New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17

xart.' by L. A. c. Bombet paris. 1910. will enable
the student to convince himself Of Of the most
detestabe. because successful. plagiarisms that
musical literature dlscoses. Bombet's book 10 writ
ten In fascinating manner. and became immensely
popular, especially in England and the United
States An English translation was published In Lon.
don In 1877. second edition appeared In the eams
city year later, and reprints were published In
providence r. l., in 1870. and in Boston In 1899. The
style of the book, shown by the French title. 10
epstoary. and Bombet. In his preface says that he
wrote in lsoS to friend the letters respecting the
celebrated Haydn. whose acquaintance and acc-
dental occurrence had procured for me eight or ten
years before" The entire scheme was & falsehood,
az his book Is a paraphrase OF Carpanis lie Hay
dine published in italian two years before his
French book. The verities OF history deal severely
with Bombet's claim Of authorship In all the in
stances in which he appeals to statements as per-
sonally made to him. Thus he speaks OF the best
critique Of The Seasons which had been made Of
that work. as that addressed to him by Haydn him.
self on the occasion Of Its first performance In the
palace Schwartzenburg. That performance took
place IN 1901 when Bombet (whose real name was
Henri Beyle) was eighteen years old and attached
to a military garrison His letters contemplate
thefts from Carpani who did know Haydn. and who
wrote the words Of Beethoven's I'm questa tomba
oscura."
Another attractive portion OF the library COM
prses manuscripts Of the late Dr. E. F. Rimbaut
the eminent English investigator and writer upon
musical subjects. His library was sold at auction,
after his death in 1877. and Mr.. Drexel obtained
largo accessions to his collection from 1t. Among
them were many notebooks and manuscripts used
by DR.. Rimbault in his studies for several Of his
publications valuable volume from the Rimbaut
sale is the Memoirs of Musck." by the Hon. Roger
North, being sketch Of the progress OF music from
the time Of the ancents to about $780, 1t remained
unpublished til 1916, when 1t was issued under the
edtorship Of DR.. Rmbault. The latter prepared for
his pleasure extra illustrated copy 1t con-
tains not only innumerable portraits and iustra
lions of men and things spoken of in the text but
many title-pages Of rare books. manuscript pieces
Of music and autographs; One Of the latter Is q
Henry Purcell as a witness.
This lack OF and arge
Der Of people from using these .b books rse
cs O OF e and Coz s In 1854 music
ranked thirteenth in the list Of subjects according
Who "e cali FOR BOOKS on music comprise ali Of
people: Critics, lecturers and writer's on muse:
parting with large fraction Of their annual in;
comes to obtain them; members Of women's musical
and musicians.
SOME RARE AUTOGRAPHS.
Besides its treasures in musical books and music.
the I.enox Library has a number Of autographs OK
musicians some Of which Of the highest inter-
est. Chief among them Is almost an entire hrst
movement of a symphony by Mozart IL IS an early
work (entered In Kochels catalogue as 3ls. and Is
practically unknown to concert-goers OF to-day.
As a specimen of Mozarts methods. however II Is
extremely interesting. The writing Is exceedingly
clear and legible. rather bold In character Win
and rest in a leather case In It's original form the
movement was scored for an orcnesua wi.n ,pi
rumpes but Mozart later ADDED TWO 0eces Of paper
OF different shape which are folded ana nse eoa
R he c !Sf of rms a1dre one q
publishers and a collector of his autographs;
prano IN" and pianoforte Accomplishment also incom-
plete. 1t Is in fine and delicate yet rather now
poser. evidently addressed to high personaS
because he uses the form
as: sS s:spssz
The date is May 2, l7S7 Al Esterhaz the estate OF
Hs HaS5n wan. for many years Engaged
In another case is two-psge letter by Beetnoven;
S WGey made adj known through facsmles Several
sheets of Mendessohns autograph are exhlpted,
cone SsnF an TEepe are so
esrOz Pagnn bsz snd sr Henry
The musical collection of the Astor Library e Of
different character from that in the Lenox: While
the latter's strength is the antiquarian side the
and in the possession Of many full! Of ancient
and modern composers. The Lenox is OF the
original documents in musical history; the Astor.
with its collection broug ht reasonably well down to
date by tudicious purchases OF later publications
and Of musical scores. Is more fitted 10 the needs
of workers in practical lines. When the two great
libraries are Joined together they will supplement-
each other one supplying the others deficiencies In
such a way that the result will be a comprehensive
collection one that with proper and necessary adj
ditions, may be found useful, will cover a very
large field In music and musical literature.
The collection in the Aston Library has been
many years In forming, but before the coming OF
the present librarian, Mr., Robbins Little, was less
carefully added TO than since. The late DR.. DAM
rosch took much interest in it, and was constant
adviser Of the librarian in his purchases. In mod
works musical history, theory and biography,
the department has full and useful working colec-
ton we'll kept up date. The works OF the later
Germans and OF the ndefatigable Belgian students
are amply represented There also to be found
the interesting publications of texts and scores by
the Plain Song and Madrigal Society of London
ard other English works also those OF the German.
Dutch and Swedish antiquarian musical societies.
many of them of great value.
In the direction OF the Aston possesses the
monumental complete editions published by Brett
kOpf and HArte of the works Of Palestrna, Schultz.
Mozart. Beethoven, Mendessohn and Schumann. the
still finer editions OF Bach and Handel, published
by the Bach and Handel societies in Germany:
Guck and Gretrys operas the orchestral scores OF
Wagners music dramas; the operas of Berlioz and
his symphonic works and those OF Rubinstein,
Liszt and other modern composers