Word: antheils
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...George Antheil, U. S. born, European-educated, presented for the first time in his native land his Bullet Mecanique, which nearly precipitated a riot on its premiere in Paris (TIME, March 21). The young composer's theory is to express the U. S; in its own terms of steel, machinery, physical strength, without employing jazz. To this end he has created a symphony of percussion instruments, ten mechanical pianos, several xylophones, assorted bells, wind machines, aeroplane propellers, etc., abjuring completely more lyrical aids. The ballet is a thunderstorm of noise lasting a quarter-hour. Carnegie Hall, jammed...
...composed by P. S. Converse, inspired by the familiar legend 'The Ten Millionth Ford Is Now Serving Its Owner.'" When the Boston Symphony ceased its jolting cacophony, no insults were hurled at Composer Converse, bowing on the platform. His sense of humor, unlike that of Composer George Antheil (see above), is not inscrutable...
Critics, offering comprehensive reasons for his immortality, saw no prospect of his music's passing. Said the "Trenton Tough," George Antheil, he of the "Ballet Mecanique" and the panic-striking propeller (TIME, March 21) : "Beethoven is my hero especially on account of form." Said Music Critic William James Henderson: "The supremacy of tone art lay for him [Beethoven] in the identity of form and substance, of matter and embodiment...
...George Antheil believes himself on the track of such a creation. His new instrument is the percussion symphony, employing ten pianos, one mechanical piano, xylophones, airplane propeller, wind machines, electric machines, bells- but no strings, brasses, woodwinds or reeds. He wants to express America, Africa, steel. While his Slavic blue eyes grow round with vision, he will assure the interviewer that to him a good Ford engine seems more beautiful than a mediocre painting...
...Tough" thereupon faced his sustaining tone in the other direction, proceeded to stir the audience almost to apoplexy with sound alone. He says: "I have tried [in the "Ballet Mécanique"] to express America's tremendous power and energy without writing it in terms of jazz." Composer Antheil, first to propagate a serious appreciation of jazz in Germany, believes it is now on the wane, in form, not in spirit. Yet his favorite composers are Beethoven and Handel...