THE FORERUNNERS OF SCARLATTI, BACH, AND HANDEL

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21416, 7 March 1935, Page 9

THE FORERUNNERS OF SCARLATTI, BACH, AND HANDEL

TO THE EDITOE OF THE PRESS. Sir,—The above subject must interest ' many people in Christchurch besides the two musicians that have taken part in it. I hold no brief for either side, but it did seem to me that Mr Stanford's original article did somewhat under-value seventeenth century music in general, and English music of that time in particular. Mr Stanford apparently takes his stand with men like Parry writing in the 'nineties. On these subjects, however, has not critical opinion changed considerably since the "Oxford History of Music" came out? Thus in the 'nineties when Parry's contribution to that work appeared, it was universally held that Monteverde's revolt against the technical restrictions of the Palestrina School had certainly made Bach and his successors possible; but that Monteverde's own compositions were worthless and had not survived. Those who follow the "Musical Times," however, will know that revivals of Monteverde's operas have lately taken place in England, and that his music is now to be reckoned with for its own sake, and not as a mere matter of antiquarianism. Monteverde's stocks have risen considerably on the musical market, and so with his century in general. In Parry's day Purcell had certainly not come into his own. Dr. Ernest Walker's "History of Music" in England, which appeared about 1907, was (I think) the first to appreciate Pit cell fully in public, though it was Plircel.l the opera composer rather than the anthem writer that he was most enthusiastic about. Since thou Purcell has had a great revival, so that his vogue is even in danger of being overdone. Mr Stanford's article certainly did seem just a little unappreciative of Purcell. Not, however, that he said anything against him, but only that he seemed to overlook this great English sun that was lighting up the "dark and gloomy valley" of seventeenth century music. And here might I ask whether Dr. Bradshaw could not give us just a little more Purcell at the Cathedral. I am deeply grateful for all the fine music that we get there, but would it not be possible for us to hear such works of Purcell as "Jehovah quam multi"—to English words of course—■ a little more often than we do. The Bell anthem is fine, but there are finer ones still by Purcell. Thanking your two correspondents for their interesting discussion.—Yours, etc., SENEX. March 6, 1935.