The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-07-29
MUSIC OF STRAUSS
The Greatest of the Age, Says
Dean Wrightson.
Lectures on Strauss and Wagner, Illus.
trated by Vocal and Instrumental
Music-Fourth Recital Attended by
Large Audienee-Last Recital Tues.

4 - 49,
Music-Fourth Recital Attended by
Large Audienee-Last Recital Tues.
day Evening.
The fourth of the Historical Lee
ture Recltals, by the University
School of Music, was given in Com
mencement Hall, beginning at 1890
Tuesday. |. The audienc was the
largest and most sympathetic that
has yet assembled at recital of this
series.
The feature of the program was
Dean Wrightson's Characterization
OF Richard Strauss, as the greatest
song writer that ever lived. He was
but 38 years of age, he said, and vet
he had achieved the marvellous dis
tinction of having six successive
days devoted to his music exclusive.
ly, at st. James, London, before an
audience comprising the best must
cal talent of that city, and possibly
of the world.--The musical world
was divided into two cIasses-his
ardent admirers and his enemies.
Dean Wrightson is one of the ar
dent admirers. Strauss, he says,
has achieved all that is heavenly,
all that is divine, soulful and stirring
in music. He has reached heights
never before attained, and an hun
dred years hence, will be regarded
as the greatest musical composer
that ever lived.
Dean Wrightson sang five of this
writer's songs" All, Woe Is Me,
Unhappy Man %, Night. Long
ing, "Droop Ger My Head Thy
Raven Hair" and "Sweet Love, Now
l Must Leave Thee" The enthusi-
asm of his lecture was more pro-
nounced in his songs, which were rem
dered with firm feeling. Miss Eos
ter played the accompaniment per-
fectly.
Dean Wrightson said that an ef-
fort would be made to get Strauss to
come to Morgantown. He had been
engaged by Frohman to play in 20
of Americas largest cities. The
wealthy citizens OF Morgantown will
be asked to contribute to get him
here.
Wagner was the other composer
to whom the morning was devoted.
Mr.. John Porter Lawrence gave
brief lecture on the great composer.
Wagner's wonderful power in ex
pressing human emotions in music
was his theme. To illustrate this
he played a short selection by Ros-
SIM, intended to express joy, and an
other of a sacred character. For
all there was in them in the way of
expressing emotion, they were just
as suitable for a bull fight or an
Irish wake.
Wagner's operas had noises in
them as harsh and discordant as the
clatter caused by a waiter falling
down stairs with tray of dishes.
These were simply backgrounds,
which throw into holder relief the
magnificently beautiful portrayals
of human emotion.
Mr.. Lawrence played Siegmund's
Love Song on the piano, and the
overture from Tannhauser on the or
gan. Both were rendered in a man
ner that deeply impressed the point
the great organist intended to illus
trate.
Mr.. Anton Kaspar played the
Prize Song from Wagner's only COM
ic opera = classically comic, Mr..
Lawrence says" The Meistersing-
err" The audience was stirred by
the rendition, and expressed their
feelings in enthusiastic applause.
Dean Wrightson announced that
the fifth and last recital would be
given in Commencement Hall on
Tuesday evening, at o'clock.