The Washington times., 1919-11-09
GREAT MUSICIANS
SCORNED POLITICS
Schumann, Beethoven ct al.
Were Not Constituted to Be
"SpeIlbinders.'

The centenary OF hlchaTu "dshSf
may possibly attract attention to a
circumstance in connection with the
great makers of music probably never
previously noticed, yet not, undeserv-
ing of at least passing consideration,
writes Clement A. Harris in the Etude.
Let me. make the ballads of ma.
ton, and who will may make its
laws" has been the unspoken maxim
of the vast majority of composers.
To have presented their countrymen
with such an air as Rule, Britannia"
or Austria" has satisfied their poiiti-
cal aspirations. But the rule Is not
lacking in that paradoxicaI kind of
proof proverbially derived from ex-
perience. The earliest and greatest
creative musician to whose political
bias a definite name might be given
was Beethoven. A clue to the direc-
ton which this bias took may be seen
in the signature to a letter. An elder
brother had subscribed himself
Landowner" the reply was signed
Ludwig van Beethoven, Brainowner."
The master was an ardent admirer Of
Napoleon so long as his hero appeared
in the character of a great liberator
and friend of the people, and he dedi.
Gated his famous Third. Symphony to
him. But when the prince of soldiers
threw off the guise of democracy and
proclaimed himself Emperor, Beet
hoven tore off the title-page of his
score in a fury of disappointment. and
with a torrent of reproaches dashed
it to the ground. The dedication sub
seauently became abstract in form,
the work being known as '.Sinfonia
Eroica.'
Loved PeryolaI Liberty.
Robert Schumann was neither by
physique nor temperament fitted for
the rough and tumble of political
warfare. But love of Individual lib
erty. and an ardent desire that. others
should enjoy IL as well as himself,
were conspicuous features of his char
acter. And his two years training as
a lawyer, his brilliant literary gifts
and editorship of the Neue zeitschrift
fur Muzik. of which he was practic-
ally the founder, enabled him to give
some expression to his views. Giu-
seppe Verdi was the only great COM
poser to be elected a member of Par
lament Nevertheless, he lis an
example of the disinclination of must
clans for political life rather than
otherwise. For though he returned to
the italian legislature as representa-
tive for Busseto in 1850, he very soon
sent in his resignation. And despite
being subsequently appointed a sena-
tor by the king, and going to Rome to
take the oath, he never attended a
single sitting Of the upper house.
IL may be added in passing that
though British Parliament has num-
oered no composer of the eminepce of
verdi among its members, the Earl of
Mornington, father of the Duke OF
wellington, and presumably mem
Der of the Irish upper house. was a
composer of distinction. His glee
Han, Smiling Morn" and a double
ehant in e are among the most popu-
lar compositions of their class. Ana
our House of Commons has ine1udad
az least one member who was a unj-
versity graduate in music: and an
other, w. T. Galloway, who q con.
ouctor or a large musical society. and
anot3er OF book on Musical Eng
land
Liked Politics.
Hans Won Bulow. though mar. .,
conductor and pianist than corr
poser, must also be mentioned for tho
absorbing interest he took, when a
STUDENT OF the University of Berlin.
IN the political movements of the
time, an interest which led to his be-
ing frequent contributor to the
democratic journel Die Abend-post
His services to his party were the
more useful since, like Schumann. he
had, before abandoning himself to
music professionally. been for some
two years a student of law.
But undoubtedly the most oustand-
ing example OF a political musician
is 10 oe round In Richard Wagner. In
ms ms mem Leoen' he speaks OF the
far higher moral character or ths
working classes in Germany COM
pared with the university students
And 50 great was his sympathv y,ith