The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-03
MUSICAL NOTES.

While the war seems to be going
against the Russians, their musical con-
quest of the world goes on without in
terrdptiOn; in music, at any rate, they
are far ahead of their Japanese enc
mics. OF their two greatest compcs-
ers, one, Rubinstein, is at present un-
duly neglected by the stupid profession
alS-Stupid because his WORKS, when
performed, receive more applause than
those of Brahms and Richard Strauss.
But Tchaikovsky is second in popuIarf-
ty only to Wagner, and that is we'll.
Apart from these two there are many
others who have written pieces We'll
worth hearing. Some of these, hereto
fore unknown here, were brought out
last winter by the Russian Symphony
orchestra. under the capable direction
of Mr.. Modest Altschuler. The fact that
the concerts of this new association
prospered even though given in the sub
terranean vault of the Cooper Union
hall speaks we'll for their merits. Next
season they will doubtless win still
more favor because of their transfer
ence to Carnegie hall. Mr.. Altschuler
is spending the summer selecting suit
able novelties, among which will be
Rimsky-Kor sakoff'S spectacular ballet
"Mlada," which has recently created a
sensation in st. Petersburg.
The Japanese have always held poe
try in high honor. 1t is on record that
in the year 43S A. D. a criminal who
had been condemned to death wrote a
poem which made so deep an impress
sion the emperor that he pardoned
him Music, on the oIner hand, mas all
ways been regarded, as it was by the
ancient Romans, art to be exer-
cised chiefly by geishas and blind men.
The composers are not held in honor;
indeed, no one ever asks who wIote
the piece that happens to be played.
Nevertheless, the practice of music eX-
tends to remote times; the Koto-a sort
of zither-was known in China, whence
the Japanese derived it, 1000 years ago.
The rules for playing it are moro COM
tod fI,ara xxrI1f n11 avid
plains to Walter in Wagner'S "MeiSter-
singer" but some of the players-par-
ticularly the blind men-knOW how TO
conceal this pedantic side of the music
by means of dainty musical ornaments.
The favorite instrument of the women
is the banjo-like SamiSen. The weakest
side of Japanese music is the vocal
though. to be sure, they laugh at our
indulge in so many strange noises that
we find it difficult to discover musical
sounds and definite intervals in them.
Richard WallaSchek thinks that the
trouble with japanese vocal music lies
chiefly in this unnatural way of sing
ing it The compositions themselves, he
AYERS, ARE actually not badly invented.
There is many japanese musical idea
of which a European could make good
use, but as long as the present style of
singing lasts all hope of improvement
must be abandoned.
List was the first pianist who dis
pensed with the printed music when he
gave a concert. Today it is universally |
agreed that a pianist who does this has
the same advantage that an orator en- |
Joys over a man who reads a lecture |
from his manuscript. But some of the |
oId-fashioned musicians looked on this |
innovation as mere affectation or bra |
vado. Thus it once happened that |
when Mendelssohn was to play his d
minor trio in London the piano part |
was by some mistake not brought 10 |
the hall. Mendelssohn knew it by |
heart, but did not at first wish to play |
it that way. Finally he said: Very |
well, I'll do it, but I want you to put a |
score, no matter what, on the piano. |
1t will not seem as if 1 were playing |
from memory The world do move!
The last opera season in Dresden be-
gan on August 9, 1908, and ended on |
June 26, 1904. During that period no |
fewer than 81 different operas, includ-
ing five novelties, were sung. Wagner
had IS performances, Mozart II, Verdi /
IA, Lortzing ID. etc. Four spectacular
the opera house was used for concerts.
A strange story comes from Prague
concerning the national funeral given
to the late Anton Dvorak. The Bohe-
milan Academy of Sciences, the Artist
Beseda of Prague, the National Thea
ter, the Conservatory of Music, and
the city magistrates participated in the
function. The expenses amounted to
was sent to the composers family. Four
priests also applied to the family for
payment for their services.