Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-11
VDS MODERN DRAMA IS CHILD OF CHURCH
SAINT SAEN'S LIFE
SET FORTH IN BOOK
Hervcy's w ork Carefully
Compiled and Is Undeni.
ably Authentic.

SAINT SAENS. BY Arthur Hcrvey
Dodd Mead Il Co.
The life and works OF tho great
French composer, who died within
the past year. are set forth painS-
'akingiy IN this volume of $50 pages
The writer appears 10 have known
saint Sacns personally and well. MIR
ii"rvey is AN Englishman, born in
1865. and his treatment OF the sub
j"ct is observed To display a slight
British bias.
Saint Sa"ns Is described az Il must
clan Of extraordinary versatility: al;
the age OF TWO years and six months
n" had absolute pitch tho ability 10
recognize aud din"rentiatc between
musical tones when heard from a dis
lance: At four years and seven
months. N" PLAYED the plan" part in
Beethoven sonata before a select
drawing room audience; at 10. he
gave a piano concert playing con-
rertS by Mozart and beethoven. with
ether selections. all from memory: a.
-. ne had composed a symphony Of
considerable. merit
Composed IL Operas.
distinguished equally a. piano
virtuo:o. composer Of orator,o and
opera. and as musical and literary
critic. Saint Sacns was an indcfai!-
gable worker. He Is shown to hay"
composed thirteen operas. nf,ecu
orat0rios and cantatas, eight sacred
works. masses and services. twenty
two orchestral symphonies and tn"
IKE" nearly a hundred songs, mum
crous trausrriptious besides pub
fishing thirteen literary WORKS. not-S.
ESSAYS ana Uritilu--
u is In the chapter entitled The
Artist" iha, MIR iIrrv.y IL at hi.
best. Great sImplicity. srsbuIty and
an entir. abSenc" OF ostentution he
says. were some OF The masters
prominent characteristics. lie Mas
always perfectly natural: as CON
vcrsa,ioualist- unapproachable POS
scssing an encyclopedia knowledge on
most subjects he was an irresist-
ably fascinating "Causeur." his con-
versation being punctuatcd by sal
los ~ wit Ills words fash from
MIN like sparks from an anvil"
MusIcaliy. Saint Saens is a pre-
ominentIv representative ~ the
French race as Brahms is of the
Teurnuic. with something az the
cosmopolitan about him which
Brahms did not have Hanslick. tine
famous Vlcunese critic. is quoted "a
r..
saint Saons is the first musician who.
no, hcing q German has written
uure instrumental music. and created
in that lin" original and vslua bio
works. m" reputation nf which nave
passed beyond the limits of France"
Gounud said of him tina, "he could
write at Will work In tho style Of
Rossini. ~ Verdi or Of Wagner
compliment 20 his great versatility.
Independent In Thought.
His Independence OF thought, his
complex musical personality. his
absolutely unique qualities Of mind
and musical resource. shown by his
success In so many and varied fields
OF composition. are commented upon,
Saint Saens believed that the drama
was progressing towards SYN
thesis Of different elements song de-
clsmation and symphony blending in
an equilibrium which seek. and
which others will one day find" Con
trary 10 his views. the trend has
been in quite another direction. all
81 these elements having apparently
hocn abandoned In modern operate
composition.
There is an interesting discussion
az he composers greater works
with an account OF their reception
and relative success. Samson a.
Dalila is characterized as his opcr-
attic masterpiece. revealing his genius
in the greatest measure. The author
says, TO have written an opera liz, .
Samson and Deiilah.' which has
obtained world success. is sum
Client achievement In Itself yet Il
seems great pity that the other
operas OF Saint Saens should be 81
neglected" lie refers. in this re,
gard 10 Henry VIII Pros.rpinr
Etienne Marcel, Ascanio.. and others
Much Of Mr. Hervey's work Is
heavy reading. but II Is carefully
complied and undeniably authentic
lie has done his work well.
j. c. IL