hiIISIO&L BOOKS.
What is Good Music ? By W. J. Henderson. (John Murray.)— This little book of American origin should be read by every one who regards music as a great and serious art, but who has not studied it specially. The author deals in separate chapters with forms, polyphonic and operatic ; as well as with the sensuous, intellectual, and emotional aspects of music. Throughout the author shows a fine judgment and taste, and is able to look upon the art as a whole, and so do justice to manifestations as widely differing as Wagnerian opera and string quartets. The un- learned reader need have no fear that if he reads this book he will be bothered with " modes " or " stretti," or any other musical terrors, ancient or modern. The second part of the book deals with the performance of music, and is full of interesting things. To the masterly analysis of the playing of Paderewski we could wish added an inquiry into the style of Joachim. The descrip- tion of the technique of the former artist is so interesting that a description of that of the latter could not fail to be so as well.
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