New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-30
MIR. FINCK'S " WAGNER"
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON CRITICISM AND
IT'S MISSION

$50 New-York Charles Scribncr's sons.
II is much easier task TO tell what this book
is than TO FIX the place to which il is entitled
in the vast mass of Wagnerian literature. II is
plain at once from the opening pages OF the work
that Mr. Finck undertook TO write a more elab-
crate and comprehensive biography Of Wagner
than any in existence To do this was not a
difficult matter. in view of the fact that the last
ten years have added more largely TO the common
stock Of knowledge on the subject, through tho
publication Of tn" many monographs, remi-
nisccnccs, letters etc, which followed hard on
Wagncr's death than did any preceding twenty.
Wagners unappcasabc rage for autobiography
made it easy TO construct the main lines OF his
life story from the beginning: what has been
added since is largely mere ampliiicaflon OF nc
tail. Naturally, time wore on, and appreciation
of the titanic genius of Wagner grew in the pcpu-
lar mind, moro AMI more OF these details were
brought into the light Of publicity until now
the bulk has swollen TO such dimensions that
fvc-volumc biography may yet he expected.
There is nothing ccretive about the literary adj
mircrs of Richard Wagner. Like their ex-
cmplar. they are fondcr OF the odor Of printer ,
ink than of the perfumes of Araby, and it il al
most appalling TO think what til" biography CT the
future pay become after the masters own auto
biography in three volumes has been given to the
world.
Mr. Finck, in the natural course Of events. az
here suggested has had advantages which had
been denied TO an his predecessors. AMI III has
made excellent use of them. lie has been an in
dnstrious gathrror Of fugitive newspaper articles
and diliccnt reader of pamphlets bearing on HE
subject for many years: but the greater part o.
the material which came pat TO his hand for pur.
poses of expansion lic found in the Wagner-l.iszt
Correspondence. translated by DR.. Iincncr anr
published in England in 1880. and in the y Lei
ters- 70 IhIg Fisher and 1ieinc. translated by
J. s. Shcdlock. and brought out in London year
later Portions Of these letters. and Of Others
printed by Fraoqer in his Wagner as Knew
Him. being set into the narrative. have hal In
effect not only Of expanding it. but also OF adding
TO il vvacity and picturcsqu'ness and have on
ablcd Mr. Flnck 20 present clcai"r view 81 ~"
private life of his subject than il 10 be found in
the writings Of any Of his predecessors. Whether
the procedure ustiiics his boast made in tn pref
acc that he owes less than twentieth part OF the
material contained in his two volumes 10 earlier
hiographcrs. shall not undertake TO say. IL
dep, nds on what ho means by "hographcrs
Had Wagner not written his short aufoblograpMo
sketch and MS " Communication to My frlends
had Glascnapp. Pra"ger. Julien and rapport WIN
hold thor volumes and essays and had the letters
70 iszt fine three Dresden friends, and Frau Will
remained unpub'ishcd We are inclined 70 think
that Mr. Fin k book would 10 considerably more
than ono-twcntieh smaller: and il il for this rca
.o, that some of his frenls will regret hi, state
mont "a well as his depreciation Of the abor' OF his
cossors Ir j. true that tascnapps biography
/, history without criticism. and that Julien taxes
q French view Of his subject but Gla9enapp prop
ably did not think il necessary TO swell th'
bulk II Wne.ncrian commentary twh'h MI
rinck thinks greater than that cvok"d by any
dromotist sa1n Shakespeare. and Julien ard
Munckor did cNaclv what Mr. tlhck 'hs zone
in cxrounding the dramas and pros" writings 1:
having been born with French eyes VI. Julien
may be- pardoncI for having looked at things
lk. a Frenchman. lie is. nevertheless, rare
Frenchman Putting these things aside how
ever and ignoring TIE critical portion OF Mr.
Finck's work. for the noncc. il is plea~ir"
70 say that he has written the story Of Wag-
ncr's life ard works with most admlrabl" clear
moss vicor. pictnrcs1ucrrss AMI VARIETY In these
qualities and in the compilation and ordering OF
facts. his worl, stands easily n tn" head oil III"
V,cnor bioyraphic4. lie has laborcd NerltanIy
with Juror Tcutonicu>." ana his nervous en-
orgy and frank f,nrl.>sii"ss of statement make
his yoluui,s extremely readable. though We lear
that they will rrita'c tine flicrds of Wagner ana
Wagncri. III more than their cr"ini"s
II is TINS fear that gives rs pause III '''
Attempt 10 cstimai" the Nalu" OF u" cri'i'.i
and polcmical portion OF the work. II II docs
no; reopen the whole Wagn"ran question: "
will he, either hcClus" th" opponents oi wagner
will 70, take the trouble 20 attack the book or
his admirers will discuss its contents win "r!i
40 book written in iii" INTEREST ct
,ho arm, ,co.ncrator Of the lyric drama has 80
brought the man and all his irailti"'
and f,iblcs moral Literary and artistic I'"
cour, for Indictment. Mr. Tinck il from hc-inning TO
end strongly aggressive He is not cort"nt WIN
believing that IN" musical and drama'c cohpo-
.itiors Of Wagner ar" IN" moS' S'"
ronIo.s and marvellous creations in thrlr n"l' 'ha
,hc world Ia, ever seen; he wishes - PER
auode the world that tier crci'or WIS
,ne of III, most impccrahc OF all men, l"''''
l.c,u,lIv and morally The method which lie h's
choscn 10 accomplish ;nis 'nn Is, 10 sly /
,hc least singular Throwing all considerations
,f dignity and literary continuity, elegance ana
ro,o.. "a 1ho winds. he interrupts the biography
cvcrv half hour To pronounce 3naih"ma inir'ha'li
AGAINST the unfortunate musicians. nanag"rs ana
rrc.s royicwcrs WHO thirty years ago wrr" not
l,.o.d with the cnlishtcn"d understanding OF tl' +
douobtr chnmnons who are gathered around me .
standard to-day. Heretofore IT mas
bccn supposcd that di IcrcnccS ri ta>tc and even .
,yant Of knowledge in matters OF art miSht "Nist
scnaratc from obliquitv Of morals but this does
NOT sccm ~ be- the Wow held by Mr. fincN. ID .
Ia. , critic is tinttmount 10 bcin9 Ounce, an X
noranuis a q, tard ard n scoundrei. trltlcism N
crimc- whether il be directed against supposed
inlraciion " "A law of art or law of "thi's' IL
i, because. of his adherence 10 tins convictioh'
probably. that Mr.. Finrk proceeds So often IN SO
uncritica q fashion to prove his ease against the
critics Thirty forty years ago they dld not
like Wagncrs music: now that music Is performed
o(trner in t;cri iany than that OF any other COM
noscr Therefore those who did not like it for
sworc Themselves, and there was neither intellect
nal nor moral health in them. MI flnck has too
frequently but one trbunal-thc bon Office II"
Of the Icccnts At a ncrl0rMlncc OF Iollcm- :