The times., 1898-02-20
"what Is Good Music?"

| What is good music?'' is question
| which has been puzzling the uniniti-
ated ever since the Middle Ages. and in
has conferred lasting obligation upon
thousands of music-Ioyers, to whom
classic" is synonymous with tire
| some and by whom Wagner is trans
| lated noise" Mr.. Henderson's book
| is not written for the musical elect. al
| though the brightness of its style, the
breadth Of its tone. and the authors
evident desire TO refrain from any dis
play OF unnecessary erudition, make
it delightful TO any one who is after
pleasure. rather than information. 1t
is intended, however, as guide t. the
unwary travellers, who, without as
sistance, are wont to lose their way
and get hopeleSSiy antanSled in the
mazes of mysterious harmonies CON
fusing orchestrationS and mysterious
developments of theme. The author
explains the aim of the book N his "a
PRODUCTION. He says:
"Assuredly, whatever may have been
the course of musical culture in other
lands, in the United States the appe-
tite for an understanding of music wdS
aroused by Wagner. Now, ma ~ vino
have for years been sitting in the ten
pies of the divine art in sloth and
carelessness, are crying out: What
shall / do to be saved?' 1t has been
the happy experience of the writer to
meet with hundreds who We're search
ing anXiously for the path that leads
to musical salvation. Fortunately it is
not only a straight path, but broad
and short one. The person who desires
to cultivate discriminating taste in
music may acquire the fundamental
knowledge in a few short MONTHS g
If, therefore, i venture to offer a few
hints to those who find pleasure in lis
tening TO music, but desire to make
that pleasure dependent not on fancy,
but on Judgment, 1 may hope that not
every fellow-man may deem me an i'm
pertinent fellow"
The author then proceeds. compre-
hensiveiy, yet briefly, to discuss the
qualities, characteristics, forms and
aims of good music. From the rondo,
the simplest, to the symphony, the
highest form of music, in musical but
quite intelligible terms, he pro-
ceeds to point out the neces-
sary ideas to be assimilated in
order that musical knowledge
in so far as listening with the under
standing is concerned, may be attain
ed Inc SUBJECTS Ol Tie VOICE,
chorus, the string quartet, the orches-
ira and the opera are all handled in a
mastery manner, and the author IL
illustrates his analyses SO clearly that
the careful reader, without any pre-
vious musical knowledge whatever, may
be brought to understand and enjoy
even the most difficult musical prob
lens. Mr.. Henderson also sheds some
light upon the line of demarcation be-
tween classic and romantic music,
question which has long been troub-
ling musicians. Absolute and pro-
gram music are touched upon. The
sensuous, the intellectual and the
emotional influences in music are eX-
planned and their value discussed. Sim
plicity of style and logical reason
ing are the characteristics of Mr. Hen
derson, and his present book will lead
the way to a better understanding of
harmony and tone ON the part of a
great many people who have been
struggling through symphony concerts
and grand opera in that bewildered,
uncertain, conscientiously miserable
way which is one of the saddest things
in our nineteenth century civilization.
After reading this concise little resume
of the subject. the amateur music-loyer
can talk to the professional music-lov-
er with at least some idea of the sub