Methods of Composition
XII. Sense of Humor
XIII. Missa Solemnis
XIV. Ninth Symphony
XV. Capacity for Friendship
XVI. The Day's Trials
XVII. Last Quartets
XVIII. In the Shadows
XIX. Life's Purport
WAGNER'S INDEBTEDNESS TO BEETHOVEN
INDEX
CHAPTER I
EARLY PROMISE
God acts upon earth only by means of superior chosen men.
--HERDER: _Ideas Toward a History of Mankind_.
As life broadens with advancing culture, and people are able to
appropriate to themselves more of the various forms of art, the artist
himself attains to greater power, his abilities increase in direct ratio
with the progress in culture made by the people and their ability to
comprehend him. When one side or phase of an art comes to be received,
new and more difficult problems are invariably presented, the
elucidation of which can only be effected by a higher development of the
faculties. There is never an approach to equilibrium between the artist
and his public. As it advances in knowledge of his art, he maintains the
want of balance, the disproportion that always exists between the genius
and the ordinary man, by rising ever to greater heights.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25