The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-04
RANK OF MODERN COMPOSERS.
The Giants of Old That Still Live and
 +ba hcpiran+s for Their Socjety

The Giants of Old That Still Live and
 the Aspirants for Their Society.
 The term "the great composer" is to- day generally understood to be the fol- lowing masters: Sebastian Bach, Han del, Chuck, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Weber, Schumann, Men delssohn, Chopin, Bedlioz, Wagner, I.izzt. and Brahms. Under the term "the greatest composers two of the nmnes will certainly be Bach and Bee tboyen; the third with some will be Wagner, and with others, possibly, Brahms.
 Tine majority of musicians will scarcely mention Palestrina among the great composers, and yet 1t may be very much doubted if his name does not belong there Purcell is by many Eng1ishmen thought to be enti- fled to place among the masters. A large number of Germans and Eng lfahmen consider Spohr first rank" composer. The Italians unquestiona- hly place Rossni and Verdi among the elect, and possibly Donizetti and Bel lfni. The French hold Meyerbeer and Gounod to be among the greatest. Many Russians, including Rubinstein, give Glinka a position among the inn mortals On the other hand, there IS large number of people who consider Mendelssohn a second rank composer; there are others who think Berlioz and Tiszt impossibilities as musical crea- fors: there are some who hold that rhopin's place is not by the side of Each. Mozart, Beethoven; and there are fierce disputes yet raging among Inc admirers of Wagner and of Rrahms as to the relative merits of these composers.
 There are many names prominent in The musical world to-day which in +wenty-ave years from now will be forgotten. In the latter half of the mast century Philip Emanuel Bach's was "a name to conjure with; his father's works were scarcely known. To-dav Sebastian Bach's fame is continually increasing; his sons con- +irua1lv decreasing. Johann Nepo- ,,,,rl. Hummel was in his time consid- cred to be a rival of Beethoven. A oo,nnle of sonatas, two concertos ,,1aved by conservatory students, and t1,aa trios are about all that keep his name in remembrance. Steibelt, Dus- ~aL Abt. Volger-where are they! HOW many of the works of Spontlnl or nTaroadante are known now? It is sefe to say that fifty years hence paff,s name will chiefly survive as the ,o,onoser of a half dozen pianoforte ,,iaces. a fine pianoforte concerto, few songs and concerted vocal works; two synnhonies and one or two chamber compositions. Rubinstein's reputation ,,,iIl rest to a larger extent on his ca raer as a pianist than as composer rrha works of Gade and Ferdinand Hll- Tor are comparatively rarely played. Look at the names appearing on the .,rooranmes of orchestral concerts, ,,ionoforte and vocal recitals; how ,,,anv of these will live? Among the CarYnan and Austrian composers there are large number with relative claims for greatness or prominence. who among them will be remembered . half century ahead? Is Bungert cycle of Homeric operas Of lasting worth? Will the chamber compost t;ors of Reinecke, Jadassohn, Gern- sbaiu. Kiel and Fushs last? Are the svmnhonies and Te Deum of Anton prurlxuer full of living fire? Are the one,as and orchestral works of Gold mark pregnant with vitality? Will