New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-07-21

has not known how to this material to the
best advantage. His book is filled with anec-
dotes of the great composers doings. the apoc-
ryphal and the well substantiated being drawn
upon with impartalty; but the biographical
part OF the book is fragmentary and confused
and does not present a well ordered story OF
Beethovens life a logical account of the
development of his genius The critical account
Of his most important compositions is better
done. though even here Mr.. Crowest cannot be
charged with dangerous originality. To those,
however. who desire to know of the works and
of the circumstances of their composition there
is much that is useful in this portion of the
book. The Illustrations, as in the other
books of the series. an interesting feature.
There are many quotations in musical nota-
ton that give valuable aid and reinforcement
TO Mr.. Crowest's discussion of the compositions
The photography is extensive, though not wholly
accurate, and the list of compositions with
dates, is valuable for reference 1t is charac-
teristic Of the spshod way in which some of
the work has been done that in this list the
section headed Compositions Without Opus
Numbers" merrily continues the conservative
opus numbering down to the very end. Such
things should not be- nor, in a book dealing
with a German subject should there be so
many annoying mistakes in the spelling of
German words.
Mr.. c. F. Abby Williams is the author of the
life of Bach. To show the great Leipsic can
tors personality and to present him as living
human being is much more difficult task than
to treat Beethoven in the same way. Bach
made little impression on his contemporaries as
great figure in the world of art, although
among a few he recognized as a command
ing genius but the age little interested in
the personality of its genuses. The work of
collecting the facts about Bach has been done
by investigators who have left nothing. prob
ably. for their successors to do; but there is
still room for a readable and discriminating
use OF these facts and for sound and convincing
criticism Of his music from a modern point of
view Mr.. Abby Williams has not written
with final authority, though he has made
book that will doubtless open the door a little
wider to a knowledge of Bachs profound art
His biography suffers from the fault that mars
Mr.. Crowests treatment of Beethoven. It is
fragmentary and i'll arranged apparently work
Of haste and insufficient elaboration. Bach is a
peculiarly inappropriate subject for such a
method. Musical notation is freely used to indi-
cate number of valuable facts such as Bach's
method Of playing forid accomplishments to
choral singing and treating chorals in his can
tatas in illustrating the criticism of some Of
his chief works, and in showing the innovations
he introduced in the lingering Of the clavier and
the playing of stringed instruments. The list
of Bach's extant compositions will be welcome
to the amateurs, will the photography There
is a glossary Of German words and proper names
OF help to readers unfamiliar with German.
Mr.. Lidgey's Wagner is an even briefer ac-
count than the other two lives. The biographical
sketch is a mere outline. though it is In the
main accurate. The part devoted to wagner's
real work, the music dramas, is overshadowed
in importance by the analysis Of his theoretical
writings Of which extended summary is
given. This in itself implies a certain critical
justification of Wagner's achievements in dra-
matte music but the special treatment of the
music dramas Is confined to a synopsis of the
action. We cannot believe that such a book
will serve any highly valuable purpose in OPEN
ing wider horizon upon the work of Wagner
What Mr.. Lidgey has given is already acces-
sible in other forms; a new book upon the SUBJ
Ject must be marked by stronger evidences of
original thought and suggestive treatment
There are some interesting reproductions Of pho
tographs and manuscripts hitherto unpublished
and the appearance of the book is as agreeable
and convenient as that Of the others of the
series