"cougunaren, MUSICIANS, PAST. AND Present."—By Hubert Whelbourn, 'a! Werner Laurie Ltd, For come peculiar reason a little Knowledge about the composer of an exquisite piece of music always adds to its enjoyment, and with real Jausic being brought' now so intimately into the lives of the masses book such as that which Mr. Whelbourn has written should prove particularly valuable. In a little over 200 pages a swift survey the big figures of music is given in manner which is particularly in-Yeresting. In no case is more than a few pages given to any one] composer, but by a very judicious} handling of his facts, in an exceptionally readable style, a wealth of] information is conveyed not only about the subject of the note but of 8 major works. The majorly of 'Mz. Whelbourn's findings would seem correct, though some of them have yet to' be proved by time, but no Une would go very far wrong in Adopting his estimates of modern compoters. His enthusiasm for Sir} Edward Elgar will be shaved by all who know his music, the product of man entirely self-taught in his art, but who undoubtedly, as the author remarks "brought" musical] Gistinetion to this country (Eng-Jand), at a time when it was badly need of a great composer."
His reference to the Preludes of Chopin is, just as graphic, "It has been said that if destruction threatened the whole of Chopin's works, one might pray that the prelacies be saved from the wreck, Sor they exemplify all the moods of humanity." If that were printed as: a foreword to the preludes and their reproduction on. gramophone records it would be better than the Jame interpretations which so often fare foisted on people who are then jone to interpret along indicated ines, rather than explore all the snysteries of his writing for themselves, This last remark, however may be just as incorrect as Schumann's estimate of Bach and Wagner. Of Bach he once wrote inhere is no getting near Bach, he unfathomable; and of Wagner "There is Wagner, who has just Snished another opera (Tannhausx), undoubtedly a clever fellow, fall of crazy ideas "and bold to degree,.. Ideclare he cannot write or imagine four consecutive bars that are melodious or ever correct."
It is that sort of difference between contemporaneous opinion and the verdict of history that makes music so absorbing in its more argumentative aspects. Mr. Whel-Bourn does not argue—that is not within the scope of his work—but hes written much of a great] interest in a most attractive form, may te doing more for the Gopular appreciation of good music than can probably be realized at this time.—RrP-c.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.