New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-22
s. Fl lELY MUSICAL C0N1llEz13f If

musicians who are TO visit New OK lieN' "eA
son is Fritz Steinbach. who is to conduct lhe
last concerts Of the Philharmonic Society. stem
bach bears a cumbersome title which was given
.o him by the Grand Duke OF Saxe-Melnlngeh
when he was in his service so as to enable MIN
81 arnass and command all the available musical
forces In the grand duchy on festival occasions
He is a grand ducal general musk oirekloi'
and was Dr. Won Buow's successor as court
conductor at Meiningen, whittier he went III
1886 There he remained until 1915, wheh ne
was called to Cologne as municipal conductor
and head of the Cologne Conservatory or MUSIC.
succeeding Franz wullner. Steinbach is
native of the Duchy of Baden, and was born IN
1855 He studied at the Lseipsic Conservatory
and carried off the Mozart prize. Thence he
went TO Vienna and as a pupil Of Nottebohm
laid the foundations for the special excellence
which ne is expected to disclose at the concerts
of the philharmonic Society He is not a chal-
MON Of the modern tendencies in music so much
as he IS a classicst with peculiarly strong lean
snrs toward Beethoven and Brahms Before the
end of this month he will conduct brahhls
nroeramme at one of the Berlin philharmonic
concerts ITO him. CNottebohm). said he in an
interview with a representative of The Musical
Times" Of London, last year, Il owe almost
everything" recalling with evident delight the
happy time spent with the famous Beethoven
scholar and contrapuntist, and especially the
hours of recreation when, after lessons were
over the teacher would introduce his eager
pupil into the deep and fascinating mysteries OF
The Beethoven szetchbooks. which Nottebohm
was the first to fathom and describe. Young
sSteinbach displayed unmistakable talent for
composition but soon abandoned creative for
snterpretative art In 1880 he was appointed
conductor of the Municipal Theatre at Mayence.
and he held the post until called to Meintngen
capacity" says the writer in THE Musical
Times" THAT he laid the foundation Of his fame
as a conductor OF the works OF the classics, ana
more especially OF Brahms. He had mace the
acquaintance Of Brahms some time previously
for It was he who had recommended Stelnoach
TO Nottebohm. The close friendship between
the great master and the young conductor con-
stnued TIL the end of Brahms's life. Not year
passed without their meeting. In the summer
Steinbach would visit his reVered frleho at
Vienna or at Ischl. and every winter Brahms
travelled to Meiningen 10 hear the court orches-
ira discourse Bach for his special delectation-
sThus NE NAV assume that Steinbach's peculiarly
unconventional readings so full of life and feel
sng, of Brahms's symphonies and other works.
must have had the composers fullest approval"
The last number of the musical magazine en-
titled Musk" published in Berlin and Leipsic,
As devoted wholly to Bach symposium The
editor solicited communications from half a
hundred or more of the leading musicians OF
Germany. France and Italy, asking them in a
general way to answer the two questions;
'rwhat is Bach TO you?" and What is Bach's
significance in relation to the present timer?
Among those who sent in answers were some OF
the foreign musicians who are expected to visit
New-York for the purpose OF conducting con-
certs in the course OF the approaching season
Their contributions reproduced herewith in
translation: Vincent d'Indy, who will conduct
the Boston Symphony Orchestra IN December,
and who has recently given the of his name
and influence to a Bach society in Paris. wrote:
What is Bach to me? Simply the father of
the whole body of modern music; moreover,
the genius in whose intimate companionship
st is possible to live without becoming
weary. What does he signify for time?
The study of his works must be the basis, the
Foundation, of all education for the modern
musician. They the means for placing their
free intuitions a sound and healthy founda-
ton and to enable them, at the same time,
through the profound knowledge of master
works to provide pure artistic enjoyment In
the Schola Cantorum the pupils in all the
courses the pianoforte class we'll as the stu
dents of violin, flute. organ. etc. compelled
to busy themselves theoretically and practically
with all the works which Bach wrote for their
special instruments. AS for the students in COM
position, they learn Bach they learn their
'catechism-
w safonoff. who will conduct some of the
Philharmonic concerts:
To me Johann Sebastian Bach is the embodi-
snent Of pure mUical logic In him the ele-
mental power Of music as such is disclosed most
clearly and convincingly. BY this mean that
he can be looked upon in time when music
Us seeking to fill and attract to itself many
Foreign ingredients the purest and noblest
fountain, from which the soul of humanity shall
long be able 20 draw the primitive sensations Of
music.
Fritz steinbach, another of the Philharmonic
conductors
What is Bach to me? Everythng-the great
est OF all men in domain miracle of
sanically creative force equally great and awe
Inspiring dranatist. bossoming lyricist
awakener of the deepest moral and religious
emotions as well serious and humorous de-
lineator in tones. His speech, which has out
lasted and viii outlast, the most diverse ten
denotes of style and taste, is to-day yet filled
with daring neWness What does Bach signify
today? A rock in the restless surge Of our pres
ent musical life TO which ali civilized peoples VIII
ever return in order to draw from this perennial
spring true strength true feeling and fresh
health against the effeminacy now threatening.
Felix weingartner. who win conduct concerts
of the New York Symphony Orchestra:
heard the Passion According to St John
as a child The impression tremendous
one vague it may have been. and from that
time onward the name of Bach was associated
Sn my mind with conceptions Of something
cradle and great. Hence, l was joyOusly sur
prised when day my teacher said to me:
sTo-morrow shall begin the two-voiced in
zventions of Bach He used to account 1t high
in my credit that played Bach and Beethoven
by preference. Later in my practical activity
Bach unfortunately remained distant from
me as Beethoven near, since ! seldom if
ever had a large choir at my disposition. 1 was
thrown on an occasional hearing and far from
exhaustive ressdng of his works. At the time of
nv glowing Tristan" ecstasy 1 was tempted to
interpret the familiar expressions of Wagners