The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-06

sTEISwAy HALL
Nine Esspof7s last recital very sparingly at
tended yesterday afternoon. Undoubtedly the idea
OF making programme OF American composers was
entertained In the hopes Of its attracting large audi
II failed oil this effect and justly. What has
pseudo patriotism, the love OF country, TO do with
art. which belongs to all countriess Not only was
IL failure pccunary, was also failure aristicaly
both IN tho quality OF tho music ana the man
ncr OF its performance. 1t was evident Nine
Essipor had "crammed" for this concert at short
notice, and she sure neither OF herself
nor OF her music. Then tho American composers
somewhat mixed as to nationality. Out OF
eleven names on the programme TWO were Engisn,
loliows-Fantasie, op. Al, Fr Brandcis; Meode, op.
81, Fr Brandeis; Gisue do Ia sa!e en- Re pour or
chcslre), Bach-Parsons; Theme ct Variations !ior
orgap), Henry Carter; Romance. oE 60, May
!aih; Novelette,, op. g, No. - William H.
SHERWOOD; Menuos iron snubert's first string
quartet, op. 2s). L. Peraoo; Sketches ,or
,ns aa spG mo on 70 ay paneo Jonn
Payne; Etuie Caprice, FAIRY Fingers" OPP - ). Is.
Mills; Silver Spring, op Q. William Mason; Caprice,
TRANSCRIPTION, ..Homc, Sweet Home" L. NJ. Got,-
schak; Fantaise Grolesque, "fhe Banjo" L. d. Colt
schak Taranicl!c. OPP 0l, H. Hoffman.
Tho two pieces brandes Ia German, not an Amcri-
ean) which opened the concert arc excellent sdlo"
pieces, but not broau enough In design nor strong
enough in working for concert use Nine. Essipon
p!pycd them win evident lack Oh interest," ana
took the liberty OF unnecessarily simplifying some
PASSAGES In the ntasic. The Bach rguc. arranged ny
Parsons is not well arranged, and The performance nf
II ;han the arrangement For the INST lime
In all experience 81 Mime. Essipol she lost ersc.
command hogan lounder among wrong notes and
hurried 50 excessively "a sure sign Of Lcrvousness) that
the last page was SIMPLY mess. Mr.. Carter's theme
aud variations beng opicssedly for the organ, We
refuse pass any Judgment on them until We hear
tbe,n on the proper instrument Whatever effect they
sould have Tor piano they certainly had yesterday
NINE Esspon played them nneiy The ''Romance" Of
MIR. MaYlah tanother GERMANY also received full JUS
a. m ha IA a "A IN Nl
musician who. however, suffers from lack OF ideas
II made pleasant relief 70 what had gone before,
from its rua technical excellence. Mr. Shcrwood's
pieces were ambitious, but unsatisfactory. The bot
Ter OF the two the sPrelude,' but the piano
repertoire would losc nothing by the destruction
ot these works. rerabo's arrangement OF the
menuet from Scnubcrs nrst string quartet WINS the
most interesting number IN the whole programme.
The composition itself lovely possessing nil that
charm OF simple melody and unexpected though not
forced aualntness OF harmony which belongs pecu-
harry to this composer, and Perabo's arrangement
brings out well all the points" which two strngs
would develop in the hands Of capable players Nine
EssIpon gave, this ccc the first sign OF real in
crest that she showed during the afternoon. Mr.
raynes three pieces we're nicely made the second aud
,lird being really meritorious original They
lcciieay not easy, but they pay Tor their difficulties
We about 10 say that Mills "Fary Fingers" was
we'll known, but on second thought we are now
Inclined 10 that one does Know VINO did not
hear them as Esspon played them In the first place
she took them much faster than the composer does.
This not, oil course, generally an excellence but IN
piece ike this, conesscdIy tour de force it Is not
only allowable but admirable provided clearness be
SACRIFICED. linen sue Iounu auu prOuuccu cor
tain elects IN II, OF which we doubt whether
Mus was cuguzanL Up to tins point Nine. Essl.
pun had played from notes, and they evidently
bothered her ana made her nervous she had irc-
quentiy struck wrong notes and had failed again
ana again in taking long leaps. She made an inter.
anc ut her rcappcarance played The rest
her programme from memory. Her first piece
after tins intermisson was Mason's well known
-ilver Spring. and thu complete failure she made OF
The Introduction to this not very difficult composition
proved how dangerous Is even Tor an artist such as
she ls, to jump from playing from notes 10 playing
frp HAF mi her IN "a Tor
piano work she gave US during the recital The
three pieces OF Gcitschalk showed how com.
pletely the best pianist iail 10 catch
iaint idea Of the Intentions OF This
original and peculiar composer Under Essipons
fingers they became merely brilliant concert pieces
with distinctive characteristics In tho "Pas-
torean she lost the double rhythm completely, aud
Dotn this and the Banjo" were taken iast as TO
blur the phrasing ana nearly deprive them OF all
meaning Mr.. Honman'g weak Tarantelo made the
conc uson OF a programme which had only the pam
yet failed produce sterling musician. lhero
dozcns--Iay, scorcs-oi called second rate CON-
posers in Germany. from whose works could be ar.
ranged programme Of great interest and considera-
BILE The reason o TINS Is not far to seek they
study music Tor Itself; we use 1t as q means TO
end. and that end is--money. Until we
succeed eliminating the aim ighty dollar inn
portan element IN tho calculations OF our young mu
scaus shall do any work OF the least artistic
merit But this idea opcas up 10 US subject far TOO
large TO be treated OF IN more concert notice. due
consideration OF IL would make a lengthy magazine
article. We must content ourselves win stating the
TACT without giving the for IT, but that t Is
TACT no thoughtful musician will deny.
IL rs a pity .Ent Nine. Esspof closed her rccitals
worthy programme. We earnestly hope that IN some
way at least extra concert may DC arranged Tor
her, in which she may pay the ine works OF the mas
ters in the nimitabc manner OF which abe Is capable