New-York tribune., 1908-03-29
NEW BOOKS ON MUSIC.
Biographies of Living Musicians
History of Uncommon Value.

Books about music and musicians continue TO he
a measurable factor In the output Of the publish
One of the best of recent volumes is Waldo :
Pratt's The History of Music (Schrmer). book
OF nearly seven hundred pages yet of convenient
size and weight and of good legible type. To add
another to the large number of histories of music
already In print may be thought TO require good
deal of temerity nowadays unless the author has
the results of original research to communicate.
Professor Pratt at the outset relinquishes any
claim to discovery but nevertheless his work,
which he calls handbook and guide for students.
is fully justified by It's simplicity and comprehen-
siveness of arrangement and its wisdom and dt-
rectness of thought statement. Professor Pratt
goes the matter in accord with modern scientific
notions; his book has an encyclopedia quality that
renders II easy of reference for names, periods
and topics. Instruments. old and modern. are sue
cinctly described, and In many cases illustrated by
dra vfngs-one of the features of this history is its
emphasis of the important part played In musics
DEVELOPMENT by the mechanical improvement of
musical instruments.
Another proof of Professor Pratt's admirable
qualifications as a historian IS his frequent refer-
ence to political social conditions contemporary
with the musical periods under study He CORE
lates musical progress with other forms of world
progress instead of regarding music as an Isolated
phenomenon In fact his aim has been to lay
stress on the democracy of the art. Music. ne
remarks has become what it is not by the mirac-
posers' but by the irresistible momentum of large
intellectual and emotional forces that take hold OF
nations periods and classes OF mind. This is not
of course to lessen the glory influence of genius.
l,,. N set facts and tendencies in their proper re-
,atjons And again. Professor Pratt looks forward
to further bringing together of art and the peo-
n,e-"uhen music shall be the delight. the inspira-
tion and the spiritual purifier OF all peoples ana
c,asses With so broad and true a conception of
x,bat music and all other arts are for ana with
-clo rIv
,u needed for his task. Professor Pratt has writ
60, q hook of uncommon value and significance
In Outlines of Musical History. by Clarence
r Han,ilton associate professor or music at
yveuesev College tDtson), there ia valuable
little table in parallel columns synchronlzlhg the
,niIestones in music's long record with the chief
events in world history. being crystaiiizaton OF
the same thought that governed Professor Pratt
professor Hamiltons study is condensed in form.
and while If makes no claim be more than
outline il may be commended within its intended
scope
or 1.-The Appreciation Of Music by Thomas
Whitney Surette and Daniel Gregory Mason, read
ers of THE New Music Review" issued by the
same publishers the H. w. Gray Company. will
recall the recent appearance in serial form. The
authors cite the growing readiness of colleges to
rive the study OF musical history and the rudi
ments of musical place in the entrance ex-
aminations as we'll as in the curriculum, and they
have sought to make THE Appreciation of Music
textbook for general students who are not nee
essarily learning to play instrument. The
development from folksong aqi dance music to
the me- complex manifesta1 IONS is clearly set
49,, 49, h>ln ~ ,v,ua,rIi flusfYattens and