New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-22
MUSICAL MATTERS.
NATIONAL MUSIC AT THE EXHIBITION
A FRENCH CRITIC on THE AMERICAN SCHOOL
MR. EDDY's ORGAN CoNCERTs-NoTEs
OF INTEREST.

OF INTEREST
In his review of the concerts given during the Paris
Exhibition of 1873 in tho Trocadero, NJ Edmond Stout
lg disposed Of American music thus tersely and sum-
marly al ny a point de musiQue Amerlcaine'-
There is no American music.' Wilderness OF informa-
ton trait of the French people, or NJ stoulg
would perhaps have modified his sweeping declaration,
which was called out By the circumstance that America
happened to be represented at the Irocadero concerts
By Gilmore and his band who brought forward lists
of pieces borrowed from the European rerertory Con-
fronted by the circumstance that America was mus
represented while Holland Italy, Russia Sweden, Nor
way and England sent either orchestras or singing
societies to Paris to display their artistic achievements
It IS difficult to condemn the utterance OF the French
critic The only kind of instruction which can Drihg
knowledge the complacen Pasans is that carried I'd
them last July by Mr.. Van der stucken. Having made
a list of musical compositions by American writer's
performed by their musicians in their own haii'
the French critics will hereafter at least admit that
is composed in the United States however they
be inclined to rank It in respect Of excellence The
Tribune has already discussed the opinion OF Chares
Darcours7 lr Charles Retz), printed I'm lie Figaro
A interesting and appreciaye judgment IS lhat
pronounced In the August number Of La Revue lhdo
pendante7 In the course Of essay on Les Auutons
Franchises Russes, Finandaises. Americaines OF Nor
wegiennes TTOcadero,' written by Alfred Bruheau'
NJ Bruneau is evidently modern of the moderns'
far his musical creed is concerned. lie Is HIM
self composer and young His eyes are turned
toward the future and the compositions OF twenty
five years ago only interesting to him as mlestones
that have been passed by the progressive march OF
the art He fails into ecstacy of rhetoric over
the compositions Of the Russian school which he
heard the Trocadero concerts but he scorns to waste
time talking about such antique fossils as Ruonsteh
and Tschalkowsky Works Of these men were per-
formed, it is true, but, says our critic, VINO mas no
hesitation In forming and expressing an opinion con-
corning the correctness Of which he is always as
coclIsure as ever was Macauay " they appeared pale
and Insignificant beside the young and truly Rus
sian music so brilliantly brought forward under the
audacious and mpulsive Rmsky KOrsakow." lie
periodically comedies glorious past to French music
Ut is that represented by Gounod, Bzet Massenet'
Sant-Saens and Reverb but his hearticst admiration
is given to that constellation whose brightest star Is
Cesar Franck. the BerIOz of tOmorow' Lest the
names of these young composers should be lost to
posterty through contempOraneOus neglect VIC follow
NJ Bruneau in mentioning some Of them. They are
Camille Benoit, ChaussOn, Duparc, Vidal, LAMBERT
De Brevlllo and Bordes our own responsibility we
will add Bruneau 1t is not easy TO formulate me
things Wherein in the opinion Of NJ. Bruneau the
future of music lies. Once he vaguely defines IL as
"modernlty,' but modernIty" will scarcely suhce'
On the whole It seems to be simply youthfulness IN
the composer Music has moro or less merit accord
ing TO the age of the composer the scale oil merit
being I'm contrary motion that of His analyses
of some of tine Russian music indicate, however, lhdo
I'm the matter of the style Of writing that of the
symphonic poem as developed by List, Is highly
appreciated; but no mention is made OF the cIedit
due TO List On the whole, while admiring the zeal
am enthusiasm Of the critic, iudclous student Oh
contemporaneous music will be apt to conclude that
he IS over-fond of merely descriptive effects the Is
much impressed by Borodine's little SKETCH Dams
les steppes de rAse centrae,' which Mr.. lhohaS
introduced 10 us four years ago for example, ana tha'
bs ideals are those of the fancy rather than the i'm
aoinatlon We translate in full what he has TO say
about the American concert.