New-York tribune., 1905-09-24

A noteworthy feature Of these private musical
libraries is that they are chiefly in the hands OF
musical workers. The field has no attractions
for men of wealth who spend their surplus mill
ions in gathering together works OF art or
bibliosraphical rarities for comparatively few
of these have cultivated the love Of music.
Joseph W. Drexel, of Philadelphia, to whom the
New-York collection is chiefly due. and Alien
A Brown. who has made foundation of in
estimahle value in Boston, to which he is stead
ily making contributions are the exceptions. For
the rest the work has been done chiefly by writ
whose labors have nourished a love for mu-
steal literature. The libraries Of Mr.. Elson, OF
THE Boston Advertiser: Mr.. Hale. of THE
Boston Herald and Mr.. Krehbiel. Of The Trib-
une, If combined would make a collection easily
comparable in working value with any one OF
the large institutions mentioned James War
rington, OF Philadelphia, is not professional
writer but a specialist who has devoted him
self TO psalmody and hymnology, and mis- col
lection of English and American books pub
lished prior to 1920 now numbers 1000 volumes
The story OF the origin and growth OF the public
collections is an interesting one and worthy Of
attention. To each of them We purpose to give
record In this and a subsequent article.
The largest musical collection in the United
States is that of the Library OF Congress. at
Washington. Until very few years ago it was
possible to speak only OF the huge bulk of this
collection. but since the advent of Mr. Herbert
Mr.. o. G. sonneck head OF the music divis-
ion great change has come over the char
acter OF the library. Formerly it was little else
than a mere pile of books and sheets acquired
under the operation of the Copyright law. which
requires the deposition of works for which
copyright is sought in the governmental ar
chves In 1902 the collection reorganized
and put in the way OF systematic development.
It is almost terrifying to think what the musical
collection will look like in few decades from
now; but if the present policy Of purchasing
valuable scores and old treatises is continued It
viii outstrip aIl its American rivals in
importance 1t already does in bulk. There are
now about 100000 books, pamphlets and pieces
Of sheet music in the collection, and the yearly
accretion amounts to about $4,000 numbers.
Much of the music which comes to the shelves
has only ephemeral significance, much Of 1t is
the veriest trash, deserving Of neither proteo-
ton nor preservation: but a large percentage
of the annual additions is of permanent value,
since the best of European and American pub
locations seek protection from reprint by copy
right. Mr. o. G.. Sonneck Of whose labors
in behalf of American musical history we have
had frequent occasion to speak, has laid down
q plan for the systematic development OF the
permanent features Of the collection. 1t is to
be help to the study Of music history. His
present efforts are directed toward the nine
teenth century. It will not be long before stu
dents will have opportunity to study practl-
cally all the works of the eminent composers
who have figured since 1850. There al
ready 700 opera scores in the library Mr.. Son
neck is also eager to make the national col
ection ~ old +heorettcal works equal TO that Of
New-York or Boston. The expended for
purchases of books and music is between 5000 |
and $4,000 annuaiiyr-not large sum, but one |
that compares favoraby with that devoted to |
the same object by the great libraries Of Europe
The Nevberry Library. of Chicago of which |
&C.
Of reference. established in 1887 and maintained
by the moiety OF the estate Of the late Walter |
Loornis Newberry. It contains at the present |
writing about 277,00o volumes and pamphlets. |
In. the musical collection there $500 volumes |
Of music and literature. An extensive purchase :
OF music first made in 1888 by the trustees,
acting under the advice OF Mr.. George P. Upton, |
then and for many years the musical critic of |
the Chicago Tribune newspaper; Professor
John K Paine. of Harvard University, and other
experts In 1889 the entire musical library of
Count Pho REESE. of Florence. Italy, was Sc
cured It contained many works the theory
and history Of music especially by Italian writ
ers, ard the little volume which is now the New
berry Library's chief musical treasure-a copy
Of the first edition of Jacopo Peri's ''Euridice,"
printed in Florence in 1600-the first published |
opera. To this notable collection were added |
the collection Of the Beethoven Society of Chi
cago in 1880, the private library Of Julius Fuchs
in 1891, and of Otto Lob in 1892. In 1891 a spe-
cial collection of hymn books and sacred music
formed by Hubert H. Main, of New-York, was
bought. This made the section of American
sacred music the nearest in point of complete
ness Of any in the library. Besides Peris ''Euri-
dice, the library contains q manuscript volume
Of compositions for the lutte by Vincenzo Ca
priolay from the early part of the sixteenth CEN
tury, with Illuminated borders. Among other
number of liturgical works a
Franciscan breviary Of the thirteenth century
gradual OF the fourteenth and of1cia of the fif-
teenth, sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth |