New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-11
MUSICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS AS EX-
PRESSED IN MUSIC.
MISS EMILY BURBANK LECTURES on RUSSIA AND

MISS EMILY BURBANK LECTURES ON RussiA AMI
HER WONDERFUL. COMPOSERS.
Miss Emily Burbank began course or musical
lectures yesterday morning AT the Waldorf wnich
are cutie different from anything else that mas
been arranged for the Lenten season. The subject
Of the course Is announced National Character
,s,cs as Expressed in Music" and Miss Burbank
has studied IL during travels In the different coun-
tries OF which she speaks The musical hlus'ra-
tions were arranged by Miss Florence Mosher, and
are given by her on the piano.
The subjec, yesterday was Russia. and the lect-
urer said that the composers of this country rank
first as the writer's OF national music. one OF the
first principles OF the Russian school being
that every musical composition must express some
National characteristic.
HOW TO UNDERSTAND Music.
ITO understand the music OF Russia she sain'
"one must understand It's people. and 1t Is easy 10
sneak generally OF them because the sameness OF
physical characteristics in the country produces
similarity OF mind in the inhabitants.
Russia IL 800 years younger than any OF the
other great European nations. and we must keep
her youth in mind In considering her music. FOR II
unltes the vleor OF the barbarian with the science
OF the pedagogue and a refinement found only III
nations OF rare sentiment.
"Au Russian music has minor and piaintve
tone. and s distinguished from the Polish which
II resembles strongly in other respects. by note
of resignation Polish music IL rebellious, for.
though the Poles are a conquered people they
have never been conquered in spirit.
These characteristics are due partly TO the con-
tlnual struggle with nature IN when the huss'an
peasant Is engaged. and 10 their So years OF op-
nresslon By the Tartars and another 300 years dur
ing which they bound TO the soil and were
bought and sold like trees The uselessness OF re-
b.lllrg against nature operated. no doubt. to pro-
dsce submission to landlords and rulers and TINS
has expressed itself In their music.
FIRST LANGUAGE OF MAN
Music has been used by tho Russians as kind
OF safety-valve and when travelling among 'neii
Il is easy 10 believe that music was the irst IAN
guage OF man. for they are always singing Inc
mothers sing TO their babies. the peasants at the'r
work ard soldiers on the march or In battle
The programme Of musical illustrations was as
follows
''strassealled" 'Kamarinskaja National Me al
chs1so1 Naive tscbmaninor
cip cioso. Reverie du so.r TschaiHowsi
se s'rs Bio sorcdin
one of the striking selections was the pre
OF once exile. IL 'n marc SHf to he music mar
did not give the piece this interpretation ssa "aro,bar
This "a Rss ,4e seursr he sae Songs rse
allude 10 actual sufferngs but deal with mag nary
YET s 5say Is at hs Dn0 Mss
said illmsrated the OCCASIONAL outbursts Of fire In
the Russian nature and the quick tnrning from rom
marked by a peculiar lack OF definite tempo IN
this niece tn. composer she thought. has attempt
cd 10 attract the attention OF the listener from the
tempo tho rhythm. ,,.
Miss Burbank and Miss Mosher were the recipients
Of many congratulations at the close OF the lecture.
and much success was predicted for their enterprise
Among those present were Mrs Ben All Hasgin'
Mrs David Bispham Mrs. Charles WorthingtOn. the
Rev Percy Grant. Mrs. Van Buren,, Clyde Fltch.
Mrs Henry Valllard, Miss Donovan. Kate Douglas
Wiggin Riggs Arthur Howard Pickering Mrs.
Coffin Mrs. Cromwell Childe and Mrs. William
r. Morse.
in Baltimore and has since given them in Wash
in Network a, the home OF Mrs. Riggs. Her next
one Al the Waldorf. will be given on the 18th Inst
and the subject will be Poland