The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-18
THE OLD VOLKSLIEDER.
How Their Development is Illus
trated by Frau Joachim.
A NOTED WOMAN MUSICIAN.
Germany uonors Her Efforts and Provi-
dence il 60 Enjoy the Rare Treat oil
Listening to This Beloved Artistic OF
tho Song World.

"Folks songs are like woodland flowers
sown by no human hand, but which spring
up about the trunks Of giant oaks y
The German mind is peculiarly suscept-
ible 20 nature. and finds in the country
itself. the woods, a babbling brook, the
ay,nw cloud. the storm or sunshine after
rain. inspiration alike for poetic words
and sweetest melody. This intense love
developed a path for the lyric of the great
cycle OF German poets. and they IN turn
prepared the way for the modern compos-
ers OF the Lied
" from untutored but musical hearts;
they were never intrusted 20 manuscript,
and lived only on the lips of the singers;
the subjects were either historical or re-
ligious and the melodies oftimes became
the foundation for clsOrdleS.
The Tolksltcd gradually passed into the
EuasQfcd or "Art-song," and towari |
the end of the eighteenth century both
disappeared i'm the VolksfhunlltclteS
Licd,h which is recognized by its strophi-
cal form, agreeable melody, pure and SIM
pie harmony. easy accompaniment, ana
natural sentiment.
With the dawn of the present century
new era rose. The times were Thrilling
with excitement old regimes we're over.
thrown and all mankind awoke 10 feel
more keenly their own individualism. As
In a previous age, the Crusades called
forth new Inspirations, so the last twenty
years OF the eighteenth century reused
by revolutionary ideas, a new impetus
IN ali arts. out of this chaos rose the
poetry of Goethe. Heine, Ruckert and
INLAND. The arch of song-structure was
almost completed the field OF poetry was
ripe with rich harvest, the followers OF
Schultz had shown the necessity of atten-
tion TO words, Weber combined ancient
and modern VolLsiicdeT. and Mozart and
Beethoven demonstrated instrumental
and dramatic power and developed the
aria. Everything was ready for the key
stone of the arch to unite all in an eKquis-
itely rounded form 1.-The hour was ripe
for the man; and the hour and the man
met when Schubert arose.
His Lieder may be divided In three
classes: the simple Lied with one un-
changing melody the second class, called
by the Germans "Throughcomposed," I"
embodying different emotions in change
of melody, the unity being preserved by
the accompaniment; aud the third and
last, the Declamatory" in which the
voice flows forth in passionate chant,
while the accompaniment forms pictur-
esque illustration.
"Of the three great masters OF German
song. Schubert has the greatest wealth,
Mendelsshohp roundness of form, but
Robert Schumann shows the greatest in
tellect and power of suggestion.
LiszL with his dramatic power and
wealth of musical embroidery, Brahms
with his marvellous harmonics, Franz
with his delicate reticence, Jensen, the
writer of. pathos, lambert and Beinecke,
and mighty army whose name Is legion,
have all aspired 10 tread this broad path
way, as exclusively German as is the
ballad part of "Merrie England" AS
long as lyric poetry excels in Germany,
and has for its sister art, music, there
will follow under the national banner the
geniuses OF other countries, like Ruben
stein and Greg. who are well content to
lay their laurels down among the others
before the shrine of the Lied
Much interest has been awakened in the
past few years in regard to the growth of
this musical art-forn, and it has been the
especial work of Frau Joachim to illus
trate in series of recitals, the historical
development of the Lied. Her program
includes songs from the sixteenth CEN
tury TO the present time, and many of
the old VOIksliedcr have been rearranged
in solo or duet form for this purpose. No
one could be better fitted TO undertake
aud accomplish this truly arduous plan
than Frau Joachim, the beloved star
artistic of the song world Great enthus-
iasm has been aroused throughout Ger
many by her efforts and we must esteem
It a rare treat TO be able TO hear her in
Providence. A. w. III. b.