Page:The Russian Review Volume 1.djvu/122

102 Russian conservatory of music; he organized various musical societies, and worked indefatigably to make Russian music a possession of the Russian people, not of the chosen few.

But as a composer, he has done almost nothing for the music of Russia, although he has written much. His works include several operas, among them "Gorusha" and "The Demon." Rubinstein was almost fanatically attached to the standards of the Western classical composers. He distrusted innovations, and not only avoided them, but actually opposed them. He wrote an interesting little booklet, which he called "Finita la Musica." In this pamphlet he attempted to prove that after Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Mendelsohn, Chopin, and Glinka, there can be nothing new in music. Rubinstein was a bitter opponent of the "Moguchaya Kuchka."

Modern Russian music presents many interesting developments, but it is yet too new to be judged fairly and impartially. Such men as Gliere, Stravinsky, and Spendiarov, are among the creators of the new Russian music, which recently sustained the loss of one of its most prominent interpreters, Alexander Skriabin. The future will show what offerings these "moderns" have brought to the treasure-house of Russian music.

 

Clear is the evening sky, Bright are the distant stars, Bright, as the joy of a child. Ah, me! Why is it that I cannot say, "Stars, you're as bright as my own joy supreme?" "Why are you joyless?" Kind men will ask me. Kind men, I'm joyless Because stars and heavens Are stars and heavens, while I'm but a man. Men, one another Envy with grudging, Not so with me: Only the beautiful stars do I envy, Only their place would I willingly take.