Musical Interpretation, Its Laws and Principles; And Their Application in Teaching and Performing - Tobias Matthay

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 edition. Excerpt: ... and thought as the best of us to-day, and probably far more so! Indeed, is it not evident, that it is just because they had such phenomenal Enthusiasm for their art, because they had such phenomenal feeling and vitality--and reasoning power--that they were able to give us such masterpieces? Then again, the records we have of their playing, are they records of Mendelssohnian cold glitter? Do we not read just the contrary? Yet it is pretended by some, to-day, that it is not "classical" to put any human emotion into Beethoven or Bach!... Indeed, there are some signs lately that Chopin--of all people--is soon to be relegated to the realm of the cold and dead--and "classic."1 1 But what a misunderstanding of a term! Should not "classical" signify that perfect balance of the emotional and the intellectual which is the very foundation of all true art? There is no such "balance" if we delete the emotional. in giving Now, please do not misunderstand me to maintain that emotional Beethoven and Bach are to be treated in the manner of life, shape. must not be Schumann, Brahms, Chopin and Debussy! It is true, indeed, lost sight of. that the more shapely, the more architectural the music, the less ornately may it be treated. To smudge over the majestic arches, columns and domes of a really fine cathedral with tinselly colors and gew-gaws, is of course nothing short of a crime. But do not let us pretend that we can see the cathedral without light--without the strong shadows and colors, and mysteries--and rhythm--which light brings with it! As I have already said, in playing great works, works continuous and large in their construction, such as are Beethoven's, we must often restrain the impulse to color each...