• SONGS AND SONG-WRITERS.
In Songs and Song-Writers (John Murray, 59. net) Mr. Henry T. Finck, the able musical critic of the New York Evening Post, has given us a readable and suggestive volume, - marked throughout by a fearlessness, unconventionality, and enthu- siasm which command respect where they do not compel convic-
tion. Mr. Finck is no respecter of persons or reputations Readers of his work on Chopin will remember his antinomian views on the subject of Beethoven's sonatas. Here they will find him pronouncing most of that master's songs poor stuff, and writing down Brahms as " a great dressmaker, a musical Worth." Again, he does not hesitate to say that of his four favourite song-writers "two are living, and one is an American; the four being Schubert, Franz, Grieg, and MacDowell." The book is full of surprises, and if we may say so, not free from positive ineptitudes. Mr. Finck has not a judicial mind. But when he is in full sympathy with his subject his generous enthusiasm renders him a most genial and illuminating corn. mentator. 'I he chapter on Schubert, in particular, is ani- mated by a personal affection that appeals irresistibly to all lovers of that amazing genius. How many will re-echo the wish expressed in the sentence :—" If he could have lived but one more year, to set to music one more half-dozen or dozen of Heine's poems I am haunted and tortured by the words he spoke on his deathbed to Bauernfeld, 'Entirely new harmonies and rhythms are in my head.' But they were buried in his grave unborn." For what Mr. Finck has written of Schubert we gladly forgive him his unfortunate inability to appreciate Brahme, his depreciation of Beethoven and Schumann, and his somewhat con- temptuous references to Mendelssohn. Although the book covers a wide area, there are some strange omissions,—in particular, not a word is said of the wealth of Irish folk-songs or the admirable idealised versions of Hungarian tunes which we owe to Mr. Korbay. But no one who is interested in the subject should miss reading this book. It is the work of a sincere enthusiast of strong likes and dislikes, who never ventures on praise or blame without practical personal knowledge of the matter in hand.
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