New-York tribune., 1919-06-08
FORTY SEVEN YEARS OF FRENCH MUSIC /

"Djamileh," by Bizet, and la Prin-
cesse Jaune,' by Saint-Saens, were
given within few weeks of each other
At the same time Pasdeloup included
the younger men on his programmes
French orchestral music was beginning
TO take definite shape. Soon the Con-
cert National, at first an offshoot Of
the Socieete Rationale, of which it
later became independent, was formed.
Edouard Colonne was the conductor
At the first concert given at the Odeon
Franck' s Redemption" and Massenet's
Marie Magdeleine" were performed.
Subsequent concerts were held at the
Chatelet. Yet another door was opened
70 the young musicians when the So
clete des Concerts du Conservatore put
the younger generation on it's pro-
grammes. After considering Bizet.
Gulraud, Massenet, Reyer, Delibes, M
Ilersot passes on to members of the
generation of 1871, who are personally
less intimately known, although their
works are heard at almost every con-
cert.
Paladilhe, the writer of many charm
ing songs, was born at Montpellier. in
1914. He was the youngest musician to
,be awarded the Prix de Rome, which
he won at the age of sixteen, in 1860
only three years ago his opera "Patrie"
was Given again at the Paris Opera be-
cause Of the tragic similarity of its
subject with the outrage perpetrated
upon Belgium.
Theodore Dubois, who composed the
Seven Last Words of Christ" and has
devoted himself chiefly to sacred music,
IS a teacher of harmony and compost
tion at the Conservatoire He succeeded
Gounod as a member Of the Beaux
Arts.
Others in this group arc Widor, or
ganist at St. SulDice and writer of nu-
sic for the organ; Lenepvcu, Bourgault-
Ducoudray, Pessard, Henri Marechal.
Charles Lefebre, Alphonse Duvernov.
Ceciie Chaminade and Benjamin Go
dard.
Then comes a chapter on Saint-Saens,
several pages devoted to Lalo, whose
music NJ. Tiersot considers essentially
arlstocratic, and a chapter on Cesar
Franck. In considering the school Of
Cesar Franck he comes naturally to
dlndy, now nearly seventy Although
his age did not compel him to, dIndy
voluntarily fought with the army in
the siege of Paris In 1914 il was a
great grief TO him that he was consid-
cred too old to tight again In spite
Of hispatriotisr,. d'Indy for many years
passed as an avowed champion of Ger
man music and was among the leading
i aenerites in France.
Among other pupils of Francl are
Arthur Coquard, 1S46-191O; Henri Du-
pare, author Of "Phidile," "LInvita-
ton au Voyage" "Lamento" and many
famous songs; the unfortunate Chaus-
son, "a man with a sensitive nature,
yet a seeker after new forms and un-
discovered musical sensations" the au-
thor of NANNY" "Le Colibri" and the
poems for violin and piano, which have
been played here by Eugcn Ysaye
In the chapter on Saint-Saens, NJ
Tiersot explains that this composer has
not become the head of school in the
exact meaning of the phrase for the
simple reason that he has given very
few lessons. However, as a young man,
he taught for a little while at the
school of religious music founded by
Nedermeyer. This was probably be-
cause he did not wish to remain a
stranger to the practice of teaching
He was rewarded by having as pupils
two men who have held high rank in
the music world during the half CEN
tury-Andre Messenger, manager of the
Opera and conductor OF the Con-
servatore orchestra, and Gabriel
Faure. According to Tiersot: Among
all the contemporary masters Faure
is the one who represents the
art of pure music with the greatest
distinction. He often has been
called the 'Schumann of France