The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-05-22
WAGNER IMPROVED THE
WORLDS MUSICAL TASTE
Today Is centennia, OF Birth Of
Man Who Contributes
Much Tc Music.

]
The innumerable difficulties encoun-
! tered on the way, the i'll will. the un-
intelligent letters which retarded for
50 many years the expansion of his
labors' recalling all his bitterness ana
! sadness, and seeing now his work
standing full in life and gathering
around II many devotees. his glorious
name forever inscribed in letters of
gold thousands of pilgrims to Bey-
ftuth bringing the tribute of thei,.
enthusiastic cult, and remembering
that all this is the result of the will
ana OF the greatness Of one human
braln, we remain silent and filed with
admiration for that prodigious intel
Itrt whose equal cannot be found
among tn" annals Of the past.
The principal periods of the life of
the creator Of marvels, the details #
the premier productions of his operas
ms faculty TO delight the ear. the eve
ana the intellect, are fresh i'm tho
minds of the musical world Profound
entire surroundings of his operas.
Refused to Come to America.
In 1919 Wagner had an offer 10
give some concerts in America. but
ne declared that he was not disposed
10 go about as a concert pedler. even
for fabulous sum.
He went 10 London. however, To di-
rect concerts. Prince Albert greatly
appreciated the music of the German
master. After hearing the overture
to Tannhaeuser the royal family sum
moned the author to their box To re
ceiNe the congratulations.
Tn" English press. however. was
hard upon him. They reproached him
with conducting Becthoven's sym-
phonies from memory. Wagner an
peared at the next concert with a
score. The public was perfectly sat
iSil"d. and claimed that the execution
was much better. but what was the
Indignation of every one when IL was
seen that the score was that Of I'll
l'arbiere di Siviglia" and that il was
upside down on the desk,
invented New system.
Text. music, action and scenery
must all unite in a common purpose
and their union must he so complete
that no one element can he taken
away without injury to the whole
wagner abandoned the aria form and
invented new system for his con-
tindous melody by introducing the liet
motiv in place of the aria. It was
while composing The Flying Dutch
man that he invented his new sys.
TEN In Scnta's ballad which tells
the legend, he employed two themes.
When n mental mood returned its
thcmatic expression also was re-
peated
Many writer's have published hand
books purporting to explain the Wag
ner dramas. These landlords cause
many persons To suppose that the
hearer of a Wagner score has to
translate the music into definite
terms. This is an utter misconception.
II is not necessary To know the
name of a single leading motive i'm
any Wagner drama in order To un-
ierstand the work If the music ok
presses fairly the emotions contained |
In the text, it Is good dramatic music. |
That was the test which Wagner i'm
posed upon opera music, and il is the |
lest by which his work must be-
Judged
one OF the features Of Wagners |
system Is the complete independence |
4 the orchestral part He seldom |
writes an accompaniment pure and |
simple. The orchestra is one of the
thief agencies in the development Of
he plot.
Improved Musical Taste.
MI recent composers have treated
ne orchestral parts Of their operas
With much freedom, and have scored
hem with great Instrumental rich
,ess. This advance In operate writ
ng is due chiefly 10 Wagner.
His demand for sincerity has spread /
INTO other branches OF musical art
md II can he fairly said that Wagner
,as done more for the general adj
Of musical taste In his day
ma after II than any other composer.