CHAPTER XVII.

“JUDAISM IN MUSIC.”

The importance attached to the question--The paper said to have been prompted by personal jealousy--Absurdity of the accusation--The London press hostile because of his Jewish criticisms upon Mendelssohn and Meyerbeer--The “Sunday Times” asserts that “the most ordinary English ballad writer would shame him in the creation of melody, and no English harmonist would pen such vile things”--The words he uttered in 1852 in the Judaism paper lay deep in his heart, and he adhered to them in 1855 and 1869--Wagner of opinion that his ostracism and suppression for many years were due alone to the power of the Jews--Publication of the article--Attempt to dismiss Brendel from his professional office at the Leipzic conservatoire--Wagner asserts an involuntary revulsion of feeling towards the Jews--The Jew always a foreigner--Wagner’s Semitic antipathy partly inherited--Cannot understand the natural humane treatment of the Jews by the English--Admits the glorious history of the Jews compared with the annals of the German barbarians--A Jew actor as a hero or lover “ridiculous”--This assertion contradicted by instances--The Jew offensive to Wagner in his speech, as regards intonation and manner--Their absence of passion--Incapable of artistic speech, the Jew is more incapable of artistic song--His unreasoned attack on the lack of Jewish plastic artists--Further indulges in the vulgar charge of usury--Attacks the cultivated Jew--The Jew incapable of fathoming the heart of our civilized life--Cannot compose for those whose feelings he does not understand--The synagogue the legitimate sphere for the Hebraic composer--Outside this the Jewish musician can only imitate Gentile composers--Criticism upon Mendelssohn--Criticism upon Meyerbeer severe and unsparing--Meyerbeer’s attitude towards the critics--Cordially hated by Wagner--Wagner’s own attitude towards the London critics.....205