Evening star., 1943-02-07
Spanish Music
Origins Traced
In New Book
Bv Alice Epersuau.

Spanish music has had an extraor-
dinary appeal for musicians of all
nationalities, yet it is doubtful If
many Of the composers initiating the
intriguing rhythms and gay melo-
dies knew their history or their
origin. Gilbert Chase, who has
spent some IA years Of his life In
intensive study of the subject, has
compiled vast amount OF interest
ing information in his book, THE
Music of Spain" From the detailed
manner In which he has written, the
great natural musical inclination
and rich heritage OF the Spanish
people reveal them as unequaled
by any other nation in the continual
love and cultivation of music. Theirs
is music that is thoroughly a part
Of their daily lives and that for
centuries. It's art form development
is traced in his book, published by
WV. Norton Co. Of New York to
the present day and to the expo
nents whose names are currently
familiar to the whole musical world
with clarity and sympathetic in
sight.
Many influences were extended on
Spanish music from its earliest days
which Mr.. Chase sets in the 9Th
century. The church. the Moorish
invasion, the influx of foreign ideas
with changing rulers, the Renais-
sance itself and the dominance of the
Italian style, all were reflected in the
character of the musical efforts of
nearly every province in Spain, yet
understanding how these influences
naturally would be felt the aston
ishing part Of this musical history
Of a nation is the strength of its
own talent and the virility of its
expression.
Mr.. Chase has gone about the
arranging Of his material with
methodical' care taking time to
describe each epoch, its style and
its most illustrious men In such a
manner as to establish an accord
with the reader from the very be-
ginning.
The origin of many of the forms
which now are identified with the
music Of prominent contemporary
Spanish composers is clearly indi-
Gated and show how deeply rooted
in the National life they have always
been and how they have served con-
tinuously as inspiration in the de-
velopment Of every department Of
music. Music of the church, the
theater and concert hall and that
Of the people themselves are all
treated with equal thoroughness so
that the various elements fall into
place in the latest art forms.
The Importance of the guitar is
not minimized in Mr.. Chase's expo
sition, nor the dances that from time
lmmemorial have played such q
prominent role in the artistic life of
Spain. Moreover he has taken prov
ince by province, explaining their
geographical situation, the influ-
ences at work within their barriers
and the specialties native to each.
When Europe in general succumbed
to some new trend its reaction on
Spain and its musicians is analyzed.
The growth of certain branches of
music, such as the opera, is traced
with keen insight and with a clear
portraiture of the men who spon-
sored it,
The name and history Of every
individual responsible for the prog
ress of Spanish music is included
so that the book becomes an ency-
clopedia in the range of its infor-
nation. While the writing is nee
essarily compact in dealing with the
earlier periods, the author expands
into most entertaining style in the
chapters devoted to Albeniz, Gra-
nados, De Falla and the younger
generation Of musicians.
Mr.. Chase, who is connected at
present with the Library of Con-
gress, has been a valuable contrib
utor in his writings to musical
appreciation, but In none has he
excelled the erudite and instructive
contents OF his Music Of Spain"