[Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician by Frederick Niecks]@TWC D-Link bookFrederick Chopin as a Man and Musician PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION 4/25
To mention them in one breath with those of Schubert and Schumann, or even with those of Robert Franz and Adolf Jensen, is the act of an hero-worshipping enthusiast, not of a discriminating critic. On two points, often commented upon by critics, I feel regret, although not repentance--namely, on any "anecdotic iconoclasm" where fact refuted fancy, and on my abstention from pronouncing judgments where the evidence was inconclusive.
But how can a conscientious biographer help this ungraciousness and inaccommodativeness? Is it not his duty to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth, in order that his subject may stand out unobstructed and shine forth unclouded? In conclusion, two instances of careless reading.
One critic, after attributing a remark of Chopin's to me, exclaims: "The author is fond of such violent jumps to conclusions." And an author, most benevolently inclined towards me, enjoyed the humour of my first "literally ratting" George Sand, and then saying that I "abstained from pronouncing judgment because the complete evidence did not warrant my doing so." The former (in vol.i.) had to do with George Sand's character; the latter (in vol. ii.) with the moral aspect of her connection with Chopin. An enumeration of the more notable books dealing with Chopin, published after the issue of the earlier editions of the present book will form an appropriate coda to this preface--"Frederic Francois Chopin," by Charles Willeby; "Chopin, and Other Musical Essays," by Henry T.Finck; "Studies in Modern Music" (containing an essay on Chopin), by W.H.Hadow; "Chopin's Greater Works," by Jean Kleczynski, translated by Natalie Janotha; and "Chopin: the Man and his Music," by James Huneker. Edinburgh, February, 1902. PROEM. POLAND AND THE POLES. THE works of no composer of equal importance bear so striking a national impress as those of Chopin.
It would, however, be an error to attribute this simply and solely to the superior force of the Polish musician's patriotism.
The same force of patriotism in an Italian, Frenchman, German, or Englishman would not have produced a similar result. Characteristics such as distinguish Chopin's music presuppose a nation as peculiarly endowed, constituted, situated, and conditioned, as the Polish--a nation with a history as brilliant and dark, as fair and hideous, as romantic and tragic.
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