The New York herald., 1921-10-23

Within the HmitleSS resources OF
his own imagination he must find in
finite variations on Brahms, while the
Philharmonic sweeps the far horizons
from BodanzlSyts to Stransky from
Mengelberg to Hadley And even
Father Damrosch. who in the dawn
of local history was the celebrated boy
conductor Of the Metropolitan and is
now the dean Of the guild of stick
wavers, wifi be supplemented in due
time by Coates. the British wizard
who knows why Josef Holbrooke is
great and understands Cyril Scott.
Some harsh persons scolded at Mr..
Stokowski after Tuesday evenings
concert because forsooth he made
every conceivable change in tempt in
the first movement Of the Brahms
symphony except the one required by
Brahms. Doubtless such carpers
would like to apply to Mr.. Stokowski
Macaulay's remarks on Milford, the
historian of Greece:
"The principal characteristic of this
historian, the origin Of his excellences
and defects, Is a love of singularity.
He has no notion of going with a null
titude to do either good or evil"
These carpers should go join the
shade of that solid old time actor,
Tohn Mccullough, who said: Hamlet
is the one part in which any good
actor can make hit IL he'll pay strict
attention to the stage business and
none to the metaphysics"
Are we, then. to have no psyche
analysis in conducting? 1t seems pos
sible that from readings alone must
we get our orchestral delights. The
composers of the zenith shine but
dimly. Mr.. Braunfels of Frankfort.
whom Mr.. Stokowsd introduced on
Tuesday evening. did much less for
the Philadelphia Orchestra than 1t did
for him. But let that pass. Did any
one especially note the source of this
composers inspiration? A theme by
Berlioz. What theme? The song
about the flea from "Mefistofele." And
then a sort of variations after the
manner of several composers. Truly
a novel idea! How many such COM
positions preceded that of Herr Braun
fels of Frankfort? The hardened OBJ
server of the Times was moved to re-
mark that this sort of thing did not
promise much for the latest school Of
Teutonic art. But DR.. Strauss Is COM
ing and the music OF Germany will
not be without a competent champion
in this home Of italian opera.
The return of Grim Hagen, too, Is
imminent. but of that more anon.
"Arma virumque cano." Arms and
the man, the man with the waving
arms, the man who makes the "notes
paper" the god of things as they
ought to be. and who knows how they
ought to be--of him we sing. Let us
keep to our theme.
What is the real reason why all
these conductors entangle the world in
the mazes OF so many different con-
structions of the prophets? Let us
not be blind to the fact that no man
can interpret a work of art otherwise
than as he can see 1t. Edwin Booth
was the great Hamlet, but other actors
have acted the role admirably, effec-
lively and indeed almost convincingly.
yet In very little manner like Booth.
SO, too, conductors will certainly
differ according to their personalities.
One star differeth from another star in
glory and sometimes even in color.
One perceives that Vega and Antares
are both stars. that they sit refulgent
upon the ebon throne of night; but
they have clearly drawn individuali-
ties. The conductors, too. must project
upon the screen Of public interest their
magnificent personalities. and why
should Brahms or Beethoven be per-
mitted to interfere?
The conductors who translate Bee
thoven. Brahms and the other masters
into terms of themselves are indis-
rutahly right They follow according
10 their own lights the doctrine Of the
ancient philosopher:
FOR myself" says Socrates, II fear
that In these, my last hours, l depart
from the true spirit of philosophy. like
unschoolcd men who. when In debate,
think scarcely how the real question
stands. but care only to make their
own views triumphant In the minds
Of the auditors. Between them and
me there Is only thus much of differ
ence. ] regard 1t as a matter of Sec
ondary consequence whether my con-
ciusions appear true TO my hearers
but I shalledo my best to make them
appear as much as possible true to
myself"