The sun., 1891-05-24
SOME NEW MUSIC


| S1Ft SU~Wc'b "bttsS1.
| Herr Robert Lienau. proprietor OF schlesin
| ger's music establishment In d arIn. has jus
published two volumes OF Carl Loewe's Bal
lads, edited and instructively prefaced by Al
bert b Bach Of Edinbursh. Mr.. Bach has beer
assisted in the excellent English translations o
those admirable poems set TO musicin Loewc',
soDRs by MIR. A. Georheean. also OF Edin
burgh. and the books in their present shn pt
form valuable contribution to musical libra
| rles, since Loewe. however he may rant
among composers. certainly possesses C. pecu.
liar style OF his own. which entities him to no.
| tlce and regard. Mr.. Bach. in his intro.
ductory remarks. AYERS that Loewe was
| tho creator Of the nrt ballad" and with some
show Of truth. Loewe was contemporary oil
Schubert one year older. having been born In
1896 but outliyinR the great genius by forty
| one years. And though. compared to Schubcrt's
ballads. such ns The Fri King" Mgdchen's
Klaae."" Hedenroslein, -" Tod und das Mad
chem" and othcrs. Loewo's ballads must DO
considered monotonoua. tame, and common
place. yot thore is much in them that s worthy
and genuine. often attractive. also, II well rom
dersd Besides this Loewe kort more strictly
to ballad form, that is to simplicity OF styls In
writing. and to those ropetitions Of phrases,
both In tho voice part and tho accompani-
ment which ac1ualnt the ~nr with melodies and
charm by familiarity. There are several point
about Loewes ballads that recommend thom
aud will cause at least Tho Eevenso OF tho
Flowers" Edward" Tho Irl King" The
Clock" Sir Oluf." Tho Thros Wooers," md
perhaps q few othors to live md flourish as
good examples Of exciting soncs. In the first
place the words are n!l chosen with iine iudg-
ment ana consist OF poems that one cannot
help listening to with interest. Locwe lived at
a TINA vvhAn aArma Scna
and though his works suffered neglect during
his lifetime. he may be chilled fortunate. for
he was acquainted with Goethe. the king Of
poets, and was thoroughly con versant with his
works. as may be seen from the fact OF his huv-
Ing written commentary on the second part
Of Faust" Loews conversed with Goethe
nbout tho character OF tho ballad and no doubt
pronted by the wisdom OF the Groat man. At
all events his musical settings are very perfect
IN form. and. whilo there is no spark OF origi-
nality or trace of genius In his ideas. there
is. nevertheless. continually displayed flne
sense Of tho Importance Of what he tries to H.
lustrate. while peculiar manly strength and
virillty lies about NIL that he docs.
Scarcely any composer hos succeeded in
representing. In tone. mysterious, Rhostly.
eerie. and gloomy subjects. as we'll as Loewe
He seems first. to have been thoroughly and
deeply impressed with the spirit Of his POEMS
and then to take exquisite delight in setting
them forth to the world under the added light
OF musical illumination. There is narreti, a
freedom. and assurance about Loewes writing
which constitutes one Of Its chief charms. 1t
is in character like very frank. genial. and
conceited person. who. though not particu-
larly gifted. yet is 30 pleased with himself that
he must perforce please others. Throughout
every phaee there shines the content which
ovidonf1v falt hv hn
penned 1t. sincerity and conviction that al
most convinces the henrer he 10 listening to
something wonderfully fine.
But those who have lived among and fed
upon tho thoughts Of geniuses such as Schu-
bert. Schumann. Beethoven. or even Mendels-
sohn In his stronger moments. must rank
Loews where be belongs. so far below them as
to be almost out Of the range OF vision-and
only the symmetry Of his bnllad form and the
quality Of being at once dignifed impressive.
aud often agreeable. can lift him into promi-
nence or entitle him to lasting fame.
Loewes ballads depict traGic or ehostly
events. Edward kills his father and curses his
mother: the Fisherman is condemned to a
" watery grave through the uncanny beguile-
ments OF q mermaid: the blacksmith shoes
Odin's Rhostly steed: Red Roschen is carried
away by her spirit lover: brides find their |
husbands slain on their wedding morn. and |
throughout all the poems knights and fair |
ladies' and the whole paReantry Of chivalry |
and performs In stately fashion.
Many more resoundine names were brought |
|orth By the classical period during and follow |
ing Loewes lifetime. Weber. Meyerbesr |
Mendelssohn. and Schumann all |
take in the future much broader and moro |
position. They made an i'm press |
upon art behind which Loewe must modestly |
Ihrink. No school was founded By him. nor
lid he greatly impress the public. Though he |
oraotissd all the arts OF composition with zeal |
Ind Industry, II 1t had not been for his ballads
he world would know little or nothing OF him.
The power OF musical invention did not belong
o Loswes artistic eQuipment-it was only
Vben some especial circumstance kindled his
IMAGINATION that his muse began to sing. His
ongs are all Of them chiefly and best adapted
or rendering by men singers.