New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-24
UNFAMILIAR SONGS
A Note on Yesterdays Musical
ReCitaIS.

MT. helndiU w tTItIIdlil utStIN lhN
gratitude OF music lovers for several
things which he did at Aeolian Hall last
night; first OF all, however, for his beauti-
full singing-beautifu in every respect,
wherefore its charm could not wholly be
destroyed by some Of the songs which he
sang. That debt paid, he must be thanked
for having so pleaded the cause of
number Of latter-day song composers that
IL that cause is found worthless by the
popular court he will at least have the
consciousness Of having done the best
that n gifted advocate could do to obtain
different result. Finally. his audience
was beholden TO him for singing some
songs at the end Of his list which brought
back TO some bewidered minds a reaiza-
ton Of the fact that true songs are fit
poems set to melodies which give them
an added sensuous charm and harmonies
and rhythms which help to vitalize their
sentiment and emotionaIity. Mr.. WerIen-
rath went to Germany and secured his
native land with its conglomeration Of
people. for two-thirds OF his pieces. and
then found the songs which brought sur
cease 10 suffering in that England which
either tries hard to bclittle the value Of its
own composers or lauds a few OF them TO
the skies In this case the songs were 6.
Nlllers Stanford's Songs OF the Sea-
songs about Drake and Devon's glory.
songs with beginning and middle ana end
with sanity OF sentiment such as We find
in the old ballads which We're initiated in
the texts with lit of time and musical
themes inspired by the spirit and words
of the poems and developed in intimate
and lovely association with them
In marked contrast with these songs
Mr. Werrenrath sang three songs by Ar
mold SchOnberg. The singer made plea
in their behalf by speaking I'm half
deprecatory tone Of the manner in which
this feature OF his programme had been
heralded. He would not have the i'm
preston prevail that the songs were
without melody. harmony or form. on
the contrary, they had the beauty OF
Richard Strauss "Traum durch die
Dammerung." II would have been wiser
perhaps had he let his singing alone plead
for them. II good wine they needed no
bush; If poor such advocacy could only
~ ms l''l lls ! ~ b''NAs N'NHiiH'' 'i'A
sweetened by music-such has been the
IDEAL Of lyricism, in fancy. since the days
of Amphon and Orpheus, since Thebes
and Hon rose into towers 1t is a new
art which seeks to charm ears, fancy
and emotion with declamatory musical
phrases. which can be called melodic
only by a kind sufferance, over and under
chords as frequently repelant TO the
melody note as attractive, all intended to
illustrate "A poem which, faithfully trans
lat d. speaks this precious sentiment.
My dog but growled at thee and |
poisoned him, and | hate every one who
causes strife. Two blood-red blossoms /
send thee, my heart-On the one bud be
good TO the three until ! come. Tonight ]
come again-be alone. Yesterday as
drew near, thou vast gazing with an
other INTO the sunset SloW-Temember
thou my dog!
Mr.. Werrenrath growled and snarlcd
very eloquently and delightfully."- indeed at
the beginning and end of this song and
did all that his fine art could do to make
an ugly thing beautiful Mr.. Sch0nberg
owes him thanks for that. and his hear
ers, who gave deserved appreciation for
all that he did. owe him at least a meas
ure for having gratitied the curiosity
which he aroused
II was said in behalf of Miss Cordeia
Lee. who played the violin in Aeolan
Hall yesterday afternoon. that she was an
American who had gone TO Leopold Auer,
in st. Petersburg. for instruction. II
would be a pity and probably unfair to
hold the Russian artist-he is an artist
and a great one--responslble for the
young woman's concert but it is cause
for congratulation that she did not ac-
quire such intonation and phrasing and
such a conception OF melody as she ex-
hibited in this country. III. II. X.