The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-15

his entire series Of analyses and exam
nations the writer is prepared To ex-
press the conviction that this is the only
sound and authoritative work on the
subject and that e. is very valuable
and scholarly addition to the musical
literature Of the world.
The history of music is better treated
in these DAYS than II was quarter of
a century ago. Then there were only
"A few works which were designed for
the use Of students in Conservatives
and universities and most OF these con-
sisted too largely of biographical details.
There was far too little attention to the
development OF the art Itself
DR.. Parry performed an inestimable
service TO the study Of music when he
wrote his Evolution of the Art of Mu-
| sic" book dealing exclusively with the
| growth OF the artistic materials and
principles and referring to composers
| only when they appeared as special con-
tributors to the development. But Or.
| Parry's work was not for the beginner
Various stories have been written with
| the purpose IL telling the story simply
and Vet fully. and there ar. authors
| ready To try It again and publishers pre-
| pared to put forth their WORKS.
Two specially attractive volumes have
com. to the music critic of rrE SrN in
the past few months. one OF these ~
] outlines Of Music History by CIar-
| ence q. Hamilton. associate professor Of
| music al Wellesley College. and the
other Familiar Talks on the History
: Of Music" b, Arnold j. Gsntvoort, lee
turer on the history of music at the
Cincinnati College OF Muse. These are
I both well planned and well written
books each following clearly the lines
Indicated by the title.
Mr.. Hamilton has added I" the value
| of his work by making "A photography
| with r-ferepces for each of his chap
tiers and by finishing with an index.
| MIR GantVovrt has not done either OF
| these things. but his table of contents
is fun and very clearly arranged. MI
Hamilton's history contains more bio
graphical matter than Mr.. GantN oort :
but does not neglect the broader view
Mr.. Gantvoort eXc.ls in thoughtful con-
sderatlon Of periods and general intel
iectual conditions as bearing on musica
creation. Both books contain numerous
well chosen musical illustrations ana
Mr. Hamilton's also has pictures
| It is a pity that Mr.. GantvoOrt did
! not make more pointed his account ot
the proceedings of the Council ~ Trent
and the subsequent dolnss Of Falestr'na.
There is here something left ~ the
old myth about the salvation Of church
music by the Marcelline mass, written
for the occasion. II IS almost certain
that this mass was created and known
before 1855 and that the commission OF
Cardinals did not incite palestrna I,
create three works to show how eccle-
siastic music ought To Ice written,
But there Is another topic which /,
more superticially treated in this book
lust as 1t Is in almost every other his
tory written in English. Al the tim,
when some of them were written ther,
was no correct Information ON this
: subject. but there is NO excuse fol
error in these days. The reference Is
to the history Of the troubadours. The
old theory about these MINISTRIES l.
: set forth IN Mr.. Hamilton's book in
: definitely. while Mr., Gantvoort SAYS:
In the trouhadoIr's conception %
, song the sentiment was the chief con
$ Germ and the manner OF It's muslca
D setting was secondary. Therefore III,
singer who had the gift of improvisinl
e the text and then setting il to musi,
( that would convey the sentiment mos
\ clearly and forCiby, with an artistic
j delicaCy of touch, was the great, thu
I real ,roubadour." Further on he adds
y After the trusadcs their music be
. comes fun of Oriental Turns and thrills
e what We now cali fortuna with man!
notes on one word ar on one syllable
5 after the manner OF the singing of tn
y Arabs
e Here Is confusion Of truth AM
; error chiefly caused by "A want of bal
o ance in statement, Vet when one turn
= to so admirable "A history AZ that o
n Waldo Pratt he finds the topic of tn
y troubadours loosely treated. For thes
= recent writer's there Is no excuse he
- cause the whole subject has been eN
i haustlvely, scientifically and authorize
r lively treated by one German an
Il several Frcnchmcn. Even NOR" ina
" that, II one ~ not satisfied with thel
n conclusions which are lncontcstabl'
they hnN" printed All IN" original ma
y tcIlais In" iloubadour songs, ana So
mas draw your own conclusions
III some ~ the most important works NJ