New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17
NETWORK MUSIC LIBRARIES.
VALUABLE DEPARTMENTS IN THE LENox
AND AsroR COLLECTIONS.
THE RARE BOOKS OF THE LATE J. W. DREXEL-
INTERESTING AUToGRAPHs-FINE SCORES

lNIEHESIIN0 AOIOGkAfhs-fi>r o>O''
IN THE AsToR LIBRARY.
The value and necessity OF extensive musicai
library as a means and adjunct OF musical STUDY
have not been widely recognized in this country.
| Special collections In other departments OF art
abound in the great American libraries, but there
+! has been systematic and well-chosen accumulation
OF the literature of music and OF musical scores In
few OF them The most complete Is probably the
Allen A. Brown collection, which was given by the
indefatgable Boston gentleman who gathered II to
the Boston Public Library when 1t moved into It's
new building few years ago. The Boston PUBIC
Library already possessed considerable number OF
volumes music and OF music The Brown COL
lection numbers hundreds of scores, arranged in the
most convenient and practicable form for the in
vestigators use; in some departments II Is said TO be
practically complete. Another valuable collection
is that Of Harvard University, where there are a
substantial library of leading works on musical
theory and history. and large collection OF scores
by classical and modern masters. in their original
form and In arrangements OF practical use to the in
elligent amateur. Such things the material for
| the serious study OF music, complete collections
| in various departments Of literature are FOR the
| study OF literature
The stimulation of interest in the study Of music
| as part OF liberal education, such as ought 10
result from the establishment OF a chair Of music In
Columbia College, makes 1t of interest to know how
| prosecution OF such study to the best advantage
New-York is the centre Of the musical activities OF
this country, so far performances in every mani
festation Of the art are concerned. That alone Is
something to make this city pre-eminent as place
for the prosecution of serious musical study. In
more specialized direction, there is the magnificent
Crosby Brown collection of musical instruments
lodged in the Metropolitan Museum Of Aria proper
subject for the attention of musical students. rather
than for the idle curiosity Of strollers through the
museum. Finally, there is the material for musical
study contained in the several great Libraries OF the
city; In some respects the most important matter
for serious investigators in music.
There Is probably musical material in the
New-York Libraries than Is generally supposed to
be there Owing to the lack Of special endowments
for carrying on this line Of work. the musical col
lectons have not been in some cases so systemat-
caly and symmetricay expanded as they should
have been, special collections in other lines
have been. The musical departments of the Lenox
and Astor libraries however. when they are united,
will be an important and interesting section OF the
great New-York Public Library that is soon to
take on tangible shape from the consolidation of
the Aston, Lenox and Tilden foundations
The library OF Columbia College, whose students
might properly expect to find there material such
as IL abundantly provided assistance for study
in other departments of knowledge, Is without
collection on music. In the Aston and Lenox
| libraries as at present constituted are large and
exceedingly valuable departments of musical works.
That the Lenox Library consists entirely Of the
| collection gathered by the late Joseph w. DreXel,
OF this city, and bequeahed by him to the nstitu-
| ton in upper Ffth-ave. Mr.. Drexel was man
prominent in the financial activities OF the city,
member of the famous Philadelphia family of that
name. He was also ardent devotee OF music.
He was president from 1881 to his death In 1888 OF
| the New-York Philharmonic Society-an honor that
is always reserved for some non-professiona lover
| OF music, who is at the time person OF
| influence and high standing in the community.
THE DREXEL COLLECTION.
The Drexel collection was obtained by the Lenox
| Library in 1885, the bequest being subject only to
| the condition that the books should all be kept
| together in and marked with the name
| Of the donor. Mr.. Drexel. when the desire to be-
| come a collector OF musical works came upon him.
started the pursuit OF his hobby in 1858 by acqur
| Ing the library OF II. F. Albrecht and later that
| OF DR.. r. La Roche. The former was a German
musician who had exceedingly romantic history.
| He came to America member Of the famous
Germanla Orchestra; and having been a Jealous
collector In Europe, he kept up his interest In 1t
after his coming to this country. DR.. La Roche
was a Philadelphia physician and amateur OF music.
Having established nucleus with these two COL
lectlons Mr.. Drexel began adding to it by liberal
purchases in Europe In a catalogue OF his library
published In 1869 he puts the number of works he
then possessed Mt 1856. In 2,2i5 volumes. He evil
IDENTIFY ceased his activity as n collector several
years before his death. is shown by the absence
from his library OF most OF the important musical
publications OF recent years. When 1t was sent to
the Ienox Library II numbered 5,5i2 titles of bound
volumes and 766 Of pamphlets. There have been
additions made since.
The real value OF the Drexe collection is not dis
closed by either the catalogue which Mr.. Drexel
published in 1869 the augmented list issued by the
Ienox Library. OF which that catalogue the
foundation Both are incomplete well faulty,
and were made before some OF the most interesting
features Of the collection added to It. An in
diligently annotated list Of the books and music
is a great desideratum. and the need of 1t will grow
greater as musical students learn to know OF the
treasures In the alcoves which bear Mr.. Drexes
name The titles OF the collection have been
ferred TO the new temporary card catalogue Of the
library; but It Is the intention Of the authorities TO
recataogue the entire collection properly directly
from the books themselves at an early date. The
manuscripts and the large collection of music
practically ignored by the original catalogues. and
were therefore tie library using public good as
nonresident.
The patience and thoroughness OF the German
Albrecht. who laid the foundations OF the library.
are disclosed in the large number Of medieval
books which played important roles when the writ
ing of the history of the modern had it's begin
ming. Very few indeed OF the important authorities
are lacking. and most OF the volumes in fine
condition. Worthy OF mention are the works Of the
monk Pletro Aaron. who wrote in the first half OF
the sixteenth century; Franchino Gafor or Fran
chnus Gafurius CDe Harmonic musicorum instru-
mentorum opus" 1873: G. NJ Artus COvero dele
imperfettoni della moderna muslca." etc.: G. B.
Doni (Compende del Trattato de gener de mod
della musica." 1880; Ncoo Vncentno cL'Antica
musica ridotta ALA moderna pratt!ca." 1861 c.
Zar;ino Gle Institutions harmonlche" etc. 1885,
Vincenzo CALLER ('Dlalogo della muslca antica
dele moderne.' l5SD. and Athanasius Kircher
('MaGnes sive de arte magnetca." 164l. and "Mu-
surgia Universalis sive magma consent et dis
soni," etc. 1880 There also reprints OF the an
Client Greek and Latin writer's on music in separate
editions. well the familiar compilation Of
Meibom which Is singularly common copies being
found in the library of Columbia College and the