New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-09
Franz List as Champion
OF Nationalism i'm Music
G. JeanAubry in LA Musique Eft Les Nations Tel
of Hungarian's international Sympa-
thies and Enthusiasts

efforts.
List was among the first to discover
the merits of Glinka, whom he called
the prophet of Russian music, and his
letters show strong attachment to
the new Russian school of composition
On October Z, 1857, he wrote to Lud-
milla Schestakoff, born Glnka:
II accept with real gratitude the
dedication with which you have hon
ored me. 1t will not only be pleas
ure, but duty to contribute to the
best of my ability toward the propa-
ganda in favor of Glinka's music for
which l have always protested the
frankest and most admiring sympathy
Later, on January s, 1858, in letter
to Basil Won Engelhardt, he praises
Glinka's Capriccio on the theme OF
the Jota Aragonaise.
From Weimar on September 20, 1872
he wrote to Wilhelm Won LEM:
"Are you in touch with the young
Russian school and it's three notable
opponents, Balakireff, Cu and Rimsky.
Korsakoff? l have recently seen sew.
eral Of their works. They deserve at
tention, praise and furthering."
A few years later he wrote to the
publisher, Bessel:
~ hasten to assure you again of my
deep interest in the works of the new
Russian composers, Rimsky-Korsakoff
Cui, Tschaikovsky, Balakrieff, Boro.
dine, of which you are the publisher
l suggest that next year
other works by these same composers
be published. They are worthy OF
serious attention on the part of must
cal Europe"
Two years later he again wrote tt
the same Bessel:
ut would be impossible for the ma
tional music of Russia to be more
keenly felt or better understood thar
by RimskyKorsakoff."
At this time little attention was paid
to the music Of the young Russian
group. Laroche, a we'll known critic
in Petrograd, wrote Of Borodine's
Sleeping Princess" that "assuredly
the chief aim Of this composer in all
his works seems to be to provide
agreeable sensations for his hearers.
Meanwhile, about 1877, Borodine
Rimsky Korsakoff, Liadow and Cui
having composed "Paraphrases," TWEEN
ty-four variations on an obliggate
theme for two pianos, the work fell
into LISTS hands. He wrote at once
to friend Of the composers praisine
them. Critics of the period We'd with
each other in declaring that List
could neither have liked the compost
ton nor written the letter. When the
matter was brought to his attention
he Immediately wrote to one of the
composers:
IF this composition is considered
compromising, permit me to be com.
promised with you"
When Borodine visited him for the
first time in July, 1877, he said to him
You have written a beautiful sym
phony. The first movement il
perfect. The andante is a master
piece. Do not change anything
You have gone far ahead, it is true. but
IN that fact lies your particular merit
You have made no mistakes. Do not
listen to those who wish to hold VOL
| back. Believe me, you are on the
right road. Your artistic instinct is
such that you need not fear to ex.
press your originality"
Almost at the end Of his life Lisz,
still used his influence and enthusias n
IN favor of the young Russian com
posers. From Rome he wrote to the
Comtesse de ercy-Argenteau. one Of
the first to make their works known:
From the bottom of my heart
salute this intrepid phalanx of Rus
sian musicians. They are gifted with
extraordinary and vital energy and are
not sufferers from creative anemia. 5
disease which has spread through many
countries. Their merits will be recog
nized more and more. They will be
come famous. Their success.
will be crescendo in spite of the pres
ent attitude toward Russian music. i
IS not through eccentricity that l an
engaged in this propaganda, but be
cause of simple feeling of justice
based upon my conviction of the rea
value of these works, which are of {
high order"
1t was List, too, who wrote a Ions
letter to Cesar Franck, encouraging
= him, and offering to act as intermediary