New-York tribune., 1910-01-09
RECENT MUSICAL PUBLICATIONS

the time they were composed--that is, with
mordents, appoggiaturi, etc. written out,
and variants and cadenzas added An essay
precedes the collection as a whole and
there is an extended note on each song to
help to an understanding of its dramatic
character. The earliest of the contralto
songs is Lully's "Bois epais," from
-'Amadis' Q6S4), and the latest, My Heart
Is Weary" from Goring Thomas's Ma
deShda" QSS5). The composers represented
in chronological order are Lully (pseudo),
Rossi, Purcell. Scarlatti, Handel, Leo,
Hasse. Gluck. Giordani, Mehul, Meyerbeer,
Rossini, Mercadante, Donizetti Glnka
Thomas, Flotow, Verdi, Grounod, Ponchielli,
Delibes and Goring Thomas.
Another volume in the same admirable
library contains pianoforte compositions by
Beethoven, edited by Eugen d'Albert The
compositions are the sonatas Nos g. s. r.
IA and 16. and the seven BagatelIes. Oh
SO. Excellently suggestive are Mr.. DIAL
berts remarks on the proper manner in
which to play Beethovens music. Here
are some OF his points:
a, With Beethoven passage work requires a
different mode of treatment from that in
other composers The figures should al
ways be considered thematically-that is,
Iney are not to be regarded as mere pad
dlhg nor as cadenzas, and they offer no
opportunity for Virtuoso display but they
belong rather to the organic structure of
the whole. Neither should the staccati be
executed in a light and playful manner, as
they might be in the works of Mendels-
sohn; and they should generally be given
twice the value of the ordinary staccato
Play the melodies with clear, simple Wig
orou5 tone, without sentimentality or al
fectation and without the Chopin aroma.
IL Is strange. however, that many pianists
who display warmth and passion in their
rendering of other composers should ap-
proach Beethoven with a certain pedantry
and coldness of feeling. They seem to
fancy that by strict observance of the
they have achieved the real classical style.
How can they fail to realize that Bee
lie, and fairly clamor for free, vigorous
and temperamental performances? No rules
can be laid down to that end, but genuine
thoven's spirit will enable the PLAYER to
hit upon the right way.
A curious editorial blunder has crept into
the volume. D'Albert says that he in
cludes the "Bagatelles, Op. 119, for an ex-
ample of the shorter works which Beetho-
ven composed in his latest period; but the
compositions in the book are the seven
Bagatelles, Op. 80. These little pieces were
composed in 1882 and ~ubIished (surrepti-
tiously) by Beethovens brothers in 1903.
The twelve Bagatelles which bear the opus
number 1l9 however. were composed be-
tween 1920 and 1922
From the Oliver Ditson press have come
recently four other volumes of songs, of
which only one is comparable In interest
with the volume belonging TO the Mus-
clans Library and this because of it's con-
fessed educational purpose. Eduardo
Mario has compiled and edited a collection
of forid songs under the title "CoIoratura
Album" He has followed chronology in
the arrangement and has covered the oper-
attic field from Campra Q6s0-I74D to Boito
QS42~ }. In his preface Mr.. Mario says:
What in the ''old school" was called
canto fgurato Figured singing or colora-
tura is defined as vocal music ornamented
with runs. trills and rapid passages. where
each syllable Of the text has two or more
notes allotted 10 il. Brought into use by
composers Of the seventeenth century
Coioratura attained its highest form with
Handel and Mozart, and later with Kos-
SIM, 3ellinl, DoniZetti and other Italian
and French masters. Though now rele-
cated to secondary position through the
advent of the dramatic school OF singing
il holds its place with the public when
eXpouEded by some great singer, and there
is no doubt OF its potency and charm TO
the listener as we'll as benefit 10 the per-
former. While the study Of VocaliZation
develops and equaliZes the voice. gives
breath control and broadens the style, the
eoloratura arias, being a resume of all
that may have been learned In that study,