THE CRITIC CRITICISED.

Evening Star, Issue 3673, 30 November 1874, Page 2

THE CRITIC CRITICISED.

To the Editor. Sib, —Your contemporary the * Daily Times’ has a very extraordinary class of correspondents —I wonder where they dwell —for no matter whether they write on politics, morals, education, or music, their style of thought smells of toe hospital : it is diseased as if they were suffering from monomania or bile. “ Master Humphrey” carried his crotchets to England; a writer who signs himself “ M.” has brought his with him from somewhere. He constitutes himlike Hudibras, a champion to avenge the insulted iu Dunedin by absurd criticisms on Madame Goddard’s concerts, in which he says one thing one day, and the next complimeats us ordinary men by saying, if we had wit to read *• between the lines ” we should have discovered “all the previous statement about himself, and his “ previous acquaintance with Madame Goddard’s performances were fictitious.” That some of his statements are not true, I know; that others were snobbish, everybody may know who reads them ; that they were intentional mis statements he tills us; that his protest expresses only his own opinion and perhaps that of one or two self-asserting judges of what is classical, anyone who understands music may easily see. Ido not undervalue the works of the masters of whom he speaks,’ but I see no reason why musicians liko Madame Goddard should bo condemned because they give pleasure to those who have not learnt to appreciate them. With just as much reason should Professor Sale or 1 rofessor Macgregor be required always to speak in Latin or Greek, because they have the credit with some of being superior to Rnghsh as classical tongues. But the iujustice and ignorance as well as the spleen of shown in his remarks respecting ihe Harmonious Blacksmith.” In his enumeration of classic writers he has omitted its composer Handel, who,in the estimation of competent judges, is clearly entitled to rank with the best of those named as a harmonist. Had not “M.” explained that he is capable of writing what he does not mean, this would have appeared singular. That he wntes of what he does not know is evident when he states that “there is not a village m Yorkshire where such a thing—(we suppass he means selection)-would not be scouted.” Had he known more of Yorkshire ha would not have libelled the sound musical judgment ©f Yorkshiremen by such a sentence ; had he .known more of Madame Goddard’s performances at St. James’s HalL he would not have ventured on such a statement regarding London audiences as he has committed himself to. He would have known that “The Harmonious Blacksmith ” when played by Madame Goddard at St. James s Hall, was invariably rapturously received, and that she played it there so frequently that it was considered one of her most celebrated performances. To compare London with Dunedin is absurd. In a city of four millions M people it is quite possible to have large assemblages of persons who enjoy what is termed high class music—persons who have leisure to give it the necessary study, and training to comprehend and enjoy it. But this is the lot of few who are engaged iu business ; and as that is the case with the majority in London as well as Dunedin simple pieces commend themselves and can be appreciated where the more elaborate would weary. I see no reason, therefore, why the learned only should be considered, and think Madame Goddard and other artists do good service when they a • y except such 'bilious and soured musicians as “ M.” it i 8 f ar ■or to restrict tlroir cfflrts to wS can easily be accomplished, than to labor isxs srSrT Madame Goddard, by ! giving eaSUi ® . the maneet of eiwetmg popSS&f I amX“ » (Mi Si An Old Musician,