New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-13
V1TS[CAL COMMENT.
n.orab'e american Symphony and
Negro Music.

90 much delightful fizz in Mr. Philip
Zen when he is only chuckling at the dis
=, Z mares nest. that everything is to
ia blessed which induces him to a dis
IF his literary effervescence. Perish the
if they stand in the way of his sparkling
-,-eling. frothing and foaming food of wit.
-,sless it is interesting as it is amusing
The things which cause those of has ebul-
-. which are OF corrective not to say
-,-ivs. nature. The singing of German oper-
=. artists IS one Of these irritants; Brahmss
.rsi, another, inability on the part Of a col
.-.s 70 appreciate the fact that everything
--s,,b is considerably better than most things
c.rman in music still another But chiefest of
MS the belief. which has occasionally found
,,r-essi0n. that some Of the songs of the negro
slaves are entitled TO be called American folk
ongs and that their characteristics might profit
,ffy BE- employed in music of a higher order and
mai this music might then correctly be said to
un.ain the American spirit, as that of Grieg is
sid 10 contain the Norwegian and that Of Snle-
ara the bohemian. In respect of this the virus
rzne from DR. DvOrak's symphony From the
NsT World composed $50 DR.. Dvorak said and
s. some of the admirers OF the symphony have
bnily. foohshly and wickedly believed and
rpsstedl in America, and with the avowed pur-
rose Of showing young American composers how
hs clements Of that melody which the negro
Saves created. and which DR.. Dvorak said was
Essutiful and had a special charm for the people
snong whom # grew up. might be utilized as
The basis Of artistic compositions in the larger
forms.
Now there mas been much foolish and i'll in
formed writing about this symphony and about
~ Dvoraks attitude toward an American
..bool Of music. The Tribunes writer on must
esl subjects has uttered many rebukes, some il
.or-ox some in anger. and has lebored afTec-
,io,s-ey with Nj Hale in particular. hoping
tLs- some day he would. in his own inimitable
nav SET the world right on this subject But
he task seems TO be hopeless. Not what Dr.
T,zorak has said; not what the official notes OF
ne philharmonic Society at one Of whose con
,s--s The symphony was first performed with
re composer on hand to suggest, TO hear and
N Rad: not what this writer has said from in
+f,,s-e acquaintance with the score and its eu-
.tor-rot thes- things. but the vain inagininEs
- IRRESPONSIBLE scribblers at home and abroad
have been repeated over and over again and
made the texts Of witty preachments by Mr..
Yale and his iTnitatoTs. Dr. DvOrak may be
ssi5 almost IN literal and very truth TO have
zone 10 his grave lamenting that his utterances
N the subject had suffered Misrepresentation
Ehereve- The symphony was discussed
What fatal gift IS wit in a chronicler of cur
,srt musical affairs! A writer in the French
-rnsicaI journal "Aiercure Musical" has como
> TIE help ~ M Hale IN the dog days-the
pstod Of sour pickles, as the Germans call tt
vten he who must Ill his column welcomes
/ ANYTHING and everything that provides an eX-
rise This writer seems TO have set mis- mind
! !, cleaning I'd the mystery, which never ex-
lsed except in added pates and those who
vruld not hear. Mr.. Hale, in The Boston Her
I'D" devotss nearly two columns 10 the new
discoveries which he introduces characteristic
uly thls:
,,s ,f.e- said. ard the statement is made some
.-.. n se-s7rs programme books that Dvorak's
s-rrtonv From the New World" IS based on
rsro themes. that these are rhy-hTns which are
prsricsly those Of 'paJ-.-g Juba'; that the sym
rhozy Is IN spirit and substance truly American
l Ecrk and therefore greatly to be praised
l L he feva-5sa days OF the discussion eXcited
" ths first p=rforrnance Of this symphony ii was
-s..s -bst 7l- Krehhiel and others called the at
zstloa q Dvorak who then living in New
| York 70 negro melodies and rhythTns; that the
L Bohsrian composer then wept with Joy and rushed
| sasr music paper: that he journeyed to Western
usl Inhabited chiefly by Bohemians. a town IN
| Ivs where h. could md the stimulating atmos-
gdsre 70 write masterpieces OF truly American
/ nature.
some nay also remember that soon after the
/ hrE performances oT the symphony there was
distressing Tcnur that portions OF il had been com
| posed long before Dvorak came 70 New loFA,
ing before his eyes were dimmed and his knees
TUNED 70 water ~ hearing negro tunes
| Behind al this assumed hippancy there ara
II
| thinks make for proof that DR.. Dvorak made
| 70 eHcrt TO give expression to an American
Il Spit il his svmphOuy-even Of the wicked one
| based on an alleged story by a clarinet player,
| nov dead, 10 the great convenience Of would-be
tslsiErs OF history. lhat Or. Dvorak composed
| re symphony before he came 70 America and
| led about il when he handed the score 70 Anton
1 ssd FOR production by the Philharmonic So
oely. Thai story was long ago Is dead as the
| nan who invented II for beer house gossip, but
&c not dare % give i pCbictty- q, lat ne dared
! lot do while Dr. Dvorak was alive q self-re-
sIectng writer ought not 70 DO by innuendo AS
tg he rest, whatever may have been said or
imagined, AIr. Krehbiel certainly himself never
I Al OF minated that the symphony had been
l suggested b. any conversation with DR.. Dvorak
O he subject Of negro melodies and rhythms
such conversations were had, but they took
Pace after Mr.. Krehbiel lad heard the sym
paoly al the rehearsal when IL was first read
! -hoer the direction Of Mr.. Seidl; and very IN
usss-ng they were zorro borative. moreover.
U ne evidence in the music itself, Of the COM
posers specific desire TO give expression 70 what
n conceived 70 be the spirit Of American folk
s9ag as manifested in the admired tunes or
ne negro slaves As 2 matter of fact, DR..
o'ofsks attention was called TO the tunes
| Nnoss elements and characteristics he studied by
s-ae o. his black pupils at the National Conser-
'e0'y q which he was the head.
ouf 70 come 10 Mr.. Hale's mares nest. The
l me IN the 'Mercure Musical is a mali
Aa,neo william Ritter. Stimulated II is easy
- lzlr 10 suppose, BY the current nonsense
l 0'ut the symphony From the New World,
= sent eleven questions TO the two sons Of DIT
e'or1k' which he asked them 70 answer The
] -s' TOUR questions We're concerning the use OF
l ~ ~ tunes in the symphony From the New
l Ol1 whether Dvorak had used them at ALL
y ne had. whether he had modified them
H olher questions were concerning Dvoraks
| - q ehorals Of Brittany or Russian folk song
ne symphony. whether he had known ana
nHsuted collections Of folk song by Balakiren'
1-nssi-Korsakoff Moussorgski, Bourgault-