100 years ago

[Norrette]

Researching something very different, I came across this in Hansard, in July 1915. Just thought I'd share this with you.

Sir A. MARKHAM The whole spirit of this Debate initiated by the Prime Minister shows that the House does not appreciate the fact that we are at war. Take, for instance, the case of Sir Edgar Speyer, who, as everyone knows, is the proprietor of the Queen's Hall. I suppose it is because he is of German origin that we in this country are to be treated during the next few weeks by Sir Henry Wood to a series of concerts entirely composed of German music. I have the whole of the programmes here, from which it will be seen that some of the concerts are to be devoted entirely to Wagner's music. What would France or Russia do under conditions of this kind? The people are not recognising the seriousness of the position. I cannot understand how people can go to listen to German music, when every people in the world, except ourselves, would not tolerate during a time of war that they should be entertained by German music. But as the Queen's Hall belongs to him, I suppose we in this country are to be instilled with German virtues.

Mr. R. MCNEILL Is there no Beethoven in the programme?

Sir A. MARKHAM No, the whole of the programme at some of these concerts contains no music except German.

Sir F. BANBURY Beethoven was a German.

The subject of the debate was about the call for a long recess in time of war.

[subcontrabass]

A quick skim through the programmes for the series ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/rzmhzc/series ) does not (as far as I can see) produce a single concert consisting entirely of works by German (or even German and Austrian) composers. How little changes in the cultural level of politicians.

Also interesting to note how many of the concerts ended with the national anthem (or other representative song) for one of the allied nations: Japan, Russia, Serbia, Italy, Belgium, France, Australia, Canada.

[french frank]

Mr. R. MCNEILL Is there no Beethoven in the programme?

Sir A. MARKHAM No, the whole of the programme at some of these concerts contains no music except German.

Sir F. BANBURY Beethoven was a German.

I was going to add but, um, some things don't change, do they?

[Norrette]

A quick skim through the programmes for the series ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/rzmhzc/series ) does not (as far as I can see) produce a single concert consisting entirely of works by German (or even German and Austrian) composers. How little changes in the cultural level of politicians...

Interesting list - there was a lot of Wagner but then of course they didn't have all the C20th compositions we can enjoy this year. A limited palette?

[David Underdown]

One night (Monday?) was traditionally Wagner night at this period of Proms history (and Friday was Beethoven). Wood was a staunch defender of continuing to play Germanic music at this period of the war, but by the end his position had hardened somewhat, at least in regard of (then) contemporary Germanic composers.

It's interesting to note that Southwark Cathedral put on a performance of Brahms' Requiem (proabbly in English, as that was the usual performance practice then) on 30 June 1916, the very eve of the Somme offensive.

[Norrette]

It's interesting to note that Southwark Cathedral put on a performance of Brahms' Requiem (proabbly in English, as that was the usual performance practice then) on 30 June 1916, the very eve of the Somme offensive.

Almost as if they knew?

A German Requiem focuses on the living, beginning with the text "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

[richardfinegold]

Beethoven was banned in the U.S. after we entered in 1917.
I believe that was a factor in the decision to the use the opening motto of the 5th Symphony as a rallying call in the next war. German music was frequently performed here during those years, as there was a real attempt to portray the Nazis as usurpers of, instead of being an inevitable by product, of German Culture.

[Serial_Apologist]

Beethoven was banned in the U.S. after we entered in 1917.
I believe that was a factor in the decision to the use the opening motto of the 5th Symphony as a rallying call in the next war. German music was frequently performed here during those years, as there was a real attempt to portray the Nazis as usurpers of, instead of being an inevitable by product, of German Culture.

And yet... there was so much more to Germanic culture than what the Nazis sought to cherry-pick! Schoenberg never lost faith in his own mission to conserve Austro-German musical culture, notwithstanding the treatment handed out to Mahler and so many other Jewish artists from those lands.