The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-06-22

In a twilight of darkened intellect
and abandoned hopes, in New Hamp-
shire village, one of the three or four
strongest of the younger school OF
American musical composers, Edward
MacDowell, until lately a hard and de-
7oted professional worker, is rounding
out the term of a lifetime that has
been unhappily cut short as regards
It's natural term and it's loyal support,
alike of it's memory and of it's present
material needs, devoted friends have
organized a Mcdowell society with
he object alike of adding to his slen-
der income and of making his works
better known to the general public.
So that he who in a fine personal
oeen surpassed by any composer, has
made music to fit the romantic themes
of Lancelot and Elaine, of others of
The Arthurian legends and of the
Gaelic Cuchullin is likely to continue
% come to his own in reputation and
popular favor even though he has, un-
fortunately, ceased to be productive.
His considerable body of works will
Illustrate in manner most intelligent
Americans can understand that we, as
we'll as several present-day nations OF
Europe, have composers who can write
things better, technically, that the
stirring marches of the irrepressible
John Philip Sousa, regarding whose
productions an eminent German musi-
elan is said to have remarked recently
that he likes them so we'll he is actu-
ally tempted to try to set them to
music.
And as to several others of the bril-
liant tone composers of our princi-
pal music centers, there has come
about in the last two or three years a
remarkable popular awakening of in
terest in their lyrics, sonatas and
symphonies. This winter, in particu-
lar, the Americans have been getting
something like their deserts in their
own country; disproving the biting
sncer of German cynic to the effect
hat mankind never appreciates works
of genius fresh, like grapes, but always
dead and dried, like raisins. It's
badly selected symphony program
nowadays in which some piece by one
Of our own musicians is not featured
placed there not because the man is
al American, but because music is
now being written by several of our
composers that is already recognized
in Europe as worthy Of comparison
with anything that is now being done
anywhere; that is at once profession
ally correct, as music is taught in the
schools, and at the same time filled
with spirit of power and achieve
ment. 1t is music not unworthy OF
the period of strenuous fearlessness
In the future it will, not unlikely, be
known as the American music of the
Rooseyeltian age-of an era when men
ceased being afraid to attempt to do
really ambitious things
Three Americans who have come
especially to stand out as representa-
tives Of the things American musician
ship can do have been particularly in
honor OF late. One of these is George
W. Chadwick, who was lately called
to Ottawa to serve as judge in a musi-
cal competition for trophy given by
his excellency Earl Grey for the best
effort by an amateur organization.
Musical societies from every part OF
the Dominion were represented at this
event. Again, only the other day Mr..
Chadwick was called to Cincinnati to
conduct a performance of his own
works by Franz van der Stucken's
well trained orchestra Dinners and
receptions proved that the musician is
greatly in honor, in at least one city
Of his own country. The Boston SYM
phony orchestra has also in it's tours
of the present season been featuring
Mr.. Chadwick's "Sinfonietta" and 9TH
er works. So that Mr.. Chadwick has