New-York tribune., 1920-01-11
HOfmann Unmasks
By H. E. Krehbiel

Through the Wolfsohn Musical Bu-
reau, Mr.. Josef Hofmann confesses that
the compositions which have been per-
formed in Philadelphia, New York, and
possibly in one or two other cities, as
the works of Michel Dvorsky were, in
fact, written by himself. Mr.. Hofmann's
agent says that the admired artist has
dispelled the mystery" which sur
rounded the composer, Of whom nobody
seemed to know anything except Mr..
Hofmann himself. If any number Of
people were mystified by the alleged
authorship of "Chromaticon" and "The
Haunted Castle" the readers of The
Tribune needed not to have been among
them.
When the "Chromaticon" was per-
formed by the Symphony Society,
under the direction Of Walter Dam
rosch, with Mr.. Holman playing the
pianoforte part, in March, 1918, the
writer Of the criticism in The Tribune
plainly intimated that Dvorsky was a
figment of Mr.. Hofmann's imagination
and called attention to the fact that the
Polish word "dworsky" signified q
courtier and that the German equiva-
lent for a courtier was Hofmann-a
man of the court. The pun is an old
one and in music dates back to
Beethoven, who, out Of compliment to
E. T. A. Hoffman, (the subject of Of
fenbach's opera), wrote a canon in
which he begged "Hoffmann to be no
Hof-mann." This merely by the way.
When "The Haunted Castle" was played
by the Philharmonic Society two
months ago the writer of the notice in
this paper threw aside all innuendo and
fatty stated that michel Dvorsky's"
name was Josef Hoffman,. This dis
poses Of the mystery" so far as this
journal is concerned; but there is
something else to be said on the sub
ject Of Mr.. Hofmann's effort to palm
of his music as that Of another man.
A Foolish Hoax
Was it wise? Or clever? Or fair :?
The letter Of the Wolfsohn Bureau says
that "no one appeared to know anything
about the composer except Mr.. Hof-
mann, and even his acquaintance with
the mysterious 'Dvorsky,' who was said
to be living in Spain, was confined to
correspondence" What have Messrs.
Philip H. Goepp, Daniel Gregory Mason
and w. H. Humiston, who wrote the
notes on the programs of the concerts Of
the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New
York Symphony and Philharmonic socie-
ties, to say on the suoject? What have
Messrs. Stokowski, Damrosch and Stran-
sky? Were they the dupes of the arch
deceiver Hofmann, or were they fellow
conspirators in the foolish hoax? Fool
ish 1t was, because though there were
many who saw through it, there must
have been more who did not, and who
as admirers Of Hofmann the virtuoso
would have listened with twofold inter.
est to his music had they been told that
il WAS his.
The program annotators were, Of
course, compelled to go to the con.
ductors for their biographical mate.
rial In the case of a composer concern.
ing whom they could not but be ie.
Nnorant. So from Mr.. Hofmann, through
his agent, and Messrs. Stokowski, Dam.
rosch and Stransxy came the false
statements that the composer Of "Chro.
maticon' and "Thc Haunted Castle,
was the son of Polish father and q
FRENCH mother, born in Pau, France. in
1880, poor man, and therefore prac.
ucaiIy self-educated, though he had
studied the pianoforte with "Custave
'ranier" in Pau, and that because Of a
weak constitution he lived in San Sebaa
tan, Spain. This is pretty. circum.
stantial, more detailed statement than
berlioz gave when he permitted por-
ton OF his "L'Enfance du Christ" to he
performed As composition by pierre
Ducre, music master of the Sainte-c chs
pelle in Paris, ~1679."
Tho Composer Explains
Mr. Hofmann. Of course, explains
mis- reason for attempting the hoax.
Says his agent: "He states that
- chose 70 introduce his latest com
positions under = pen name in order
that he might get the unbiased
opinion Of the public ~ we'll a. that Of
the critics and avoid trading upon the
fsme which has como to him through his
playing. He contsnds that though, q
composer IL primarily guided by his
innate musical impulse. he, nevertheless
must learn 10 hear his own works with
me ear of bis auditors. This, hs believes.