New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A FINE MUSICAL WORK

FAMOUS COMPOSERS AND THEIR WORKS. Edited
BY John Knowles Paine Theodore Thomas v; nha
Company.
When this sumptuous work was first announced
- in preparation by the publishers they stated Its
plan and purI to be First. to give concise ana
Authentic biographies Of the famous composers whose
works already familiar TO the world second, TO
give descriptions OF the works o. these composers from
which may be formed intelligent estimate OF
their genius their influence each other and their
position In musical history third TO give a series
Of essays on the development and cultivation OF
tho principal forms Of art IN Italy. Germany. France
England. America and other countries The hrst
four parts have now arpcared. The Circumstance
that the first part is devoted to critical biography
Of Bach ard that its pagnation begins with 1913 seems
10 Justify the belief that OF the essays mentioned
under tho third head in the pr"spectus-probaoiy
that on music IN Germany-will form the first chapter
Of the work when completed. The four parts com
pass the articles Bach Handel. Gluck and Haydn
and Q large portion OF that Mozart The author OF
the first two is DR.. Tbilipp Spitta; of the third
DR.. Wilhelm LanGhans " hose recent death left
most regrettabe void in the world OF musical literally
Of the fourth. Mr.. d. T. Woof Tho signature OF the
writer Mozart is not reached. and We are left to
conjecture concerning bis identity. We believe him
to be Mr.. Philip Hale II this conjecture Is correct
We have two Of the most distinguished writer's OF
Germany and two OF tho clcvcrest and best equipped
bsrs. We are therefore placed In position to form
an opinion OF the manner In which the publishers.
editors and contributors have carried out the
premises contained In the prospectus.
First. something concerning the scope OF work.
which Is quito out Of the line OF ordinary musical
publications. 1t is to be book OF luxury so far
~ large sheets OF hnetextured, calendeTed paper.
tasteful Typography and profusc Illustrations can
mako II so. The pan Of publication contempates
Ito completion In thirty part Each par;
Is to contain about thirty pages OF letter press and
sixteen pages OF music the later to be detached at
the completion Of the work and bound In separate
volume. This music has been selected with great
by Karl Klauser and Arthur Mces and passed on
by Mr.. Theodore Thomas and Professor Paine. the
purpose being to make the selections not only Illus
trave Of the critical portion Of the text but TO present
compositions which disclose most plainly the charac-
tersucs OF each composers style. Tie pictorial Illus
rauons consist OF reproductions Of old ptnts portraits.
autographs In fac smile etc, all calculated TO help
the reader to living OF tie individuality Of the
subj Of the bogrs phca sketches and the environ
msnt natural and social, which Influenced his creative
work The subjects having been assigned 10 the
corps Of writer's organized the oltstart basis
Of sympathetic interest and special study the editor
has left the responsibility Of critical opinion with
each contributor This course assures not only diver
sity Of STYLE but freedom, elasticity and viger Of
expression. These qualities noticeable In the
sketches which I'LL the first four parts Or. Spita dis
plays that compActness. solAty Of style and ccaness
Of comprehension which to have been expected
In skilled q wrtor and tho most thorough student
Of Bach that the world has known.
DR.. Lsnghans ia his preparatory study
OF the historical relation between pbetry
and music opens the understanding not only to his
Interesting discussion Of all Of Glucks operas writ
ten after he had conceived his rsformatory ideas.
but also to the story Of his career n composer.
Mr.. Wo6lf writes with deftness grace and a sympa-
thetic interest In his subject which would be quite
Is unmistakable as II now IS II he had not
taken pains to disclose his antipathy to the latest
tendencies In music. which to him incompat-
ible with the principles exemplifed by the Father
Of the Symphony and String Quartet Still. this
very bit Of personal equation has its charm. Al
least 1t prcsages what may be expected from the
poser come I'm for ueir Innings. The article on
Mozart having got beyond its biographical stage
nothing be said of it more than that the story
Of the composers life Is told in a pleasant and
haclmeyed manner An unfortunate bunder in
translatng "cembalo" with "cymbals" several times
In the article Bach should be noticed by all
readers 70 avoid sense-destroying confusion The
foreign contributors to the work are Dr. Langhans
and Dr. 6pitta In Germany; Oscar Comettant, Adolphe
julien and Arthur Pougn. in France: Edward Damn
reuther. Mrs Julian Marshal and w. S. Rocksro I'm
England; william F. Apthorp, Mrs. Ole Bull. John
S. Dwight. Louis c. Elson, Henry T. Finck. John
Ftske. Arthur Foote. Philip Hale William J. Hen
derson Louis Kelterborn. ii. f. Krehbiel, Martin
Roeder. Howard NJ. Ticknor. John Towers. George
p. Upton and b. E. wooli, in America.