New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-09
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
SIXTH SYMPHONY CONCERT.

| SIXTH SYMPHONY CONCERT.
| 1t wasa great concert which Theodore Thomas
gave Saturday evening the close OF his tenth
son OF Symphony performances and we have rarely
heard more remarkable playing exctable
audience The following the bill
Symphony in ID, No ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Beethoven
Largo for strings. harp, organ and solo violin Handel
Faust symphony List
The Interpretation OF the bright and beautiful Second
Symphony something altogether above the common
order for Mr.. Thomas not only 1t with exceptional
elegance and spirit, but he brought out the essential
grandeur and majestic spirit Of the work with clear
ness have never known TO DO surpassed. In review
ing the play Of this orchestra when is Mt its BEST as II
Saturday, is almost tempted to reckless in
diligence in superlayes but safely say that we
never found the Second Symphony so impressive as IL
was this OCCASION The next piece on the programme
the Handel Largo, produced lively sensation, and MI
Thomas induced 70 repeat the second half OF it, Inc
noble and Religious theme is taken believe. from one
OF the Suites. II has been arranged by josef Helncs
berger OF Vienna for solo violin, full band OF vons ana
vioas. harp. and great organ, and Thomas improves u
by adding 'ceos in the finale. Mr.. Jacobsohn played
the solo with great taste and feeling and the unrNaeu
unity precision, and sonorousness Of the string Dand
sgnally displayed in the ensemble. When the fun
force Of the novel and beautiful combination OF instru
mcnts was felt in Uandcls simple harmonies the e1ect
was electric. We advise everybody who was not ioftu-
nate enough to hear this work on Saturday to 20 TO
s,enway Hall Monday. when Thomas Will repeat IL
at Mr. Iavire's benefit concert.
The Faust Symphony has been played In New-fofk
only twice before, the last time being in 1874 IL
Is the grandest in design of all LISTS orches-
trail works, and although 1t Is composition
to provoke hot controversies 10 win the most
enthusiastic admiration on one side ana 10 rouse
the hostile criticism ON the other. no candid Judge
will deny that in profound feeling intellectual force, ana
vast musical scholarship it has hardly few parallels I'D
the productions this generation The first OF Its three
movements entitled Faust" IL an allegro Illustrating
the "frcnzed crazed unrest the tnmult OF soul ana
unsasfed ongngs Of the hero of Goethes poem ana III
it List abandons himself freely to the poetic Impulse,
and follows his emotion through the srangest modes OF
expression and the most daring violations OF the ola
laws Of compositions Vague aspiration and bitter dsap-
pontment cry from the broken melody Dut through
the whole, like the better tendency which IL 10 save
Faust after all, clear sentiment OF beauty as u
the discorls and disjonted fragments were graduay
shaping themselves into harmonious forms Then comes
the andante, which bears the name of Gretchen, ana
offers AN astonishing contrast to the impressive move
mcnt that precedes it, Here variety OF 500 'hS'ru-
ments are treated singly or together, in the most
exquisite manner and two tender melodies IN particular,
breathing gentle melancholy and simple love- are heard
in the most beautiful combinations and most fascinating
forms The last movement, MephisOphelcs,' Is
diabocal scherzO which deals with distorted motives
snatched from the previous parts mixes up nightmare
of hooking "reminiscences and is finally overcome ny inc
triumph of the good principle, as the inner sentiment Vi
the poem rises high and clear above the c"hncl' inch
the uproar ceases solemn and peaceful voice OF he
organ is heard and the Chorus Mystcus, when Eoethe
places in heaven intones the chant:
All things transitory
But as symbols are sent
IartlIs nslfiicien"y
Here grows TO event:
The Indcscrihabe,
Here II Is done.
The wOma1-sOul eadeth us
Upward and on.
The grandeur OF this finale is awful 1t was given on
tnunr
chorus of the cwYork Lederkranz, and is much finer
in that way than with the ending arranged by List Tor
orchestra only. which Mr. Thomas gave on Ihnisdas'
For the purpose OF comparison, however, II was Sood
idea 10 give both The difficulties Of the Work are
enormous Perhaps tncrc is composition In existence
which exacts 50 much of the conductor and keeps the
orchestra upon such long and severe strain Every
instrument in the band is taxed to the utmost; the
RHYTHM is constantly changing in the most 'cc"htHc
manner and the most unexpected times and besides
the mere technical difficulties OF execution there Is the
further difficulty bringing o the meaning OF the poem
by peculiar management Of lights and shades the dc
distribution OF the emphasis the accenllng now OF one
croup of Instruments of another according to the
coloring required for the moment written directions
cannot teach this II all depends upon the perception OF
the conductor and his influence over the players Hence
the clear sympathetic. magnificent performance OF the
Saturday deserves to be remembered as one o
! ThOmas's most signal trumphs
A circular distributed with the programmes gave Us
the welcome intelligence that there l. at last fair pros
pect of seeing this noble orchestra properly cared for in
| a splendid New-York music hall. The announcement
runs hus-and those who desire further information are
invited to send their names and addresses to :" The
| Thomas Garden Concert Company" at steinway's:
! Negotiations are pending By an organization TO be
known rs The Thomas Garden Concert Company FOR
securing proper and erecting buildings thereon.
suitable for hail. with gardens. which Mr.. Thomas
and his orchestra may be permanently lodged III was
hoped that these negotiations would nave been dclti-
mined and an announcement thereof made, before the
date of this the last, symphony concert Bat they are
| not vet in readiness 10 he submitted 10 The pnDnc.
Mlny Of those who have regularly attended the SYM
plony concerts ha the desire 10 permanently
and securely locate Mr. Thomas and his orchestra 10
NcY0rk II believed tiat they Will h. dcsirUuS OF
cyncins that interest in the most substantial manner
by subscribing in aid 81 the prJecas soon as me u'-
derakng has sufficiently progressed TO justify the Sub
| mission 10 them.
Among those present at this concrr; there doubt
less many will ba glad to be made acquainted with
the 1lans under consideration III shall be-
definitely determined II they viii forward ne'r
addresses the prOspcctOrS. fur prospectus with de-
tails the enterprise, will be sent them they
are prepared, which il is expected Will he in slort
time For this purpose the blanks left FOR the name ana
address he ilci in upon the annexed fy-caf ana
| the paper mailed 10 It's address.
II is hoped that the VIII be numerous enough
to indicate willingness on the part ~ the pubic, 10 AZ
least become informed Of Che opportunity that Will be
afforded Them OF recognizing Nj Thomass abors, and OF
establishing him. upon assured. permanent basis in
this city, where much of his life been spent and
| SO mucn OF Lis work has been done.
MUSICAL NOTES.
| Mr. Emil Licbng, pianist new to our con-
stage, will make his debut III this city At 5einway
| oil np "a