New-York tribune., 1918-10-20
Music Changing
With the War
BY DAVID B1spnAM

The extraordinary events at present
taking place in the world will undoubt-
cdy have great effect upon music.
In what way it will change the output
is not US yet apparent, but such
cataclysm cannot take place without
producing profound effect upon every
mortal happening. 1t may be that some
sensitive people, such as musical COM
posers are, will be so shocked as to be
scarcely able to set pen TO paper at
all, while others will be so exalted by
the tragedy of the war as to produce
compositions of such grandeur as
never before have been heard. Up TO
the present time, however, all that we
see is superficial, though no doubt
we'll intended, mass of songs and in
strumental pieces, emanating from
those whose musical attainments are
not Of the highest order, though theft
intentions are undoubtedly of the very
best, and they themselves are over
flowing with a patriotism which in
itself is superb, but which in it's ex-
preston lacks that depth of thought
which alone can cause any work to
have more than an ephemeral exist
ence.
Immediately to have made an enor-
nous appeal, such as "Keep the Home
Fires Burning" and "Over There" but
in the case of the latter song one may
confidently say that Mr.. George M.
Cohan, having had the inspiration to
build song upon the familiar trumpet
call which prevails throughout its re-
frain, did not rest until, by very hard
work, he had produced what he knew
k4 fo~ nl H.
characteristic Of man trained to
please the public.
One must not make the mistake Of
supposing that all music used to
arouse patriotism was written with the
idea Of the present condition in which
the world finds itself. "Tipperary,"
written before the war for vaudeville
performances, is known to have been
so strenuously applied TO war pur-
Objectionable as to be withdrawn.
Elgal's magnificent melody, made into
the song "The Land Of Hope and
Glory" had not war as it's inspiration.
1t is an episode in the coronation
march written for the accession of
King Edward VII to the throne Of
England. Nothing in recent music has
been fine" in its tragic bearing than
the symphonic work produced less
Bloch, the French Jew. Yet it is not
war music; it is Biblical music, in
which the lamentations Of the Chreen
Race are again poured forth with Jere-
mianic intensitv Yet ere is sure o be
number Of fine songs, odes, choral
pieces, symphonies and operas result
ing from the emotions now excited in
every breast Great poems have been
written and greater may be expected,
which, in their turn, will doubtless in
sire musicians, and we may look for
still greater things in the future. AS
yet, however, they have not appeared, in
this country at least, though it is
said that in England music is being
written by some one. of name hith-
erto unknown, whose power OF express
sion is unsurpassed by any one of our
time, unless by Richard Strauss. In
deed, the individuality and character
OF this music is such as to lead those
who have seen il to suppose hat
Strauss, having taken refuge in Eng
land, IS continuing his extraordinary
labors there under another name. It
is known that he was opposed to the
war and refused high honors offered
him by the Kaiser if he would side
with the government in it's declaration
and prosecution OF hostlitics.
American composers have had their
thoughts turned away from the pur-
suit of their calling, the younger ones
being engaged in war work and doing
nothing of consequence; but it is to
be hoped that their elders may keep
alight the musical torch that so
lIIumincs the pathway of mankind.
Whatever may be the trend of COM
position in America, it is very SIRE
that SO per cent OF the music Of Ger
man origin. for so long heard in our
concert rooms, will be conspicuous by
its absence during the approaching
season and for a long time to
come. Even the best songs by the
most approved Germans are being
put aside, for the present at least
and in some ways this NAV be q
good thing. 1t may serve to elimi-
nate from our concert programmes
much music, which but for its foreign
flavor would have been immediately
recognized as being inferior, while
great deal that is eminently worthy of
attention written by our own American
composers, who for so long have been
struggling from under the shadow of
the German colossus, will now be
brought forward.
| en- the last one, however. to ad
wise the Danl Shrnaut Of oor*,;-