New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-11-29
The Philharmonic Concerts.

The Philharmonic Concerts.
The first Of these Concerts took place on Satur
day evening last, at the Apollo Rooms. The
performance of the orchestra was admirable be
vond praise We have never heard any music
more admirably rendered than the symphony OF
Nels ". Garde contemporary German composer,
who has thus for the first time introduced to our
notice, by work of the most intrinsic worth,
and of very remarkable promise.
The audience, we are sorry to observe, was not
large. The Hall was only fairly full. Yet were
member when the Philharmonic Saturday even
ings were the high courts of fashionable and de-
lighted assembies-and the reson of the present
decline of fashionable attendance, for the delight
is as great as ever-must be sought elsewhere
than in the decline of the character of the perform
ance 1t is an inquiry upon which we will not
now enter But it is fact of, at least unpleas-
ant significance in musical hstory-tor when
the admirably rendered music of the masters of
most permanent fame, is deserted for anything
else whatever in the same kind, there is clearly
enough something rotten" somewhere. Music
must be passion and not fashion, five hope to
advance in musical cultivation. And in commu
nifty where it is only passion, it must needs share
the fate of old dresses and be thrown aside for
something more excitingly novel
On it's side the Philharmonic Society ought TO
feel constantly that the good cause should never
be deserted or compromised by the performance
Of any other than the most undoubtedly good mu-
sic. Among artists so able as the members ofthe
Society, there must always be perceptive taste
enough to determine the essential character of all
the music of contemporary Masters. But while
they give only four Concerts in the year is it too
much to expect of them nothing but the most elias
steal works? Might they not, even wisely and in
the interests of art conne their attention to Bee
thoven, Mozart, Haydn, Mendelssohn and what
ever other German or Southern masters are of
equal fame-nor allow personal and individual
preference voice in the arrangement Of the Pro
gramme Minor men may be heard in Thousand
places, but in the Temple itself we want only the
highest Priests
We recall with satisfaction little incident that
occurred one evening at Concert of the Sing
ACADEMIC of Berlin Society of similar character
and position to the Philharmonic in New York
1t devotes itself to the very finest music and its
magnificent performance is only rivaled, for we
are not willing to say surpassed by that Of the
Conservative at Paris. The Berliners pride
themselves upon their severely classical musical
taste and mock the Viennese constantly for their
love of Dance Music. On the evening in question,
after singularly select and admirable programme
and performance, the Orchestra played Rossini's
overture to the Siege Of Co,iath, by no means
one of his best. The performance was as perfect
as in the other pieces-bnt the musical honor of
the audience was touched it felt that poorer
Poet had penetrated into the Shakesperian Satur
MALTA and after the few moments of entire silence
one single voice Kissed slightly--thus adequately
and pointedly expressing the feeling of the audi
cnce May the Philharmonic never deserve the
single hiss
But we ought to say that while the annual sub
scription to the Concerts declines, the number of
resident and life members enjoying sertain priv
ileges increases, SO that there is no pecuniary
loss That small audience, however, had rare
pleasure on Saturday evening in the Symphony
of GQrde German musical genius seems to be
Phnnix; for no sooner is one master gone than
another rises and commands the world This
composer is evidently lover, as he was pupil,
of Mendessohn. The same profound mastery 0
the orchestra, the same tendency to exquisite
and strange instrumental effects, the same 9enn-
ineneSS and atmosphere and feeling of music, dis
tinguish this work. In the second part, whole
phrases OF Mendelssohn occur anda general resem-
bance is recognized throughout But there is no
feeling of intrinsic, original weakness which ne
cessitates imitation in the work. 1t is only the
resemblance Of Beethovens earlier symphonies
to HAYDN and Mozart On the other hand, the
music is more masculine than Mendelssohns-
even more lyrical, and throbs throughout with
splendid promise, like ViUian Grey and the other
frstlings of Genius. We shall certainly hope to
hear more of Garde the production OF whose sym
phony is only another proof OF the true musical
taste of which we have spoken of as character
izing the Society. Is there not something OF
Scbunaanz's, too, worthy Philharmonic perform
ance2-for Carrie and Schumann seem now to
share the palm in German music And if the ex-
cursions beyond the pale oil strict casscality are
to continue why not give us something of Der
2io1. if there be anything fine enough in that fan
tastic genius We speak only from the character
of his fame, not from knowledge Of his music
President illmm's plano'duett WIN NJ. benc-
Dict the composer, was in every way admirable.
The orchestra was well subdued by Mr. Loder
and accompanied the concerto most appreciatingly.
We wait with anxiety for the next Concert and
expect all who acknowledge the claims of high
artsand who desire to perpetuate the finest must
cal evenings permanently offered US, to consider
carefully if Philharmonic subscription is not
well worth while
CONGRESSIONAL APPRoPRIATIoNs.-M than
three pages OF a supplement of the National Incl
hsencer are occupied with report of the Clerk
q the House of Representatives, detailing the APP
uof1iatiops made during the first session of the
NANlst Congress. The aggregates under the
several heads are as follows
Civil Diplomatic and miscellaneous. 'ta58S'353 81
Biilar! lnd ortihcauons 9'il'o@% 10