Evening star., 1933-06-18

but to students of music in general and par
ticularly to composers. Brahms technical skill
and imaginative logic are SO extraordinary, his
grasp is so firm on all the elements of style.
and especially rhythna-so fundamental to
musical plastic, and so comparatively neglected
in our day-that the study of his works car
hardly fail to prove highly nberating ana
stimulating to all open minds" The treatment
of the chamber music OF Brahms is under four
periods: Youth, Young Manhood, Mastership
and The Last years. To the first period be-
longs the Trio in Major, Opus g. the first
work in the great series of "a masterpieces,
which first performed in America. In the
''SeXtet IN B Flat, Opus 49," of the same pc
riod, DR.. Mason sees Brahms definitely taking
the step from childhood to manhood" The
second <Iod saw the production of the Cello
Sonata in Minor Opus 49," the first of the
seven sonataS for piano with solo instruments
that Brahms considered worthy of pres
ervation" the Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano.
Opus 4o'' and the Quartet in Minor, Opus
81, No. 2" In the two later periods, to which
belong respectively the &C Major Trio Opus
ST. and the Violin Sonata in D Minor, Opus
108," youthful fancy is exchange for mature
imagination and then for increasing depth Of
intellectual content and emotional concentra-
ton. In the works of his last year supreme
mastery attains its moment Of equilibrium with
temperamental vitality before that is touched
by the inevitable waning of energy of old age"
The Chamber Music Of Brahms" with its
analytical study of "a chamber music works
is distinguished contribution to the scholar
ly literature of music, and appropriate trib-
ute to the hundredth anniversary of the birth
of Brahms
A CALENDAR OF SAINTS FOR UNBE-
LEVERS. By Glenway Wescott. New York:
Harper & Brothers.
A SAINT for every day in the wear ranv
of them obscure saints to the laity, with
a tabloid biography of each, is the plan
Of this unique calendar, which makes a small
volume. Glenway Weslott warns that it is not
A learned work, but one would have mistaken
it for such Neither is it pious work; nor
yet altogether frivolous, hippant work like
Votaire's Philosophical Dictionary" It is
partly serious, following traditions, with more
than an occasional touch of irony. only a
half dozen ordinary books" with especial ap-
preciative mention of Lucy Merzies' The
Saints in Italy" claimed as photography
The mood is changeable sometimes admiring
sometimes of "distaste for self-revelation
and for self-sacrifice. They both do seem to
defeat their causes On the whole the atti-
tude is that of more or less sympathetic un
believer. The joy of book like the present
one is that the really important af1irmations are
those of large part of the human race dur
ing two-thirds of It's history; what matter
who believes and who does not?" Some of the
miniature biographies are very brief; some, like
that Of ST. Francis of Assist are several pages
long. One two examples Of the short ones
may be given. st. Rose of Viterbo (died 1882:
"A child prodigy who engaged in politics
the side of the Guelphs. In the city where she
lived her body still lies nagnif1cently dressed,
the hands covered with rings, and one can
that she was beautiful" ST. Pancras Fourth
century,: This Phrygian boy would not deny
his faith, and for centuries after his death came
and tormented those who swore falsely ST.
Lioba eighth century,: An Anglo-Saxon poet
ess patronized by Charlemagne and his wife.
They invited her to live with them; life in a
convent suited her better" st. Anicetus (sec-
ond century,: This pope is greatly admired
for having remained friends with ST. Polycarp
in spite of their disagreement about the date
Of Easter. 1t the great Marcus Aurelius
who had him put to death" Mr.. wescotts
Calendar" is clever, but not as clever as Ed
gar Lee Masters Spoon River Anthology"
to whose type it belongs.
GHOSTS OF LONDON BY Elliott o'Donnen.
New York: E. P Duttcn 6c Co.
| IENRY JAMES Turn of the Screw"
masterpiece ghost story surprising all
others in concealed horror is not a story to
read late at night, especially if you have
windows opposite your bed through which you
are likely to see evil faces peeping at you when
ever you open your eyes. Ghosts of London"
is not such subtle, elusive imaginative tale as
The Turn of the Screw nor is it written by
a Henry James. 1t is a volume Of stories and
historical information about the authentic
ghosts OF London, if ghosts may be authentic
Nome