New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-27
INTERESTING SONG RECITAL
Some Remarks on Indian
Songs.

In Aeolian Hall last night Mr.. Reinald
WeTenrath gave song recital TO every
feature of which the singers fine art
gave unusual charm and interest The
programme challenged attention al the
outset because OF its unhackneyed char
acter. There was an old English song
one OF many taken from the tongues and
lips OF the peasantry by Lucy Broadwood.
a praiseworthy laborer in the field OF
folksong. Then came a sixteenth century
art-song by the arCh-madigalist, Thomas
Morley, and then a group Of old Irish
songs Songs by Grieg. which Mr.. Wer-
renrath sings in their native Norwegian
when necessary, and German songs by
Jensen, followed, and after some para
phrases Of Ojlbway melodies. the singer
concluded with a group Of songs in Eng
fish 1t is told OF Nine. Modjeska (as II
has been told OF other elocutionists) that
she could send her voice through such
gamut OF feeling in reciting the multi
plication table as 20 call for tributes OF
tears and laughter and all the gradatons
Of emotional expressions between from her
hearers. Mr.. Werrenrath might do the
same with variations OF the musical scale
or the tones OF the major or minor triads.
In fact, he almost accomplished the feat
with the Indian songs drawn from Fred
erick r. BentOu's book on Primitive
American Music" but arranged with ac-
compartments for his purposes by Mr.. Ar
thur Whiting. who has at least shown his
good taste as distinguished from other ar
rangers OF our aboriginal music. by
avoiding the harmonic vagaries which rob
IL Of the primal character which Hes In
the melodies Some OF Mr.. Writings
predecessors In this field. especially those
who have tried by high sounding colloca-
ton OF words TO make the world believe
that there Ia d fine essence OF art In the
ridimentary formulas which pass for
song among the North American Ind
ians, have tricked them out with Grieglan
harmonies to such an extent that
they have ceased to have interest for
both musician and ethnologist Mr..
Whiting has proceeded In a straighuor-
ward musical manner. and left II 10 Mr..
Werrenrath and Mr.. Burton to supply
the sentiment, OF which the original
creators OF tho melodies knew nothing.
= case IN point ollf u inc S'At1s NlAi''i
Mr.. Burton calls In the Forest" and
supplies with such words as In the
forest lonely l hear my sweetheart sigh
ing through the pines" is a drinking
song which, vociferated rapidly instead ~
with langu!shing sentimentality, has
these words IN the original assuming
Mr. Burton himself TO be correct: II
don't suppose III get drunk II take one
drink: IL should get drunk, take care OF
me" 4 comparison OF Mr. Burton's book
with the monograph by Miss Frances
Densmore. published by the Bureau Of
American Ethnology. has left US with a
very small opinion Of Mr.. Burton's study
OF Ojibway, or Chippewa, music. and the
case cited ought 10 teach the good nat
ured American public TO appreciate at
its true value twaddle OF the selt-ap-
pointed "Americanstes" about the spirit
of American song. There was one funda- |
mental melodic formula at the basis OF all
the songs which Mr.. Werrenrath sang so
last night, and that formula
might be said, roughly speaking TO IN
derlie nine-tenths Of all the Indian music |
that has been collected. It's aesthetic sig |
nlfirance was the singers contribution.
II. L. *.