Boston went on a pianistic spree over the week end, with Mr. Bauer and Mr. Grainger conducting the celebrations. The latter gave a recital Saturday afternoon, in Jordan Hall, of which it is hard to speak moderately. Playing the Chopin B minor sonata, a Bach prelude and fugue, Schumann's Symphonic Studies, and Balakirev's Islamey, he proved himself to be a skilled pianist and musician, truly worthy of being classed with the greatest. His playing of the Bach fugue drew enthusiasm even from the most skeptical, who were not few.

To us it seemed a recital to be remembered, along with few others. His playing of the Chopin sonata was masterly; he is master of every mood, and one movement seemed better played than the preceding one.

He drew upon himself much talk about "pounding" and "not a pianist's pianist" which seems to us entirely beside the point. He furnished a thoroughly convincing, even thrilling, afternoon through his entirely artistic musicianship. He has a way of expressing his own personality through his playing without doing violence to the composer, which is characteristic of all great pianists.

If Mr. Bauer plays the Symphonic studies better than did Mr. Grainger, we should like to hear him. It is really astounding that a pianist should prove himself master of so many styles.

A select and sympathetic audience was enthusiastic to the point of making Jordan Hall history. Mr. Grainger should visit Boston more often; a cordial, if not too large, public, would welcome him.