Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-07-03
OLD MASTERS OF MUSIC.
Early Makers Of Melodies and Har.
nony Feature Of Programs.

The tendency exhibited among think
irg artists in America to offer works of
the old masters upon their programs
rcpreser is also perhaps the most con-
spicuOus feature Of the present musical
life abroad, where the dearth of con-
temporary musical compositions Of
high order seems to warrant these re-
vivals, which have taken place both
in the field of opera and in that of
purely instrumental or choral music.
The general revival of earlier works is
spreading all over Europe. Though IL
modern art, music, strange to say, is
already engaging the researches OF TIC
autiquary in nearly every country on
the continent.
There are many reasons for this ir-
teresting phenomenon. In the first
place, it is far easier for a musical
manuscript to get lost than it is for
Iiece Of statuary or n painting. Then,
again. it was formerly somewhat diff
cult Cor some of our great composers
always to get their works into the
hands of publishers. The relations be-
tween the usually impractical musician
and the commercial Intermediary WIZ"
undertakes to print the works ant
brlng them before the public would
furnish an interesting chapter to the
history of the art. Finally-and this.
after all, Is the raison d'etre Of the
numerous researches now on fC1t--the
great musician is rarely or never fully
recognized during his lifetime. or, in
deed, until a long time after his death.
The frequent appearance OF man
name in public prints, or even n gen.
g 10
hardly be accepted as implying thorough
recognition in the full sense OF the
term. IL would be possible to point
even to very modern names In substan-
tiation of this statement. We nave
gotten into the habit of considering
our age as a sort Of finality. as some
thing SURPRISING all that has eve: gone
before. Yet, making all due allowance
for greater facility of communication
and a more rapid dissemination or
facts. the principle of compensation -
stili in operation. and. in the deeper
sense. much remains intrinsically un-
changed.
Bach. like many of our modern mu-
sicians. also had his friends and pa
hons His name was widely known
a fact attested by the circumstance
that ne was even invited to play before
Frederick the Great. Yet nearly hall
Il century had elapsed after his death
Eefor,. the worl6 even began to realize
that il had lost in him one of the
greatest masters OF all time. Hence
we can well account for the worthy
and cOmmendable researches of tina,
host Of Investigators abroad who are
now enGeh vOring to recover from obliv-
ion many rare gems of former centu-
res. Germany and Austria have theii
"Denkmarr der Tenkunst;" Belgium
may coast of 4 Gevaert; in France tn
work is conducted by men like Diemer
Spain has its interchangeable pedrell, an,
Italy is represented by men like Tor
chi and Chliessotti. The last men
toned alone has recovered many lont
forgotten dances of the sixteenth cen
tury. which. by their form, may stimu
late anew the endeavOrs of moderr
composers; for the dance as we know
has ever exercised Il most powerful in
fluence upon the development of music
The results of these researches ar L
be found IN colossal volumes represent
ing many treasures OF past timCs.-Th'
Forum