Evening star., 1935-01-09
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
THE VICTOR HOoK OF THE SYM
PHONY, by Charles O'Conneil.
New York: Simon ~ SchuSter, Inc.
Margaret Cermond.

THE VICTOR HOoK OF THE SYM
PHONY, by Charles O'Conneil.
New York; Simon ~ Schustsr, Inc.
Here is q volume for which, 1t may
be truly said, millions Of Americans
have been hoping. A few years ago
it would not have attracted general
interest. for before the advent Of
radio as medium for the broadcast
ing Of entertainment, only 3 small
fraction Of the vast population OF this
country had ever enjoyed the privi-
lege OF hearing symphonic music. To-
day the small traction Is composed OF
those who have not listened 70 pro-
grams from the worlds greatest COM
poSers. presented by the most famous
symphony orchestras Of the age under
the batons of maeStri Of international
renown. The development and perfec-
tion Of recorded music that followed
rapidly upon the invention of the talk
| ing machine widened the circle OF
privileged listeners. and then came the
radio TO introduce to the masses the
works Of masters whose genius for the
translation Of the component spiritual
and emotional elements Of mankind
into imaginative and poetic themes for
symphonic expression has satisfied the
need for beauty Of which all humanity
iss to some degree conscious.
Until now it has not been possible
for the average convert to good music
to secure q collection Of understand
able interpretations and descriptions
of the symphonies, concertos and
other classics with which they have
become acquainted. Many books
have. of course, been published. and
most of them have been splendid ad-
ditions to the libraries of musicians,
students and those already possessing
an intelligent understanding of the
art. In fact there has been but very
little demand until the past few years
for such an invaluable volume as the
one which Mr.. OConnell has pro-
duced. 1t has been written In recog-
milton of the need which the rapid
growth Of interest in symphonic and
other forms OF classic music has
created, and it has been designed with
view to giving the fullest possible
understanding to the novice as well
as TO the accomplished musician. For
each great symphonic works it answers
the questions: Who? What? Where?
! When? How?
In foreword bearing a facsimile
of his fantastic signature. Leopold
StokowskL world famed maestro, says:
The rapid growth of interest in
orchestral and operate music all over
the United States and in all the other
countries Of the world where the
European system of music is the
musical language makes the new book
of Charles O'Connell of ever-inereas-
ling value.
For those who like to listen to
music in the concert hall, and equally
for those who by necessity or prefer
ence hear symphonic and operate
music by radio and by records, this
book can be q friendly and intimate
guide.
In simple language it gives the
technical background of symphonic
music, so that even an inexperienced
music lover can understand and enjoy
it. In reading it his mind and emo
tions will be stimulated so that his
pleasure in listening TO the music
afterwards will be greater.
The parts of this book which tell
Of the imaginative and poetic side of
music are in themselves a kind of
music expressed through words.
One has the impression that the
author feels that music is chiefly a
thing of senSuous pleasure and that.
no matter how great or small may
be the technical knowledge of the
hearer. music should be enjoyed
through the senses and the imagina-
ton.
Except in purely program music,
the book does not paint pictures or
tell stories about music, but aims to
suggest images and lines of thought
that will give the music lover q point
of departure for his own imaginative
flight
This book is equally interesting
and illuminating to the professional
musician as TO the music lover who
has not yet had the opportunity of
studying the nature of music tech
nically, but whose pleasure In listen
ing TO music will be increased if his
! imagination and emotions are pre-
pared and stimulated by some one
| who approaches music as directly
and yet as profoundly as Charles
! O'Connell."
ion of the book Is in the reading. In
addition to the glowing tribute he
pays to the work of MIR. O'Connell, it
| also exercises that compelling power
of fascination peculiar to all superior
books of knowledge.
More than two hundred and forty
| orchestral selections are included in
the volume. with the spiritual and
technical significance of each one
given full and concise Interpretation
in simple terms and phrases that
command immediate understanding.
They represent the genius of nearly
seventy of the worlds great COM
poserS, ranging from Bach, Beethoven.
Mozart. Hadyn, Wagner, Dvorak,
! Tschaikowsky, Schubert, Mendelssohn
and other giants of inspirational
music whose creations have become
immortal, to Sibelius, de Fslla, Bloch,
Szostakowicz and others who are
living in the present age.
An interesting section in the first
part of the book is devoted to an ex-
position on the modern symphony
orchestra and its instrumental COM
ponentS. with full descriptions and
illustrations of the instruments and
how and why they are used. Another
chapter deals with the modern phon-
ograph and radio and the influence
which the development of mechanical
transmission of music has exerted
! upon the inventive genius of the en-
gineers and technicianS. who are un-
ceasingly at work upon the perfection
of these sensitive instruments for the
reproduction Of sound. There are por-
traits of a number Of eminent COM
posers, and also of some of the ia
! nous conductors in America. includ-
ing Leopold Stokowski, Arturo Tos-
canini, Serge Koussevitsky, Walter
Damrosch, Eugene Ormandy. Ossip
Gabrilowitsch, Frederick Stock and
Artur Rodzinski.
Each chapter is headed with an