been per-
formed and most of the artistic centres of the world
are amply provided with the apparatus to present
them effectively. | would also suggest as an
element which ought to enter the discussion, this
fact: whenever List has appeared as interpreter
or transcrIber of the thoughts of others he has
manded universal and immediate admiration: No
one has remained deaf to the beauty of his
traIscrl ptlons, nor has any one lifted voice IN
question of his miraculous powers as a pian0forte
virtuoso in the highest of the crd. In both
of these departments he produced that which met
with immediate and enthusiastic appreciation. 1t
is not likely that An eager world would have
same degree Of artistic merit.
Considerations of this character. however. should
not prevent an understanding of the great slg-
nifcance Of LISTS compositions in relation TO the
progress OF musical ideals especially IN the aboll-
ton of the ndirtte which characterized musical taste
to very great extent when he began his work as
q composer The symphonic poem as an art form
has been accepted by the composers Of all nations.
and it will be long before it's capabilities as
a vehicle of artistic expression will oe exhausted.
Thus much appreciation can gratefully be given TO
List even by those who do not admit all OF his
symphonic poems to be beautiful music Let them
accept Les Preudes" as a tine example of what
can be produced and wait for Lists successors to
infuse the form with a higher degree of magma
ton and more beautiful, spontaneous and varied
meOdic inventiveness In a review OF his private
character society will find mu b To condemn, but
it will also ind much extenuation in .he unpara-
lelled circumstances which surrounded him from
the time taat he was the admired darling of
Partisan salons at thirteen years of age down to
his death as q sage of seventyhve. As Tor
musicians they will never forget how zealOusly,
unwearyingly and afectionately be strove at all
times in behalf of Others. The warm hearted man
and reverent musician is reflected IN the hercuean
work which he did to give honor to the memory
of Beethoven at Bonn and Vienna, as 1t is again IN
the more than hercuea work which he accom-
pished in behalf OF Wagner-a work the unse nsh-
ness of which appears in a Respondent light when
il is remembered that it had its beginning at
time when Wagner did not hesitate to write depre-
ciatngly of List a mere virtuosO. II. 4. X.