The Washington times., 1902-10-12
MUSICAL. UNDERTAKING
OF GREAT LOCAL INTEREST
Through Zeal of Librarian Putnam Washington Will Pos
sess Most Extensive Library of Music in Country.

i Tankunst in Oestreich'' monuments OF
German music in AustTia), which will
contain at least thirty volumes OF re
prints, with historical notes of the most
important compositions toperas, SYM
phones cantatas, etcD. of the fifteenth
to the eighteenth centuries.
Mr.. Oscar George Theodore Sonneck
is an American, having been born il.
Jersey City, but has spent nearly all OF
his life studying abroad, He went q
i kiel Germany. when eight years old
and was sent first to the Ober-Real an6
then 20 the Keller Gelehrtenschule. IL
1898 he entered the University OF Hell
delberg, and afterward became a stu
dent in the University of Munich
He started as piano student in
Frankfort with James Kwast, one of the
best chamber music players now in Ber
lin; but after studying with him Il few
years he became so loverzealous in his
practice that he crippled. his hands and
was obliged to turn his attention TO
some other branch Of study.
Mr. Scnneck's literary and musical
gifts will assure him a warm welcome
in artistic circles of Washington. His
reception will be still more cordial whea
it is known that he is at present en-
gagged in compiling history OF the
musical life in the United States during
the eighteenth century. This work is in
two volumes and will present new and
tr,4a i,,rr a,rr 1,n Iay- will
prove the present idea that there was
no music in America in Revolutionary
days to be erroneous
The first completed volume of this
important work is photography, anc
the second contains two monographs or
the first two American composers.
While some writer's contend that
American composers have no individual
style as distinguished from the COM
posers of other nationalities, there are
others who assert that we are certain
to develop a school of music just as
have the German. French. and Russian
composers. Mr. Sonneck is one OF these
optimists. and on this theory of ma
tionalism in music he bases his second
book. The idea generally existing in
regard to American composers of the
eighteenth century is that there was
none Mr. Sonneck disproves this idea |
by giving history of our first two com
posers-Francis Hopkinson and James |
Lyon-and a description of their co.'s
positions.
Francis Hopkinson, the first COM
poser. was one of the men who signed
the Declaration of Independence. He
was a warm personal friend of George |
Washington, to whom he dedicated his |
Secretary of the Navy.
He was the author of the Battle of |
the Kegs" and wrote the words as well |
as the music of his songs.
James Lyon, our second American
composer. was graduate of Princeton
and author of "Urania,' psalmtune
collection. He compiled many song col
lections, and it can be proven that they
were his own compositions. He went TO
Nova Scotia as a Presbyterian minister,
and vas also the first clergyman OF that
in Machias, Me. He had
plan for conquering Nova Scotia during
the Revolutionary War. and it is stated
in a Canadian history that had his plans
been carried out. Nova Scotia would be
today part of the United States.
The third and fourth volumes of this
valuable historical work are to be de-
voted to concerts and operas given in
America during the eighteenth cen
tury, and the development of musical
criticism.
The other members of the music divi-
;ion in the Congressional Library are
Mr.. w r. Whittlesey, Miss Myrta L.
Mason, Mr.. C. Hall, Mrs. Elizabeth Nc
Brier, and Miss Charlotte st. John Ell
lott