César Franck

Author(s): Gavin Brown

Source: The Musical Times, Vol. 96, No. 1343 (Jan., 1955), p. 34
Published by: Musical Times Publications Ltd.
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/933594
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34 THE MUSICAL TIMES January 1955

Lettersto the Editor

Correspondents are reminded that letters intended for publication should arrive not
later than the 5th of the month preceding the date of issue. It would be appreciated
if such letters were kept as short as possible.
'Don Giovanni'
I notice that the compilers of your 'Christmas
Musical Quiz' have made the usual mistake over the
title of the opera usually known as 'Don Giovanni'.
The correct title is ' I Dissoluto Punito Ossia il Don
Giovanni'.
RALPH VAUGHANWILLIAMS
VegetarianismAmong Musicians
Your reviewer of Dr. Scholes's 'Oxford Junior
Grainger's'vegetarian vigour' out of place in a work
of this kind. I agree, but possibly your reviewerdoes
not realizethat Dr. Scholes has long held as notable a
position in the vegetarian as he does in the musical
world. This is not the first time that he has ' dragged
in' vegetarianisminto musical criticism-with enter-
tainingresults-and I have before me a lectureby him
entitled 'Some Aesthetic and EverydayReflectionson
the VegetarianSystem of Diet' (London Vegetarian
Society, 1931)much of which is devoted to the ' Musi-
cians' Testimony' to the value of vegetarianism(W.
Gillies Whittaker,Frank Merrick and Percy Grainger
are the chief witnesses). I quote the reference to
Grainger:
. . . as he travels great distances by night to give
stringsof recitalsand alwayslooks the samevigorous
Viking, his example constitutes another ounce of
proof that mental and bodily well-being are quite
possible on a meatless diet.'
Dr. Scholes also appeals to the example of musicians
of the past and for once Wagner wins a point over
sausage-eatingBach:
'Wagner probably refused sausages, for he was
(theoretically,at any rate) a vegetarianand when it
was intendedhe should revisit London in the last
year of his life, received,I believe,an invitationto be
the guest at a banquet of the Vegetarian Society.
But Bach almost certainlyate sausages....'
It is curious to recall that Hitler, who derivedmuch of
his racialisttheory from Wagner(via Houston Stewart
Chamberlain)was also a strictvegetarian.
STANLEY GODMAN
Lewes.
Cesar Franck
The time has come to protest against some of the
editions of Cesar Franck's organ works that have
appearedin recent years, following, it would seem, the
expiryof his copyright. In these editionshis music and
his registrationinstructionshave been hacked about in
a manner that would cause a justifiableoutcry, were
similar treatmentto be meted out to the organ music
of Bach and earliercomposers. We know that Franck
sometimes makes excessive demands on an ordinary
pairof humanhands,and also that registrationdesigned
for a late nineteenth-centuryFrench organ requires
common-sensemodificationwhen we come to play his
music on a modernEnglishinstrument;but this surely
does not justify the wanton 'improving' of his music
which has been going on at the handsof the poor man's
latter-dayeditors. A particularlyobjectionablefeature
of these editions has been the introduction of that
occupational disease of English organists, namely
' soloing' (particularlythe 'bringing out' of odd little
bits in the left hand) where Franck has not asked
for it.
Why can we not leave the original Durand edition
alone, and trust the player (or his teacher) to make
the necessarymodifications? He wollld not distortthis
lovely music any more than these editors have done.
GAVIN BROWN
Hove.
Tracker Action
Trackertouch necessarilyincludes the factor of top
resistance:the pluckof the palletmustfirstbe overcome,
then the key falls readily: this, with electric action,
exactly simulates the best tracker action touch. The
top resistance sustains a weight of 4 ounces, after a
depression of 3/32 in. representingthe pluck of the
pallet-the touch lightens by use of a toggle action
and the key is held down by a weight of 2i ounces.
Mr. Marleycan only base his opinion on experience
of inferiortubular-pneumaticand electric key touches
of the springtype.
HENRYWILLIS

THE AMATEURS' EXCHANGE

Under this heading we insert, free of charge, announcements by amateur musicians who wish to co-operate
with others especially in the private performance of chamber music.
Two amateur orchestrasmeeting in Paddingtonarea, Violinists wish to meet experienced pianist for the
Monday (7.30-9.30)and Tuesday (7-9), have vacan- playing of chamber music.-Wallington (Surrey)
cies for strings, woodwind and brass.-Mr. J. 3133 or 6452.
PILBERY, 48 St. Ervans Road, W.10 (LAD 5601). Surbiton Symphony Orchestrarequiresmore players,
Amateur orchestrarehearsingin the St. Pancras dis- especially cellists and bassoonists.-P. G. ROSE,
trict on Sunday afternoons requires a cellist and 44 Norton Avenue, Surbiton (ELMbridge1420).
trumpetplayer,both of good standard.-CONDUCTOR, Tenor, good sight-reader,required for madrigal and
37 Kendal Avenue, Edmonton,N.18 (EDM 1530). motet group rehearsingFridays, 7.30, Fallowfield,
Instrumentalistsrequired for small orchestra playing Manchester.-H. M., c/o MusicalTimes.
chiefly eighteenth-century music. Rehearsals, Symphony orchestrameeting at 7.45 each Wednesday
Finchley, Thursdays, 7.15.-Dr. CLIFFORD HODGES, in Stonebridge area has vacancies for strings,
41 Fieldway Crescent,N.5. especially violas and cellos, flute, horns, bassoon
Pianist would like pen friends abroad.-Mr. J. T. and brass.-E. C. GROOM,184 All Souls Avenue,
SAVAGE,12 Ashford Road, Cricklewood, N.W.2. N.W.10 (WIL 6421).
Oboe player wishes to join good small orchestra or WagnerSymphonyOrchestra(conductor,Siegfriedde
chamber group playing on Monday or Thursday Chab6t) has vacanciesfor advancedstring and horn
evenings not too far from Central London.-P. P., players. Rehearsals, Salle Erard, Fridays, 2.30.-
c/o Musical Times. SECRETARY,2 Lancaster Court, Newman Street, W.1.

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