The New York herald., 1921-10-29

DIR. Richard Strauss. called the great
est OF all musical realists, denied yes-
terday, as some enthusiastic idmirer
had claimed for him, that he could depict
in music the placing of a fork and
spoon upon the dinner table.
mol No! l think that would be inn
possible" he said, but complete bill
of fare would be different. All! There
Is wealth of thematic matter in a
hearty meal"
The German composer. who arrived
by the Adriatic TO give series of con-
certs in New York and other American
cities extending through several months.
was found yesterday by dozen curious
interviewers in his apartment on the
sixteenth floor Of the Hotel St. Regis.
His six foot son. Franz. named for his
grandfather, was with him to greet the
group.
Every one in that interviewing coterie
had repeatedly heard DR.. Strauss, but
none had previously talked with him,
but every one of them went TO the in
tcrview firmly convinced that the man
who composed It'll Euenspiege's
Merry Franks" must have a strong sense
of humor In five minutes they were
convinced of it. DR.. Strauss is as merry
as his mischievous Till.
Asked If composers read the criti-
cisms of their works he replied:
Yes. particularly the bad ones--those
that praise with faint damns-because
such critics always point out the weak
places In your works, and thus they are
often the most helpful"
Has Heard American Jazz.
He said he had heard a great deal
of American jazz In Germany. 1t is
worth while music and interesting to
him because of it's new rhythmic forms.
The next moment one of the feminine
members of the interviewing group
asked the composer what he thought of
American women. He said he had seen
many when ne was here seventeen
years ago and had time to see but few
more since his arrival Thursday night.
but he declared ''all are beautiful"
And short skirts?' persisted some
one.
inspirations" he responded.
There even were lapses into humor-
Gus suggestion when the talk got down
to more serious matters. He said he
is at work on ballet called "Schlags
ober," or Whipped Cream" The action
takes place in a pastry shop which is
invaded by crowd Of merry children.
to discussions of the composers new
music and to the question as to whether
annotations are essential to the proper
understanding of certain Of his tone
poems and from time to time the COM
poser would step to the piano to Illus
trate his remarks.
The most ambitious piece on which
he Is at work is an opera domestlca in
two acts which he has decided to cali
"Intermezzo." for which he also has
written the ,bretto. He called 1t
tragic. comic piece. written from an ex-
reveal.
New Songs to he Heard Here.
The new compositions which he has
brought with him for first hearing here
Nine. Elizabeth Schumann. who with
Miss Elena Gerhardt and Miss Bergit
Engell. will interpret his songs during
his tour One of his older works, a
violin concerto, never heard in America
will be given on December 81
The question as to the necessity Of pro-
grammes to accompany orchestral COM
positions was. said DR.. Strauss, one for
self. Some need them, others do not"
he said. "To many concert goers the
programme Is n very essential sidelight."
He said that great deal of music
but little or value had been written in
Germany since the war and added that
music in Germany did not seem TO be
tending in any particular direction.
He was asked II he could see anything