New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-14


was Influenced by the earnestness of Bee
thoven the CT ivalric spirit OF Weber and the
poetry Of Schubert"
Johann Baptist Cramer wrote no less than
los sonatas. of which forty or fifty were for
pianoforte solo, the rest accompanied; also eight
concertos and many pieces of a miscellaneous
character TIC a few of his sonatas he gave titles
in Dusseks manner: La ParOdie, L ultima
Les Suivantes" (the three sonatas, OPP %, %
and 80 and lie Retour LOndres-" The dis
tinction between the old and new styles of play
ing which grew up in his time and was actively
promoted by the English manufacture of
pianofortes was illustrated by Cramer in "a
Fantasia capricieuse.' other pieces which he
issued with titles (he his own publisher}
were Tn Jour de Printemps," lie Petit Rien'
"a romance with variations and Les AdleuX
ses Amis de Paris The last composition. anu
the sonata in which he celebrated his return 70
London probably owed their origin. or rather
titles to the fact that he spent few years Of
his life as resident of the French capital.
Cramer was taken to London when one year
old by his father. German violinist. Who be-
came conspicuous figure in the musical life Of
the metropolis as teacher, player and conductor.
He was leader for a time of the Antient and
the Professional Concerts. and conducted two Of
the Handel festivals in Westminster Abbey
His son studied with him and other local teach
ers of minor Importance, then with Clement
and Johann Samuel Schroeder. who SUCCEEDED
Johann Christian Bach as Music Master 10 the
Queen. Schroeder deserves To be remembered
even in so cursory a review as this. for the du-
thorities agree that he among the first
teachers TO disclose the possibilities of the
pianoforte as distinguished from the harpsl-
chord. He married one of his aristOcratic pli-
pills, who soon tired of him and purchased
IL, In hon
he came TO London and formed an attachment
for that susceptible old gentleman which found
rather amusing expression in the letters which
/ gave TO the public in little book published
in 1898 emusic and Manners in the Classical
Period New York: Charles SCribnerS SorS)
Like Clement. Cramer combined a commer>idl
with artistic spirit; he founded the music
publishing house of ]. b Cramer & Co. which
still fiourishes in London. Not his concert
pieces but his works of instruction have Kept
his name alive. In his compositions designed
for public performance he reflects the shaiio"
taste of his time; but he admirable
virtuoso and a still admirable teacher.
His etudes are classics and in vigorous use to-
day Henselt published fifty of them with ac-
for a second pianoforte and his
example was followed by Henry e. TImm. an
American pianist and one of the founders OF
the Philharmonic Society of New York Or Won
Bulow also edited half hundred of the studies
His "Pianoforte School and the school IT
Velocity" have been published over and over
again.
Clement. Dussek and Cramer have disap-
peared from concert rooms, but Hunm5l
still maintains place there in despite Of the
radicals with his concerto in y minor and his
perennially lovely septet ~ classic. but dun
classic remarks MIR Edward DannreuthCr-
''Hummers pianoforte music represents the true
pianoforte style within pure and noble forms
says Prosniz. uniting agreeable and solid eI5-
gance and SHttCring ornamentatiOn With
warmth OF feeling. which, however seldom
swings itself up to passionate expression.
Trained in the school and style of Mozart, he
thoroughly developed the peCuliarties of the
beautiful tone. its elegant and
pleasing effects. He cultivated gentle song and
dainty, often coquettiSh ornament so far
il was possible in one whose genius was of
order. Hummel was u continuation
Continued eighth page.