New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-07
Use of Enthusiasm
A Biography and a Novel
Maitland and ROLAND.

The sharp contrast in spirit between re-
cent works by two equally eminent musl
cal critics, one English. the other French
invites a few words Of comment. Mr.. j.
Fuller-Maitland. for many years (evel
since the death Of DR.. Hueffer in 1885, we
believe). critic of THE Times newspaper
editor Of the new edition Of Groves "Dic'
tionary of Music and Musicians" a promi'
nent figure I'm the Foksong Society ano
author OF several admirable books besides
the edition i'm modern notation OF the Fitz'
william Virginia. Book written I'm collabo-
ration with W. Barclay Squirrel has issued
biography of Brahms through the pub
fishing house of the John Lane Company
I<ondon and New York;. Mr.. Fuller Malt
land is an admirer OF Brahms's music-a
''Brahmin" as the enemies Of the greatest
master OF absolute music since Schumann
are fond of calling every one who loves
the German Requiem and its many wor-
thy companion pieces. In fact. Mr.. Fuller
Maitland is so warm a "Brahmin' that he
thought Il necessary TO make confession in
an Introductory note ION Enthusiasm" An
admirable note II is-sweetly sane. sugges-
tive, instructive. admirably calculated 10
blow the cobwebs out of minds that have
ceaSe1 10 DC active, anu 10 DoNi over tht
furiousIy Jealous ones who think that they
must hate one master in order 10 show
their love for another. even il the two work
in fields wholly different and far apart. The
note deserves to be reproduced in full since
II sounds the keynote OF splendid piece
OF critico- biographical writing, one that
cannot help but make for artistic righteous
mess:
The following pages are certain to in
spire distrust in the minds OF some readers
Now, although enthusiasm is no longer
considered dangerous form OF insanity.
~ II wac in the eighteenth century, yet its
presence is still regarded az tending 10
obscure the Judgment and the word con-
veys. whether Intentionally or not, some
idea Of mood that is. necessarily transi-
brightest and purest light, and the very
sound OF enthusiasm suggests some Of
the unpleasant accompaniment of an UNI
,rimmed 0 wick But is enthusiasm ~,
eulogy TO be distrusted on the ground that
no opinion can be al once favorable and
dspassionate? One sees how absurd the
word sounds in regard TO the supreme
Enthusiasm about the Bible. Shakespeare,
Dante, Michelangelo OF Beethoven sa-
voTs Of a young ladies' seminary. and in
a grown-up person is as uniting on the
one hand as Impartial criticism would
be on the other. although in the days
shortly following the creation Of the SUI
preme things enthusiasm and impartiality
were quite appropriately exhibited toward
them. Surely a frame OF mind exists In
which admiration for the greatest things
IS unmixed with any restless anxiety to
discover flaws. a frame of mind free from
all feverish desire To "gush" over things
which. having attained the position OF
classics, remain for the worlds calm and
steady delight. Perhaps the most recent
OF the incOntestably supreme things in the
world Of music TO call forth a display
of 'impartia lily was tho life work Of
Beethoven. upon whose death there we're
written obituary notices which must amuse
the modern critic, and should warn him
against timid excess Of GOODNESS The fact
that the tone Of many of the obituary
couched in the same kind OF temperate
language would of itself suggest the Idea
TINT that masters work was destined
among the great things OF the world, II
NAV be well 10 make IL clear that the fol-
lowing pages are not written with any
explain the writer's own personal con-
victiOn regarding the music of Brahms
For him II has always been difficult
to get into the position of a person who
finds Brahms pulling or grabbed; from
the date Of tho early performances Of the
masters ways 81 expressing himself. his
idioms. have always seemed the most
natural and gracious that could be con-
ceiVed. Not that any unusual degree OF
musical insight can be claimed, nor any
desire felt 10 disguise the few occasions
on which passages have not been aosoo,
lutely clear at a Hrst hearing; but II would
hardly honest 10 disarm criticism by
adopting an artificial 'impartiality' when
The JOY aroused by that FIRST experience