Each successive work that emanates from Elgar's pen emphasizes his monumental command of polyphonic structure in its largest dimensions, clothed meanwhile in the most realistic of orchestral garments. It would be going too far to aver that Elgar approaches Richard Strauss as an orchestrator; on the other hand, it will hardly be questioned that there are three prominently conspicuous composers of the present day who, having put themselves in close touch with the ideals of Richard Wagner and agreeing to a more or less degree with the tenets of Richard Strauss, stand forth as the recognized vancouriers in their respective countries for the most advanced phase of orchestral art:—Elgar, Debussy, MacDowell.
[109] John Knowles Paine died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on April 25, 1906. He did not live to hear a complete performance of his opera, although after his death a concert rendition of most of the music was given as a memorial in Boston under the direction of B.J. Lang.
[110] The entire country mourns the premature death of Edward Alexander MacDowell, which occurred in New York on January 23, 1908.
[111] See [footnote], [page 173].
[112] "The Pipe of Desire," a romantic grand opera in one act by F.S. Converse, was twice performed in Boston early in 1906, and reveals significant command of the modern technics of orchestration.
[113] The recently performed "Pagan Poem" (op. 14) of Charles Martin Loeffler (1861) would indicate that a list of the world's representative masters of modern orchestration made up five years from now would include his name.
[114] Dr. Karl Muck was its conductor for the season of 1906-1907, and continues in the position for 1907-1908.
[115] Frederic Archer died since the above lines were written.
[116] The retirement of Professor Paine not long before his death, and the recent resignation of Assistant Professor Converse for the purpose of devoting himself to composition, leaves the department of music at Harvard in charge of Assistant Professor Spalding.