The morning call., 1894-01-04
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.

The recent production OF DR.. Dvorak's new
symphony by the Philharmonic Society of New
York Is an event OF importance TO all Americans
interested in music. This great Bohemian COM
poser Is an advocate for naIiOnallsm in music.
He has woven into his previous WORKS count
less fOlk-sODgs OF his own land, just as Tschai-
koWsky's compositions breathed Russian ma.
tional airs-iust in fact, as nationalism in
mus ic has always Leen based upon the songs of
the peasantry. 1t has often been urged that
America, having no folk-songs was therefore
incapable of possessing distinctively national
music, but DVOrak was not OF this opinion.
Since settling in America he has diligently
studied the plaintiye Indian ana negro melO-
dies, which lie believed could not fail TO be as
full of local color as the songs of the European
peasantTy. Without actually using any of these
melodies, he has breathed their spirit into his
latest symphony, which is entitled "From the
New World" The plantation element predOm-
mates in most OF The symphonic motives
though one theme resembles an Indian chant.
The work, which was received with great favor.
is said TO be extremely beautiful. 1t is purely
classic in form, rich in harmony and Astounding
IN delightful melodies. AS DvOrak shares with
Brahms the honor OF being the greatest living
composer. Americans may feel that the dis
puted problem OF whether or not they could
have an element of natiOnalism in their music
has DSCH SSllleu.
There is a whole galaxy OF the freshest
and most brilliant lyric talent at the present
Metropolitan Opera house season In New York.
Some OF the artists have only recently won
laurels in Europe, and are singing for the first
time In America. The Spanish tenor Vignas,
for instance, who, like Gayarre, began life as a
shepherd, was unknown to fame till less than
four years ago. when he burst upon the audi
ence at La Scala 10 Milan as a bright particular
star in the part OF Lohengrln. He was offered
hundred times the meager salary he was then
receiving TO appear again the following year.
but was tempted elsewhere by a still higher
offer. The Scala pronounced Vlgnas' voice 10
be superlatively beautiful. though his acting
was young and raw. lie is said, however, 10
have improved In that respect. The artist Of
the Metropolitan troupe who has entirely cap
tured New York is Nine. Melba, the Australian
prims donna. Her delicious singing and great
personal beauty have combined to make a
Juror. Even the consummate vocal art and
great histronic talent OF Nine. Calve have been
partially eclipsed by the Australians success.
"Have you musical uameP" This is not a
conundrum, but question that musical en-
tn uslasts are diligently asking one another
now. ln other words the inquiry means are
your initials, or the letters that spell out your
name, those used in musical notation? III The
answer Is in the affirmative you can rejoice in
being at the height of musical fashion, tor there
is perfect rage among people who profess the
art that soothes The savage beast, for being
musical by name, as well as by nature. Thrice
blessed are you-from a musical standpoint
naturally-if you know some obliglng or al
miring composer who will write a composition
which spells out your name meodously. The
e0ncelt Is not new one, though the rage for II
Is only just becoming universal John Sebas-
tan Bach wrote his own name In musical
phrase. Schumann handed down the name OF a
young lady he admired to pOsterity by making
music of the letters that composed it, and the
same musician. In his carnival, made those let
tiers in his own name which stood as notes into
a musical phrase.
Some recent Sunday afternoon concerts In
London have raised a storm of disapprobation
from the uncO guild. The chief ground OF
complaint seems 10 have been that trOmbones
figured on the programme. Why these braZen