New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-02
SOME MUSICAL PUBLICATIONS..

The serial issues OF Famous Composers ana
Their Works Boston j. b. Millet Company pup
lishers) have now reached number eighteen. Inc
five numbers that have appeared since tle WI
was last mentioned in this journal contain pesiues
the usual amount of illustrative music. the follow
ing essays: Richard Wagner by w. D. henuer
son: '.Music In Germany" by John *. Paine ana
Leo r. Lewis; "Orlando di Lasso anu Inc
Netherland Masters" by W. j. Hehdeison'
Giovanni Perlulgi da Palestrina'' by LOUIS u
Eison: Claudio Monteverde' and "Aiessahuro
Scarlatti" by w 5. Il. Mathews; Giovanni
Rattista Pergolese" by II. NJ. Ticknor; "Gioac-
chino Rossni' and "Arrigo Boto' by Arthur
Pongn: 'Vincenzo Bellini' and "Gaetano Doiii-
xetu" by II. NJ. Ticknor; "Gasparo Luigi faci'lco
spontini" by Adolphe julien; Luigi CheruDhL
by Philip Spitta, and Giovanni SgaInpau by
Arthur Foote critical sketch of Verdi which
probably has Arthur Pongn for It's author'
is also begun. Many of these essays are
notable contributions to musical literature
This is true especially of Pongins STUDY
OF RossinL Juliens essay on Spontni ana
Mr. Henderson's analysis and discussion OF the
creative svsten of Wagner. This last work, IN
deed is most admirable in its lucidity ana direc'-
ness and enectually demolishes the NOTION 'ha'
the oet-composer's method was abstruse anu III
comprehensible. The French writers are vigorous
champions OF the men of whom they write ou'
the things which they praise are all worthy III Is
gratifying note that there Is no depreciation Vi
the standard fixed at the outset as this remarkable
publication goes on toward completion
What Is called a edition OF 1.-THE HISTORY
~ Music" by John Frederick Rowbotham Is
published by Charles Scrbner's Sons. The title
is puzzling as the work begins with some fantas-
tic speculations about the origin OF music anu
stops short with the art of the troubadours' "o'e
years ago Mr. Rowbotham published work III
three volumes covering the same ground pu' lie
was more explicit in his title 1t was
Iia,orv of Music from the Earliest
Times to the Middle Ages This. WIN
a qualification. should have been the ute Vi
the new edition. There would then nave rei''a'"e'
only the quarrel with Mr.. Rowbotham co"oein
ing his use of the word history AS t"o ~
stands IL is wholly misleading as insteao Vi
,,r,,ing a history of music he barely reaches the
Machining of the art There more Things ABOUT
the book than the title to deplore' ho"e'' W.
Rowbotham affects scientihc manner nc w
an idea that something is to De iediheu "ooD'
re-historic music" by which term lie ii''"'i'
The music of savage and semi-cvilized peoples
"a ha dayotes seventv-nine pages to discussion OF
a unfortunately his whole discussion Is IAN
ciful fabric reared on the sand III mas no iou'
tions and his line of augmentation Is WINS W
,ng tonsy-turvy the simplest laws OF deVeiophleh'
Some day what Mr.. Rowbotham mas aiineu "t
Mill no accomplished, and will be book oil great
o,art,6c value but 1t will not be until body
~ evidence which is wholly wanting snail
have been gathered together. Half dozen
nbrases which have done service in the histories
for the last hundred years suffice Mr. Rowbothah,
ubo moreover is so little deferred by totai
absence of evidence that he even ventures on "hat
no calls q chronological history OF EsYpuai
music dynasty by dynasty, from the time oil
Menes 10 the time OF the Ptolemies' wherein uoes
this history consist? In mass OF loose coh-
c,usions drawn from a few pictures whch nave
survived the ancient times. However interesting
Mr. Rowbotham may be- he is not hlstorlai'
hut a reckless speculator in words.
"rhe Children's Souvenir Song Book is 'he
t,,,s NJ q collection of songs for chdrens voices
made nv William l.. Tomlins. choral director ol
The Columbian Exposition. and published by NO
v.llo Ever & Co. New-York ard Londoh' Inc
.one, are forty-one in number and seem all 10
have been composed expressly for the DOCK Inc
leading composers of the United States ana Eng
land are represented, among them q. W. 'hau-
wick Clayton Johns, j. Barnby, h. W. farhei'
q, Templeton Strong. John X. Paine George H.
Ossood Arthur Foote, Ethelbert Nevin, I. H. II.
Parry Mrs. II. H. A. Beach, A. r. Gaui. Berthoiu
Tours C. " Stanford and A. c. Mackenzie. Much
of the poetry is also original, and the niue lyrics
of Mrs Elsie J. Cooley deserve a word OF praise
for their dainty sentiment and sweet and simple
expression.