Piano and Song Part 12

You say that our times are in need of your three trifles, _and_ the necessary knowledge and experience. _Voila tout!_

As for Prince Louis Ferdinand, Dussek, Clementi, Himmel, Hummel, C.M.v.

Weber, Beethoven, &c.,--who has not heard all about them?

After them, comes the period of "piano fury," and the compositions appropriate for it. Now the three trifles required are _distorted_ taste, _hypocritical_ feeling, and a _depraved_ ear, combined with the necessary superficiality and some power of production. _Voila tout!_

After that, musicians bethink themselves once more of the genuine three trifles, and return to reason, and we are allowed to take delight in Chopin, Mendelssohn, Fr. Schubert, Robert Schumann, and a few others of the same sort, and again in Beethoven.

These were succeeded by mere dry imitators; they were not, however, of much significance.

Finally, the very latest progress introduces a still more extravagant piano fury. The three trifles are now _distorted_ taste, _no_ feeling, and _no_ ear for tone; and with these are required the necessary audacity, immeasurable vanity, senseless exhibitions of strength, a poor touch upon the piano, and what they call "intellect." The compositions are now embellished with appropriate pictures on the cover, and with attractive t.i.tle-pages. In addition, there is much talk about a "higher beauty," "the stand-points which have been already surmounted,"

"artistic flights," and the "misunderstanding of the inner consciousness," "Genius must be free," &c.

My old conservative friend, you are seen through. Your influence, and more especially your ideas about singing, belong only to a past age.

They date from the last century. You will be derided with your Jenny Lind and Henrietta Sontag. They are lifeless images of singers, to be kept in a gla.s.s case. Are you willing to remain ignorant of the magnificent modern style of voice? Can you not go forward with the advancing age? Progressive philosophers will rap you over the knuckles.

You imagine that our times will stop for a couple of lectures! You will yet have to learn what "intellect" signifies. In short, I should not like to stand in your shoes. You should conclude your book with "Pater, peccavi."

Even in misfortune,

Your sympathizing friend,

_V.E._