The sun., 1873-12-29
AN USEH FNTS.



The second of the series Of six symphony
concerts which. next TO the Italian opera, are
tie most notable musical events Of which We
have any promise for the present winter, was
gwen on Saturday evening at Steinway Hall.
Tie audience was very large, and Of that class
OF mu,icay inclined persons who used to fr.-
quent the Philharmonic concerts IN the he'ter
and more palmy days Il that society, and who
now have SO completely and with wisdom Of
choice transferred their allegiance to Theodore
Thomas. Indeed, It would seem as though both
the professional and the amateur element col
lccted itself at these Thomas concerts 10y COM
mon consent, recognizing them as tho highest
aud best eXpouents that We have Of in trumeutal
art. The programme was as follows:
I. Overture % she H-idc Of Mcss.na s,iuwnnn.
g. t1uccro Tor two yinlins and orchpsra .....-p hr
T. Ber thoven', ~cpiuor.. ................ .
D. overture L. Caruayal l.oinain icrloE
1t Is scarcely necessary to dwell on thc char
acter Of the orchestral work. 1t would be
merely TO recapitulate the qualities with which
Thomas has laborcd with such patience, cnthu-
siasm, and consummate ability to cndow hls
musicians, and which are the embodiment " all
tpit Is requisite to consl itute tho fauitless or
those fresh from the rcrollrCtiOus Of those per-
fYtmance-. and who have recently y attended
ely, uo not hesitate to affirm that here we have
with us AN orchestra to Toe listened to win even
I n
The smooth, suave concerto by Spohr was SUBJ
stltuted at late hour for another that Mr.. IL--
temann WAS t. have played hut for a sumeN % At
disabled hand The w" solo performers " re-
! Mc--rs. Arnold aud Jirubspnu, and n was a
! striking proof Of the high standard vi excel
lCuce uf the body uf the orchestra that tw1
| such players could step out FROM the violin
I ranks At short notice to perform - large and
uIthc ult a work With eTenucss, dcIlcacy and
Tie symphony by Joachim RaG was, OF course,
] the central poiut uf interest upon the pro.
I rramme, uartly because Of the mi-lit. uc and
! Importance u the work Itself and partly on ac-
CO. INT II the Increasing attention that ls being
/ given 10 the mcriturious works OF tut- COM
. poser. IL Is d!,Iucd INTO uNe muNemeat ,,
/ ti,lui "Happine7s lu Love-" Parting ana Re
/ union in Death. Tho work is founded upon
! Burgers ballad Of "LconUre,' aud the = ~
! poem, which could have been given on the pro-
/ Rrlmme IN "a few words, would have mate
| enjoyment OF the symphony. The weird story.
a. Burger tells II, relates how " ,Atlm, the
! Hungary. The victorious army returns but not
| the lover. LtunUfe gives herself up TO despair,
I curses Gods injustice, and prays for delth.
/ lhis comes Ia Tie most unexpected form, for At
/ dead OF niEIt arrives the htldt-ro1 1u on horse
hae k aud In arulur and bids the bride mount
behind hin To 20 t. the inl4 r,t-e. Hh" uhtN $,
/ and az n Icrce gllop they Ny over uc!d and
through Wupu, t.ll they come To- In, lar uu GIaye.
In,rr the lover di-uIounts. the visor j. raised,
/ and under the coat ui mail she sees the Ghastly
Dtlttuu q tuc dead soldier with whom shG has
/ ri Iden all unconscious that he was out the
| dead d-nce about them with fearful crios, ana
| the lovers descend into common grave.
ltdn has made huc Use OF the material afforded
by this powerful ballad. lie has ami hGed Il -uW--
! What, for the poem says nothing Of Loves Ltii-
pines. hut begins with the despair OF Lyouure
u. d with that sad burden II sgief
OWuttcr, mutter, hin ~ hin,
Nerlorcu 1T Ntroleu.
The symphony IMPRESSED US as a noble work
! Of great ana sustained power, and as ueiug an
! admirable musical Illustration OF the theme,
being especially strong IN the expression OF tho
| fierce emotions Of its conclusion, II belongs
| To- the romantic school and though built IN part
| ON tho old symphonic models, II Il very evident
| that its composer has felt the influence Ot Va
| ncr and the leaders Of the modern .huol.
What, in his Forest symphony, Kan did for eX-
! tcrnh nature, in thi, work hc has done for the
inner experiences. hut though dealing with those
phases of human lie that relate u love, sorrow,
| and death. he Is never morbid. His thoughts
| are clear aud beautiful II there Is such a thiug
! ~ the rhetoric Of music, Kan has II. HIS writing
! Is su' loth graceful, and elegant. and his imigi-
nation, as Displayed IN the orchestral color that
he gives to his thought, is brilliant aud varied.
| Though long the interest uf the symphony does
not has In any part, and ON the whole II Will add
materially TO the reputation OF Its .lttGd COM
| poser,
10 those who hud In these symphony con-
! ccrts a somewhat more elaborate class of music
/ than they care 10 tuCOuutpr, 10 viii doubt less
| be pleasure Ia learn Il NJ Mr.. Thomas will COM
| uence on saturday afternoon uf tht, week a
! series Of matinees Of a molo popular character.