The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-04-04
Our Musical Critic
Defends Himself
Against Californian
By ALFRED v. FRANKENSTEIN. !

BY ALFRED V. FRANkENSTEIN.
Violent protest against the musi-
cal criticism of this writer has come
to the DAILY WORKER Offices in
the form of letter from Comrade
Sam Milder, of San Pedro, Cali
fornia. Comrade Milder says: Gle
(Frankenstein) reveals himself as
unintelligent and uniformed in music
matters ny granting approval only
to the modern composers; the old
masters without exception, receive
surprisingly puerile sneers and un-
explained abuse from him. This, l
contend, is NO adequate criterion for
criticism, an0 l hope you will con-
slider this matter for the sake Of
the music lovers who are enhghten-
ed enough, also, on more worldly
matters to read the only working
class daily in America"
We plead partly guilty to the in
dictment. What our comrade is try
ing to say is that he disagrees with
our point cf view. He likes old
music, so do we, but we vastly pre-
fer the moderns. There is nothing
sneering in our attitude, and no UNI
explained abuse. If Bach concerto
puts us to sleep we say SO.
1924 Versus 1924.
The criteria of criticism Of this
writer are his own views and likes in
music, as developed by what train
ing and experience he has had. In
his view, the art of music has been
gradually developing since early
times. The music Of the present is
better than that of the past because
of this development. Just as the
orchestra OF 1924 is capable of
thousand fold richer and more beau
tiful effects than the primitive or
chestra of 1924, so the music of The
twentieth century is a finer product
artistically and esthetically viewed
than the music of The seventeenth
century.
We are by 10 means alone in this
view. For example, we quote from
Rimsky-Korsakoff's autobiography
(Knopf edition, page 49,, Mozart
and Haydn were considered out of
date and naive; J. S. Bach was held
to be petrifed, yes, even a mere
musico-mathematical, feelingless and
dead nature, composing ike a very
machine. Handel was considered 4
strong nature, but he was mentioned
very rarely Chopin was likened by
Balakireff t. nervous society lady,
These are the opinions of what our
comrade terms the "old masters
held by Balakireff, Cui, Borodin and
Musorgski. These men were some
of the greatest musical gcniuses of
Russia, land fertile of genius. Are
these "unintelligent and uninformed
men, and are their opinions to be
held as 'puerile sneers' and 'unex
planned abuse?'"
Praised Bach Once.
The condemnation of the "oiC
masters" quoted above, coming from
men who knew beyond cavil whereof
they thought and spoke is fal
stronger .han anything This writer
has published in the DAILY WORK
Err. Comrade Milder may remember
that we praised highly J.. S. Bach's
"St. Matthew's Passion" and VIZ
should have given the stamp of oul
most important approval to Han
del's oratorios and the symphonic:
of Mozart and Haydn mad any beer
performed.
Yes, Comrade Milder, we are
biased in favor of the n;oderns. W.
would much sooner hear Prol1ofeff',
Glove For Three Oranges" owe
aOain than Ch1cIr'a "C-rnheus - Arr
Gustav Mahler's seventh symphony
would attract us far more power
fully than the "Jupiter" Of Mozart
Why preference for modern musi,
should call on our head your wrati
and vituperation passes the bound
of the understanding given to oul
unintelligent and puerile intellect, bu
it causes Us great grief and anguish
of soul.