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Comments on the patronage system for music and musical composers. Patrons of music in the 19th century; Difficulties and necessities of patronage for music; Implications on music.

The article presents information about two books "The New Music," by George Dyson and "A Survey of Contemporary Music," by Cecil Gray. Dyson devotes a good proportion of his book to a systematic analysis of the harmonic texture of modern music and his treatment is at once more logical and more thorough than anything else on the subject that comes to mind. Both of these books are in accord with the best contemporary opinion in an inclination toward skepticism, as to the power of an art so preoccupied with sense stimulation and so empty of mental and spiritual appeal as ultra-modern music is permanently to satisfy our aesthetic interests.

The article focuses on the book "Music of the Past," by Wanda Landowska. Landowska accomplishes in this book two useful services. She presents her main subject, the music of the past, from many fresh points of view, makes the readers realize its humanity and living beauty, and explodes many widely accepted superstitions that reduce old music to a museum piece. Although much that she has to tell of seventeenth and eighteenth century music will be eagerly read by intelligent performers, it is probable that music lovers in general will be even more stimulated by opinions against modern fads and follies.