of a more dramatic character perhaps. This is
followed by an intermezzo, like a quick minuet, which is very
successful; and this in turn by a rhapsody, which bears a motto from
Dante's "Inferno," "Those who enter here leave hope behind"--surely not
a very inviting suggestion to the student who takes it for the first
time. Fortunately the period when hope forsakes the reader is short,
being really of only one page, after which a sort of mitigated grief
ensues, and in another page this movement ends. Then follows the
finale--a fugue in E major, well made and effective but by no means
easy to play. At the end of the fugue there is a coda of a stormy
character.

This suite, as a whole, is a very brilliant piano piece, and also
difficult to play; but it is musical and well done and therefore worth
playing.

The latest of his large works in a serious form is the second sonata,
called the "Eroica." This is designated by the composer as a "flower
from the realm of King Arthur," and it is dedicated to Dr. William
Mason. Beginning very seriously and slowly, it almost immediately
rises to intense vigor, which, after a while, gives place to a second
subject--a song-melody in the folk-tone; and out of these two
ingredients--or three, more properly (the motive of the first page, the
second page, and the song-form already noticed)--the movement is
carried to completion. It is very difficult to play, but when well
done is effective and serious. The second movement is a very playful
scherzo, which is designated as elf-like--as light and swift as
possible. The third movement is designated "tenderly, longingly, yet
with passion"; the hero is now in love, very much so; his being is
stirred to its utmost core; his rhythm is shaken up so that two's and
three's intermingle in the most inviting confusion; and his harmonic
foundations are also subjected to fast and loose experiences very
trying to the outsider who would represent all this inner commotion.
Nevertheless the movement, when well done, is very lovely. The finale
is designated "fiercely and very fast"--a very strong and tumultuous
movement.

Throughout his career as a composer Mr. MacDowell has placed great
importance upon the advantage a composer gains from a poetic standpoint
or conception. He has often maintained that one could write better
music if inspired by poetry than when he merely gives rein to his
musical fancy, as such; and that, in fact, the only salvatio