Evening star., 1933-07-30

spiration came to him In distinctive
hArmonies. He found a new way Of
combining the old material that not
only revolutionized composition but
pictured an angle Of everyday objects
that remained for his genius to discover
His harmonic venturesomeness and its
results IS now part Of the history of
music. To the piano he has brought
new charms, has unearthed in the hard,
monotone color Of the keys sound. q
richness OF bejeweled tones that can
reproduce the glowing prisms of the
| raindrop in the sun. the velvet notes of
soft wind and moving waters To the
interviewer volume of the orchestra he
has brought lightness and sparkling
glory OF light and shade that never was
imagined by the heavier manipulators
OF the pondrous instrument. TO the
voice he has given the lure of the mys-
tic. will O. the wisp beckoning of
romance.
Daniel Gregory Mason makes the
statement that Debussy is "the musi-
clan most beloved by the unmusical +"
This would seem to be the case when
one listens to the majority of his in
terpreters or to the enthusiasm Of
many audiences for the mediocre pres
entation Of his works What is the
reason of his popularity. and wherein
lies the shortcomings of Interpretation?
Debussy has occupied himself with
subjects and with form of expressing
them that carries an instructive ap-
peal. He has taken the material that
is familiar to every one and has given
it poetic and mystical form that re-
acts on the often unadmitted romantic
tendencies OF human nature He has
clothed it with sensuous beauty Of
melodic invention. which he formu-
lated by an expansion of musical ex-
preston. He has recorded the impress
sions of the moment without thought
Of what may come after. The ear is
charmed by the sound. the mind is
satisfied with the subject. there is no
need to think or to analyze. 1t is only
necessary to enjoy.
This is the external appeal of De-
busy This is what blinds the major
ity of performers and leads them to be-
lieve that a dainty touching Of the
keys or dexterity of movement is suf
ficient. 1t is something far more subtle
that gives life to Debussy's music The
correct interpreter of Debussy must be
his twin soul. He must be a special
ist in nuance. not Of the fingers and
keyboard. but in the nuance Of delicate
sentiment. He must see the magic
beauty Of the reflections on the surface
of pool with magnified clarity. thrill
to the quick darting of irridescent fish
or the soft fall Of rain on the Towering
loneliness of a garden.
Unless the imagination be quick
ened. the fibers of senSitiveness stim-
ulated and a clairvoyant brotherhood
with little things established. there can
be no correct Interpretation of the
music of Debussy. Such high re-
gard for infinitesimal effect. such care
not to mishandle the perishable essence
of the delicate material is necessary
that the ordinary musician should ap-
proach the Interpretation Of Debussy
with fear and awe. less the delicate
fabric disappear beneath clumsy
handling AS Debussy himself sought
for refinement, so also must his recrea-
tors seek refinement. both Of the spirit
and its mechanical expression. For
Debussy of all artists of our modern
times has made the most perfect music.
Others there are who are more heroic
more profound, mere passionate. but
none who have immortalised the fairy
land of music or permitted US to hear
the small melodies of tiny things that
is the very soul Of world harmony.