Interludes. Seven Lectures delivered between the years 1891 and 1897
by the late Henry Charles Bannister. (Bell and Sons.) —The author was a musician of great learning and of conserva- tive instincts. He seemed to regard greatness in music as ending with Mendelssohn, or, at any rate, regarded with the utmost sus- picion the tendency of modern music. Time alone can judge. But we must always recognise the danger of warnings against the abandonment of classic tradition ; for were not Mozart and Beethoven both considered anarchic by the conservatives of their day ? The last lecture, giving a general review of English music and musicians during the present reign, is highly interesting.
Among the many services rendered to art by Mendelssohn was his advocacy of Bach. It was through him and his friend Stern.. dale Bennett that Bach became known to us. It now seems incredible to be told that fifty years ago even musicians knew next to nothing of this great composer, and of the compositions they did know, Mr. Bannister says that they "largely considered them rather as unmelodious, structural curiosities, than as real musical inspirations." In the lectures on" Movement Structure" and "Counterpoint in Free Composition" the author speaks as an accomplished musical scholar.
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