The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-01-23
Hoffman, and American Music

Christian Science Monitor: The
announcement by Josef Holman of
a recital in New York to be wholly
devoted to the music OF American
composers, OF course attracted wide
4 and varfegated comment The com
/ posers whom the pianist had picked
out were in most instances well
known. In others they were not
| quite so familiar.
Mr. Hofmann's purpose, on the
surface, seemed most generous; so
much so as to be almost altruistic.
But. on examining the terms in
which that artist had expressed his
plan. one could not kill some little
doubts and qualms.
The works announced were said
by Mr.. Hoffman, to be original and
personal in character. But, on the
other hand, this praise was strangely
| qualified by the remark that they
suggested analogies with those of
older masters. Being used by now
to many German traits. one paused
to ask oneself II Mr. Hofmann's
scheme was OF kind to help-o or
harm-tAmericans
For example. BY inviting com
parison between the Introduction
and Fugue" Of Clayton Johns and
achievements OF Mendelssohn, the
American seemed foreordained to
suffer. Nor was 1t probable Though
possible) that the Restless OF
Rubin Goldmark would not lose much
by being named in the same breath
with the compositions Of Schumann
Nor is 1t likely that Mrs II. H. A.
Beach Miss Dillon and Edward Royce
would feel quite easy when their in
terpreter had pitted them against
Moszkowsky. the French modernists,
and Schriabine.
The recital has revived long
hushed-up questions which were put
in other years by Edward Mac
Dowell. Is it a compliment, or the
reverse, to present programs made
up wholly of American compositions?
Is it more kindly, or inyidious. not
to include the works Of foreigners in
programs to which Americans are
admitted?
Mcdowell had distinct views on
that point. When the occasion served,
he proclaimed them with great frank
ness. He thought it very far indeed
from flattering to the art of his own
countrymen to hint, by exclusive
schemes like Mr.. Hofmann's, that
American composers were In need OF
nursing and had to be segregated, as
il incapable of being tried and judged
with foreign rivals. Perhaps, though,
he was over-sensitive. But he chung
firmly to his deeply rooted faith. And
once, at least, he stirred up hot dis
cussion and aroused anger by send
ing letter (now in the possession
ci the writer) to Felix Motif, then
music director-general at the Metro
proliton.
As some recall, while in New York
Felix Motif had failed signally to
become acclimatized. His tastes, his
way Of life. his private habits, made
him unable to adapt himself to Amer
lea. OF the music and musicians Of
America he had little knowledge. But
he had heard of such composers as
Victor Herbert. Henry Hadley, Ar
because, maybe, he was conscious OF
through Mr. Conried, had paid trib-
ute to his merit, he wished to do
something rather courteous to Amer
leans.
The outcome OF his wish was that,
like Mr.. Hoffman,. he announced an
concert for a certain
evening at the Metropolitan. Deinde
irae Hardly had his Intention been
published in the newspapers when
Mcdowell took up arms to stop the
plan. In that letter he protested
very bitterly. first, against the con-
cert in itself, and next, the posi- !