The Washington times., 1919-09-04
MUSICIANS mourn
SCHIRNER'S DEATH
~ }. MaeB.

The history OF one OF Americas
foremost music publishing houses
was brought In review recently, when
the death o6 Rudolph 3. sehirmer
marked the close OF the elder gem
GRAFTON Of this house" that 50 many
years has stood for the best in the
promotion OF music in the United
States.
Rudolph e. schirmer was eharac-
terigtfcaIly q publisher OF the type
that sees in q publisher q trustee OF
the best interests Of the art, and be-
lisVes Il q publishers duty 70 give
to the public not only what it wants
but what Is needs. In matters OF
real art ne did not hesitate to subordi-
nate commercial considerations to the
higher cultural aspects Of An enter
prise.
OF this attitude, the Musical Quar-
terly, founded By him in 1915, Is a
typical example. His interests exc
tended to institutions, and in keep
ing with his ideals he donated the
Circulating Library Of Music, found
ed by G. Schirmer, to the Institute
Of Musical Art, New York city, and
select musical library to, Santa
Barbara, Cal, IN memory Of his In
fant daughter who died in 1918.
Loved the Esthesie.
Once his lovsNof the beautiful. his
exquisite taste and his discriminating
esthetic judgment convinced him Of
the lasting merits OF a new composer
he would spare no reasonable expense
in making his access to the public
easier.
Thus the careers OF such composers
as Charles Martin Loeff1er, John
Alden Carpenter. Charles T. Critics,
BryeesOn Treharne. Kurt SCHNEIDER.
Ernest Bloch. Percy Granger, Ru-
dolph Friml. Enrique Granados, John
Powell. Daniel Gregory Mason, Henry
Hadley, David Stanley Smith, Rubin
Goldmark, have become indissolubly
connected with his own in American
musical history.
II is worthy OF note that many
years before the discussion Of the
prospects OF the American composers
became controversial. Rudolph
Sehlrmer was seeking ways and
means for a practical furtherance Of
their art. Such names prove his keen
and sincere interest in the rising
generation Of American composers.
President TWeafy-siz Years.
Rudolph Sehirmer became president
Of the firm when Il was reoFganized
into q stock company In 1898. con-
tinuing to hold this position until
his death. His eeaseless activity In
developing the corporation to its
present eminence IN the music pub
fishing industry eliminated in the
erection OF the g. Schirmer music
publishing factory in 1914 oA Long
Island. the largest and most modern
establishment OF its kind in America
His love OF the beautiful was not
confined to music. II embraced the
other arts as well. and especially his
collection Of Chinese porCeIains and
Japanese iacquers 10 appreciated
among eonnoisseurs for its intrinsic
value.
Rudolph SchiFmer was q member Of
the university, racquet and tennis,
and Princeton UniveFaity Clubs Of
New York, the Metropolitan Museum
OF Art, the Horticultural Society, the
National Institute OF Social Sciences.
the American Museum OF Natural
History, the New York Academy OF
Sciences, etc. He was a trustee OF
the Institute Of Musical Art and q
director OF the Oratorto Society. and
the NOV AOfh y hpAOhg DOSASNss
The active management Of the firm
has been for several years in the
hands OF a nephew, GustaVe Schir-
mer It was to this organization
that Oscsr Sonneck went when he
left the Congressional Library. where
for so many years he had devoted
his life to the great development OF
the music division OF our National
Library. From it's inception Mr.. Son
neck had also been an associate edi-
tor of the Musical Quarterly.