The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-12-09
CASELLA CONFUSES CRITICS
Saluda, S. G.

Contributed by Musical News Service.
When Richard Strauss first came
20 this country II years ago he was
the rock against which musical judg-
ment aimed its piercing darts, some of
which were poisoned with conserva-
tive prejudice. Today, upon his first
return visit, he is being received as
a great musician whose compositions
arouse no criticism so far as their
iconoclasm is concerned. All that he
has written is looked upon as legiti-
mate music.
If Alferdo Casella, the Italian COM
poser-pianist who is now making his
first visit to this country, returns in
IT years will he be received as
Strauss is being received today? This
is the pertinent question of the hour
in New York and various other music
centers of the country For Casella
is now the rock against which musical
judgement is hurling itself with such
violence that it's object has become
veritable storm center Of discussion.
Those critics who are opposed to
Casella, the composer, have devoted
columns in their papers trying to
prove their case against him. Equal
ly have his champions consumed space
to uphold him. So much smoke means
: much fire, and the fire is this quiet,
dark, modest, but dignifed Italian of
3S whose compositions are being pre-
sented in this country with orchestra
andhin his own recitals.
On the other hand, Casella, the pi-
anist, has been acclaimed almost with
cut exception as one Of the most fin
, ished artists Of the keyboard now be-
fore the public. His interpretations
of the classics have universally been
commented on for their adherence to
the spirit of the composer, his Bee
thoven especially receiving high
praise. Casella, indeed, is so ardent
a lover of this great master that his
own edition of the scnatas, published
with an Introductory essay, has been
accepted by the greatest musical scho-
lars as valuable addition to musical
literature. His playing of modern
music has shown the same spirit of
adaptation to the thought of the in
dividual composer.
But when it comes to Casella, the
composer, the hurricane is let loose.
1t was even so with Richard Strauss.
When he first came to this country
no one spoke of him as anything but
a competent conductor. It was his
compositions that made him the butt
of many joke or the target of
many an analytical essay to prove
that he had nothing to give the world
that the world needs.
Has Casella, the composer, nothing
to give the world that the world
needs? 1t may take many year be-
fore this question is definitely set
tied. During the past decade he has
appeared in every European music
center and in England as a conductor
and player Of his own music with ex-
traordinary success, critics and pub
lie alike having become his champi-
ons. But here he is stranger, yet
even this early the public is showing
an avid desire to hear more and more
of his music and with each hearing
leave the concert hall more and more
puzzled in their own judgment.
When mis- orchestral poem, GA Notte
Alta, which, freely translated may
read, "At Midnight twas played in
New York, recently by the Philadel-
ph;a orchestra with the composer at
the piano, there was much spilling of
ink among the critics in the papers
the following day, and on the ensuing
Sunday columns were filled that each
critic might further prove his point,
pro or con, as the case might be.
William J. Henderson of the Her
aid" frankly acknowledged that it
was impossible for him to describe the
composition. at has nothing" he
explained, corresponding to the an
cient notion of thematic development.
The orchesstration is a profount ex-
panse of black night. The piano part
twinkles upon it in starry points of
infnitesimal light.-Music of this
type, being all impressions, cannot be