The Washington herald., 1911-03-19
A MASTER MIND
In MUSIC'S REALM
The Late DR.. Walter Was
Supreme in Especial Field.
By ST. JOHN BYER.

BY the death of DR.. George W. Walter
this city has lost one of its most pc
culiar and picturesque characters. GER
tainly it's greatest organist and musician,
this prominence being cheerfully conceded
him by all his brethren of that guild.
He inherited this musical talent from his
father. who was distinguished among the
great organists and choirmasters of New
York He was reared in the atmosphere
of music, and with a mental capacity
amounting to genius. he mastered that art
in all forms, but more especially in the
creation of sound by instruments. the
color timbre, and every element that
used in the production of music. This
knowledge he dedicated TO the improve
ment of the grandest Of instruments.
the church organ, and to him, more than
any other scientific inventor, it owes its
wonderful advance and evolution from
the crude, harsh old Contrivance of a
quarter of a century ago to its present
rivalry OF the orchestra in color and elias
tiCity
He understood thoroughly the mechan-
ism of tone. 1t was said that he could
elicit pleasing musical sounds by the fric-
ton and percussion of two rough wood
en- sticks. The organ at the Jewish Tenn
pie. in Eighth street. is his monument.
1t is an instrument entirely unique,
differing from all others in the world.
Although not the largest, yet it is the
most complete and competent, being su-
pericr to all others in response, elas-
ticity, orchestral coloring, and ensemble
of tone these being the most desirable
qualities in that instrument. 1t was re-
marked by famous organist who visited
here lately that it surpassed the orchestra
in its own sphere.
But beyond the material production of
sound, DR.. Walter had studied and ana
lyzed the peculiar mental influence of
music, a deep subject that engaged the
attention of Herbert Spencer and
Schopenhauer, to find therein the con-
Meeting link between the material and
the spiritual. 1t called forth the remark
of Schopenhauer that perfect and sufh-
cient explanation of music and the world
of sound would be also a perfect science
Of mind or mental phenomena.
Walter, being a Harvard collegian,
knowing all the theories and hypothesis
advanced even from the time of Pythag-
oras, would discourse by the hour on this
intricate subject, his practical knowledge
giving a deeper IndH NOuCHSdleu
those who attacked the problem from the
other spiritual point.
He had a large, complete library of
music, including many antiques and Gu
rios. such as the hymn sung by Christ
and the Disciples when leaving the Last
Supper for Gethsemane; the songs of the
Crusaders, the original of the Anaoren
melody arranged to the words of THE
Star Spangled Banner" He had fine
Alexandra organ made in Paris to the
order of the Emperor OF. Russia, a costly
and complete instrument used for time
in the Emperors palace.
He wrote. but never published. SYM
phonies and sonatas for the organ: also
fogues of the Bach and Mendelssohn
style. He was the most learned musician
in this country and was known in Eu-
rope being so famous as to warrant a
biography in Groves Musical Dictionary.
In fact his fame was greater in the out
side world than here in this city. where
he made his home. as he was personally
very reticent, neither caring for nor court
ing popularity. He was embittered by
troubles in his family life and lived in
lonely seclusion, away from all but a few
near friends. to whom, in spite of his
eccentricities, he was much endeared.
To them he evinced kindness opposite
10 the character which repelled the world
from him. II can be said truly that he
was genius, but entirely out Of touch
With his environment and age.