The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-09

IT ' NER1IHlNG that Jonn F. Runcl- man writes is well worth read - ing, not only because it Is full of interest, but also because of its sugges- tiveness. In an. editorial called German Music and the Prussian Spirit" which he published recently in the London Sat urday Review. there are a number of statements which are not founded firmly on facts, but only on the personal opin- ion of the writer himself. John R. Runci- man asks: What is the secret of the decay of German music?' He evidently takes it for granted that everybody &C., knowledges German music to be on the decline. But this is only matter of opinion, and opinions often differ. Ger man music may, or may not be decaying It is not an established fact that German music is going down hill, and John F. Runciman consequently has no logical right to say: What is the secret of the decay of German music?" All he has the right to say is: T do not like the modern music of Germany" Carl von Weber had right to his opinion that Beethoven was fit only for the madhouse" after writ ing the seventh symphony, and Chopin had the right to think that the new com position which Schumann had just dedi- cated to him was mot music at all" This cry of modern decay is as old IS the hills. The poets of ancient Rome often wrote about it.
 John r. Runciman says: Modern Ger man music does, indeed, reflect the mod ern German mind and ambition Of rf ic r0 a reflection of the national mind? The most permanent works of art yet pro- duced were decidedly the reflection of the Greek artists of the golden age of Athens.
 Dante is a reflection of the mind. learn ing and theology of thirteenth century Italy, and all Shakespeare's characters are English. Shakespeare, too, had a fairly high opinion of himself if his son- nets mean anything. Why blame Wagner for inordinate sef-esteem and not find fault with Shakespeare for writing: Not marble, nor the gilded monuments Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme?"
 If Horace was permitted to publish his
  writings are more durable than brass, l and loftier than the pyramids, why should not Wagner be allowed his favorite ex- presslon, 'I?"
 | The Scotchman's prayer that the Lord might "gi'e us a good opinion O our l sel's' has been very generously answered. 1 The main difference is that Horace, Shakespeare and Wagner really had some l thing to be conceited about, whereas the l very great majority of mortals have not. | John F. Runciman makes the "merest guess that Wagner's idea of a German was man with tastes and habit of mind fostered by study of Goethe Schil- | Ter, Feuerbach and Schopenhauer. and the musical works of Beethoven and him. self" We hardly believe that the mod ern Prussian is sufficiently subject to the influence of the German Goethe who exclaimed: "If only we could remodel the Germans after the pattern of the English!' We were under the impress | sion that the modern Prussian wanted to remodel the English after the pattern of l the Germans. The culture of modern Ger | many does not appear to be singularly dominated by Goethe's conception of cul- ture. He says: National hatred is a singular thing. You will find 1t tcommonly most violent where there is the lowest measure of culture. There is a point, however, at which it disappears wholly and where one stands, as it were, above nations. and is affected by the fortunes and distresses of a pelghb6ing nation , as if they were ones own.'
 No: John F. Runciman had better guess again and leave Gothe out when seeking | the roots of that modern Prussian culture where Wagner was supposed to have ex- hibited in his prose works, and which modern German composers are supposed to exhibit in their musical works.
 Does the modern military spirit of Prus- sia affect the modern music of Germany We do not refer to the actual war which now disrupts every art and occupa tion We are looking for the military spirit ir music. Richard Strauss is not Prus.
 sian If he has the Prussian militarism in his blood he has not succeeded fir making himself popular with the domi
 mating personality of the Prussian hili tary force, the Kaiser, who is fond oi
 Gluck's unmilitary music to classica Greek stories.
 The romantic and melodious Weber was
 a Prussian; but he lived long before tho
 military spirit was so rampant. Meyer. beer and Mendelssohn were born in Prus
 sia, but descended from peaceful and in'
 dustrious Jewish ancestors. The one sreai
 modern Prussian composer Is Brahms
 whom his admirers rank with Bach ane Beethoven, and whom his detractors ac
 cuse of dullness and of almost everythini
 except a martial and arrogant spirit.
 Arrogance and boosting are not necessa rily founded on military efficiency. Tn |. boasting ia Purcelrs King Arthur" t
 which Jona ?. Runciman refsrs. wa