New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-07
BOOKS ON MUSIC.
A NEW VOLUME OF WAGNER LETTERS.

NEW VOLUME OF WAGNER LIE iFF'H'
Among the most noteworthy additions recently
made 10 musical literature must be placed the
volume of letters writtcno by Richard wagner u
three friends and associates in Dresden between
the years 1871 and 1868. These letters were
;ssued in Germany soon after the Cores. OHdence
of Wagner and List and have now been pup
lishcd in English by Scrlbner N Wexford after
little longer delay than bcel the earlier and more
striking volumes. The men to whom they are
addressed were Theodor Uhlig, Wilhelm tlScher
and Ferdinand IIeine, with whom Wagner former
friendships in his Dresden days thlg was d
member of the Royal Orchestra, composer crllc
and literary champion of tic revolutionary schoo
headed ny Wagner. Fischer was bass-Slnsef'
stage-manager and chorus master lirine was
comedian and costumcr The period covered ny
tho letters begins with the wear in which Wagner
addressed his first letter to List. hit continues
seven wears longer. The contribution which tie
500 pages make to our knowledge OF the writer Is
not great. but the book will he a we come pendant
n that containing the Waen"r-Lis2t letters
chiefly because of the difference in spirit when
marks them but also because the volumes am
nifty each other in respect of the many incidents
in which the emotional, moral and intellectual
character of the writer is disclosed As rue, they
arc more cheerful in tone than the letters written
N List and more unconStralned IN cA9Icssion
perusal of the earlier volumes leaves the impress
sion that a great many of Wagner ; letters WIZ
written quite as much for the public as tor LIs"'
that ono of the writers at least, while putting
his beliefs and theories on paper ana lhNl'h-
discussion of them, was not too modest 10 'hlIh
of the time when printed ana bound they nlsnV
nossiblv stand upon the bo0kshclves alongside Inc
famous correspondence between "oc'hc an"
aid
of the Dresden opera are chatter. wittier, more
playful and more concerned with the shalcI
things of life. though full of the vast projects
which kept his monumental energy IN COLI
tnual state of irritation. No one will ever ar
rive at a full appreciation of Waener's character
and the significance of his artistic achievements
who does not know at least something OF the
renesis of the Bayreuth theatre and the "'up'h
dons work which it introduced to the world inc
growth of the tetralogy IS easily loloNeo III 'N'
letters to List it is logical in Its progress '"'
il exctes no surprise in the mlnd OF tlc led"'I'
but only admiration Ii is positively s'ar'i'hH'
however TO discover in letter to OhllG' "II,''u
in 1880 when the pOct-cOmpoSer was pol'o'I
refugee cut off from the institutions Whlch slou"
have been the medators between HIM ana '"e
world. separated from his friends, homeless az
most nenniless the germ of the idea SO magni-
WORKING at the time his drama, Young
Sieefriedn The paragraph in question IS 50 H.
teresting that il deserves quotation IN iull:
tn realize the best the most decisive, the most
;mnortont work which. under the plcs'h, cHcu'H
stances | can producc-ln short. the acc"'lPH'"
ment of the conscious mission OF my iie-iitc. Is i
,Ietter of perhalS 10000 thalers IL | couId ever
command such a sum would arrange mus my
lin Zurich where happen to be- ana WheIr Ih"IIN
a thing is far from bad would erect aItI ny
"yn Mans i'm a beautiful field near the town, d
Tourh theatre of planks and beams, ana ihereN
furnish it with the decoration ana lldCH! rTo
necessary for the production of SlegIrIed' my"
] would select the best singers - pc IouiG r .I
where and invite them for SIN weeks 10 /.uI't.
| would try 10 form chorus mere colss,,hns
the most part of amateurs th"I" are SPPhuig
voices here and strong, healthy people Sh'ul"
invite in the same way my orchestra ~ ''WW
new year announcements and lnN'atiohs /" .I'
the friends of the musical drama would appear J..
all the German hcwspaPcl', WIN foetitoI Nny
the proposed dramatic-muslcal iestLNaI' NHN
one giving notice, and travelling for tins purpose
10 Zurich, would receive a certain ei,rc'
naturally, like all the entrees. gratis. beslleS
should invite to performance the young Pff2pF
here. the university, the choral unions Nhen
everything was in order. / should arrange, under
these circumstances, for three performances "I
"Siegfred" in one week: After the thlrd lIlf
theatre would be pulled down. and my score
burnt To those persons who had been pleaSed
with the thing I should then say Now 40
likewisc~ But if they wanted 10 hear sometninG4
now from me should say: You get the money.
Well do seem quite mad to Won? II may hc So
but I assure yon t,fattain his end is the nope
Of my life the prospect which alone can temp n me
TO take in hand = WORK OIL ART. 30 -e' HI1 '''''
Understands all
What an example Of confidence in his own
powers and faith in the ultimate triumph OF his
ideas The letters were translated by H. :
Shcdlock They make n volume OF 800 pages ana
a feature for which all students viii be grateful -
an index Of subjects discussed compiled by w
Ashton Ellis, Editor Of The MciSter III LONDON