New-York tribune., 1908-02-23

Green q %
The name of Sir George Smart. though IA
r-iIiar TO students of English musical history, is
not perhaps very generally known The publ
cation Of this book is therefore welcome. While
tie bulk CT it is devoted to trifling matters, it
contains some really interesting souvenirs of
man who was useful in his time and enjoyed
meetings with several great composers. Smart
knew Beethoven. a fact which would alone ex-
cite curiosity 10 his journals One Of his
chief titles to fame. long since recorded in more
than one place, is the visit he paid the great
composer in order TO learn the correct tempt of
tie symphonies. This visit makes the salient
episode IN the present volume There are also
some readable notes on his relations with Haydn,
Weber and others Born in 1875. the son OF
music seller, he began the study of his pro
<essiou al an early age. Cramer was his piano
-sarher He was by turns chorister at the
Craoel Royal. violinist and piano player, and
- vas for many years much in demand as con-
srctcr Of orchestral concerts and oratorios-
Some of his most important work as conductor
US done for the Philharmonic Society.
he was : good musician, with capacity for
rg-tfng on An instance of his confidence in
himself is given early in the selections from his
journals In 1894. when he was still in his
teens. he took part in the ~Antient Concerts
and this led 70 a personal meeting with Haydn
which he thus desc-ies:
A. rehearsal for one of these concerts the kettle
s-..rlrner was not in attendance Haydn asked:
-n 40 one in the orchestra Play I'll the e5IEns e5;9
195.shIy thought il was only necessary TO beat in
;. ~ al the top of he orchestra praised my beat
.r- IL time but observed upon my bringing the
5lLZ1e stroke, and keeping Il TOO long upon me
d-u-a. consequently STOPPING its vibration The
t-1n-ne-s IL Germany" he said. have a way OF
done Oh, very well" replied, we can DO SO IN
[o-e who first taught me to play the drums a
thlug ! had attempted before that day, and
have done often since
T-1is young musician was Of 2 lively and in
quisi11ve disposition When he makes his first
Journey 10 Paris il is not by any means music
Glone that appeals 70 him He goes To see the
tomb Of Abelard and Heloise, attends a chemical
lecture and appIauds Mr.. Talma" II -Tphi-
gzE5e,'' complacently recording that he is de-
sz-Tedly the Gar-ick Of Paris" Though he
caught a glimpse Of Napoleon, he has nothing
notable 70 say about that portent When he is
shown over the Deaf and Dumb Institution he
observes II its head. the Abbe Sica-d, that
such d man is OF more utility than twenty
Buorapa-tes-" But his miscellaneous observa-
lions are u little moment, and We may pass
Il once 70 the relics Of his intercourse with
E5=--h1veu The composers letters 70 him here
printed show his anxiety about the fortunes Of
Is music II England. II one Of them. written
II 1915. when Smart was in position as con-
6-c-l- e be Of practical service, Beethoven
R---e Is follows
gave = NJ Neate II great confidence il his
honor and It's views The following works his IN
-ertlcr was ~ sad 70 hand them al 70 the
Philharmonic SoC-e-y = my name |hlch soclety
would lieu . any HCnorarlLTC or gltt arrange
S ba1e1c concert Tor ne. lie mentioned this P-an
Se-=-e- here adding mat the e&ec-llln 2
Er.-.z tse easier ne would come again into
- direction C thai society q lis return HOW
e-E-. l heard nothing more O nm or my "eFhS
-s-le-S z- taken from The Morning
I.-C-icles mentioning with enthusiasm the effect
z-lrr one Of ny new yTlphoEles had produced
! s-V-CSe = that II A t1t Ictr- Itrtlt-
- s-r- NJ Nea-e last after many aEpLca-
--E U-u-e Z letter which. : am sorry 70
v- throws LIs character II my eyes II a very
i -u zte-raCcien-he Is L b refused Il ne con
-.az o.. cv MS profession. etc. Before he ends,
= -=-y E--iy says that having given my three
--a----s = --re above Society. they have spOIlt
g - =---r a -,oz--. that he lost all courage tc
undertake something fer ne. he on account o.
-rzc ----E -ady i prevented rom IlsiElHE my
S--z--- public etc : own that the three cFt
. belong ny best and great
pieces Tor me
-+-z--z -rs one q did not Cisplsase Ufen per
<-E zth = October last year II me pres
= ~ opening of the Theatre in Pesth II Hun
e-- z-E pleased The 3rd in q Is the over
--a ~ .--le a[teTpl@ce- o1 course the StSlr
~---E ~ fe c-aaf-t often performed here
= r-y-- Z concert but be performed n the
middle NJ Neace had IL tzs possession oftTr
--0-a essential u 1rks- hs chose those lETtr- anu
= Is very unfortunate that account Of them ac-
--=-- .-s Judgment my musical name Il al al
r-1. ---E r. nothing He paid twenty-five Sllhe@1s
~ -a-s. these cve---res as his property accord
H----s- writing : gave him but -'T a..
- --s.- manuscript works which 7 gave him. he
nothing al not even ctrIl--IIi