POWELL] ANTHROPOLOGIC LITERATURE 38 1
Our author well explains the development of theme accomplished by Wagner, though he seems to question the development of rhythm which Wagner accomplished ; nor does he seem to understand fully the development of melody by the use of unwonted intervals, especially in the recitative. We may refer this last peculiarity of Wagner to his association with Helmholtz and especially with Engel. It is this intro- duction of unwonted intervals for which he is most bitterly criticized. It is affirmed by many that he violates melodic and harmonic rules and that hence much of his music is not music at all. But when the ear becomes accustomed to the new intervals, they are found to be exceedingly pleasing, and the passages which are condemned are at last considered to be the most delicate in musical expression. To the common ear, Arabic or Chinese is not music at all, but only noise ; when at last the delicate intervals are appreciated, they are found to be very sweet. But all sweetness cloys, and the bolder intervals of Aryan music may still be defined as better expressing strong emotion, although the finer intervals of some peoples may well be introduced into Aryan music as Wagner has done. J. W. Powell.
Biologia Ccnirali- Americana. Archaology. By A. P. Maudslay. Part 10. London, January, 1899. 4 , Text, pp. 31-38 ; plates 74-93.
In Mr Maudslay's publication of the results of his explorations in the field of ancient Maya culture, Central American archeology has received its greatest contribution since the time of Kingsborough. Part 10 of this great work has just appeared, and completes the Palenque studies begun in Part 6 and continued in Parts 7 and 9. In this final Palenque part the description of the Temple of the Cross is concluded, and the Temples of the Sun and the Foliated Cross are also considered. The photogravure illustrations are of the highest character, while Miss Hunter's careful drawings, from casts and photo- graphs, of the human figures laden with elaborate decorations, of the intricate symbolism, and of the hieroglyphic inscriptions, give us at last accurate material for study. Archeologists are now able to make exhaustive comparisons of the Palenque sculptures with those of Copan already published by Maudslay in the first four parts of his work.
The plates devoted to the initial series of glyphs (first recognized as such by Maudslay) and the two-headed dragon and water plant are highly suggestive, and the symbolism brought out in the latter could be thus seen only in the drawings ; study of photographs alone would fail to reveal these forms. In the text Mr Maudslay has given the values of the initial series as worked out by the aid of Mr Goodman's
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