The New York herald., 1876-09-24
CENTENNIAL MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
coNczRTs-Ax EVENING DEVOTED TO SCAN
DINAvIAN MUSIC.

FOURTH NIGHT OF THEODORE THOMAS GRAND
coNcERrs-Ax EVENING DEVOTED TO SCAM
DINAvIAN MUSIC.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept 23 1879.
? Tho fourth night OF the Grand Centennial Musical
Festival was entirely devoted TO scandinavian music
The orchestral programme consisted OF Gade's Sym
phony opus 8; fairy overture, aladdin, Horneman: :
fantasia 'yisons in q Dream" and coronation
March I" swendson
Mr. +. Boscovitz played Grieg's piano concerto IN
miner, opus 10, and MessrsL whitney and Cauiman
sang solos,
The Northern composers are too few in number,
and, as general rule weak in conception 10 war;
rant them having evening OF concert all to them
solves Gade's symphony commences with real Men,
delssohnian phrases moderate moto, leading into
an allegro eneryico which is admirably scored, and
which the orchestra OF Thomas gave with fire and
spirit The themes Of this part not particu-
larly interesting, but the composer TO
have framed them In . very artistic man.
ner. pauci,y Of attractive subjects is the
most disagrecable feature about Scandinavia
music. The scherzo Of the second movement
was moro Interesting. The wonderful sprghiliness of
the strings the pure n'onaiion OF the reeds and the
graduated power OF the brass instruments gave to ths
movement dash Of lire that redeemed much OF iis tn
herent weakness In the third movement, dndantino
0rdStoo the strings became poetical and dylised tho
beautiful phrases allotted to them. The nnale Is
stormy, and withal ineffective II Is very pro-
tentions in style, but It fails In It's
lieGt points OF attack. Mr. Boscoyz had not
grateful task before him Tie concerts OF
Edward Greg II Is very spasmodic and disjolnted
IN It's several movements. The composer evidently
places more dependence on the orchestra than tue
pianist far the artistic results of tho performance
Of the work concerned yet he has imposed all tho
greater burden The pianist TO individuality
and predomnance, those qualities dear to the soul
of every viTtuoso Herein Was the success OF Mr.
Boscoviz The hard task he imposed upon himself
valorously sustained Tho rich tones OF the Stein
way grand sprang forth bcncah his skilled hngers with
degree OF power that the massive strength
Of tho orchestra could que. Mr.. Boscovrz
does not possess much delicacy poetry his mani
pulation OF tho noble instrument to which he las de-
voted himself but he has force and re that In
certain passages makes itself felt with undesirable
effect
The fairy overture "Alcddin." for orchestra, by
Horneman. eccentric rather than artistic In treat
mcnt There many incongruous phrases In II, and
would be puzzled discover the relation between
certain movements Everything that an orchestra
capable OF done by Thomas in the inter-
probation OF this work. yet Its lack OF real power was
too plainly shown.
The secord week OF the Centennial Musical Festival
will be prolific novelties To the disgrace OF Phila-
delphia must 1t be said that the majority of tho
audiences far at these magnificent concerts consists
or slrangers-of Centennial visitors Music In Phia-
OF the Quaker City must, IN order TO be successful,
consist OF negro mnstresy comic songs or opera
bouGG Everv true lover OF musical should avoid
city where strangers I'LL the seats at musical fcsti
val conceived and carried standard equal 10
anything devised IN Europe