1885.] Professor Ernst Paiier on Living Composers, dc. 171 



WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, 



Friday, January 30, 1885. 



Sir Frederick Pollock, Bart. M.A. Manager and Vice-President, 



in the Chair. 



Professor Ernst Pauer. 



A short review of the Woi'hs of Living Composers for the Pianoforte. 



The Musical Illustrations were given by Mr. Max Pauer. 



The lecturer began by observing that it is a matter of great difficulty 

 to become acquainted with new musical works ; with musicians it is 

 not like with authors, whose works are reported and criticised in the 

 different magazines, and are afterwards perused by an eager public 

 through the means of the circulating libraries. It requires a great 

 amount of technical efficiency and musical knowledge to execute and 

 read satisfactorily a new pianoforte piece — and even when such 

 physical and mental powers are possessed, it is generally only a very 

 small circle which can profit by it. 



In the public concerts a very strong feeling of conservatism exists 

 with regard to the composition of concert-programmes, the general 

 public really and truly not caring to listen to new works of composers 

 whose names are not yet universally accredited. In this respect, the 

 painters and sculptors enjoy a most decided advantage — their works 

 are to be seen either in the great annual Exhibition of the Eoyal 

 Academy or in one or the other of the numerous smaller galleries, 

 and thus the public is able to become acquainted with the talent and 

 genius of English, French, Belgian, German, Italian, Eussian, 

 Norwegian, &c., painters ; excellent notices are written by competent 

 critics and appear in the principal daily papers, enabling the public 

 who are fond to be guided in such matters, to detect what is to be 

 admired and praised, and what on the other hand may be treated with 

 comparative indifference. To hold a similar small exhibition of 

 musical cabinet-pictures and to add some verbal critical notes is 

 attempted this evening. The chosen works show the individuality 

 and characteristic talent of the composers. Several well-known and 

 justly famous composers — still living — have been omitted — for 

 instance Franz Liszt, Wilhelm Taubert, Stephen Heller, Adolph 

 Henselt, Niels Gade — all these musicians have attained an age 

 ranging between 65 and 75 years, and thus belong more to the past 

 than to the present generation. It is also necessary to leave out 



