New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-13
MIISIC AND THE DRAMA.
r,,r puuHARMONIC CONCERT.

Runh An audience as crowdca the Acauepiy VI
Music last night on the occasion OF tho 1ouf'n
Philharmonic Concert, has not been seen at one OF
the .ooiety,s concerts in many along year. Dense
ma was tho tbrong at the rehearsal on
Friday afternoon, the attendance at the con-
cart was even greater; and enthusiastic
"a the audience then was, the applause last night
was warmer and more earnest still. Certainly the
concert was worthy of it, for 1t was one of those
performances of which hears but two OF three IN
a lifetime, and the memory of which stays long
with one to brighten and cheer him amid Gil the
mass of dull medocrity to which one IS so OFTEN
condemned in these dreary days of charlatanism,
slipshod work and half accomplishment of worthy
objects. This was the programme:
o eSaapted for peffoi@Anos by Theodore Thon,ss3
Symphony No. o. minor. beethoVen
The debt which this public owes to the Phiihar-
monte Society is large one During the forty
two years of its existence its aims have been.
in the main, high and worthy; it has Kept its
audiences familiar with the best works of the classic
repertory besides producing large number OF CON-
positions of Importance which were wholly unknown
here and which but for it could not have been given
ut all, and it has steadily exerted a wholesome
and beneficial influence on the public taste.
though it's usefulness. like Its popularity and
its success, has been somewhat fuctuatng. The
value of the work of great musical society. like
depend in great upon the character of the
man who is at its head. In its earlier years. while
it had the field all to itself. and while the rivals
which afterward interfered so seriously with its
material success had not yet been thought
of, during the conductorship of Carl An
schultz and the first part of the conduc-
torship of Carl Bergmann--a sound musician
and man of great talent and admirable taste-the
work fthe society was uniformly good and its sue
cess and popularity were immense. During the last
years of Bergmanns life the society at its best,
but with the waning of his powers. physical aud
mental, there began a gradual decadence which
reached its lowest point two three years after his
death. Four years ago Theodore Thomas was in
duced to give up his own Symphony
Concerts at Steinway Hall and assume the con-
duct0rship of the society, and for while it seemed
as IL it would again become prosperous, and resume
the position that it had held for many years as
the foremost musical organization of this city, But
Thomass departure for Cincinnati and bis conse-
quent resignation of the cOnductorship ruined this
prospect, and then followed the disastrous seas III
during which Mr. Neuendorf conducted tho
orchestra or the orchestra conducted Mr.
With Thomas's resumption of the con-
ductorshp the prosperity of the society began to
revive usefulness enlarged, and the value of
Its work steadily increased until this season, which
has been in point of material success and excellence
of artistic achievement altogether unparalleled in
Its history During all these years the Piilhar-
monte Society has had one great and material adj
vantage in that it was an organized body. stable
and self-sustaining, and in no wise dependent for
its existence on the mere turn OF popular ca
price OF the individual efforts of any man. All
the other societies which have sprung up and -four
ished during the long period of its labors have
heen s;mnlv trausiforV have cone DiecpS either
on the departure OF their conductor ruling spirit.
or on the loss of public favor and support while it
has gone steadily on. through half dozen conduc-
torshps and In spite of temporary descrton and negt
lect well enough deserved it must be said as
rule. 1t is this stability and Independence
which give it its marked advantage and
power and to which ii half its value for II is
to it that must look after all. as the oldest and
most firmly established OF musical societies. for
the surest support OF music anu the most enduring
efforts ID its behalf
IL in WOW of this fact, and of the change of
policy indicated by the formation of a permanent
chorus as an adjunct to the society, and it's into
duction into us concerts ~ cde St e as,s th
society in the past have been directed solely TO the
production Of instrumental works. Once IN wnc
a chorus has been borrowed from some one of the
different vocal societies for the performance ot
Beethoven's Choral symphony. or some siiIl ar
work but there has been no sustained effort on tie
part of the philharmonic Society to make the per-
fcrmancc of choral WORKS one OF ITS permanent oD-
jects 1t is not intended now that the new chorus
shall interfere in any way with the continued
production and repetition of orchestral works by
the society, any more than 1t Is Intended
that il shall attempt to snppant or rval any Oh tnc
existing choral ORGANIZATIONS There is plenty OF
work for them all to do, without IN anywse inter
fering with each other just as there Is room Tor the
chorus Of The society to cooperate with and support
its orchestra. without affecting IN any way that
performance of purely instrumental music which
has so long been its especial province. IL SIMPLY
m sans that the society. recoenizng the value and
importance Of the great mass OF works winch
require chorus LOT their periornance, hs fGsoi'e'
on new and broader policy which shall include
in its scheme works OF every class and Of every
school of music, old aud new, vocal and inoiru-
mental alike. The new field which Is thus
opened to the society, is almost limitle.s;
dnction Of the works thus placed within its
reach IS incalculable. The old Church Music
Association, the Oratorio Society aud kindred
important choral works, but their field is of necessity
limited one. and from the nature OF their objects
their scope must DC yas
Der of compositions of the highest value, which IL
Illustrate every stage of the DEVELOPMENT OF music;
the genius of the great masters, Knowledge of
which is absolutely essential to the proper under
standing of much that, is best and p1rest in
music, and which have thus far been for this coun
try sealed book 1t Is to the production OF works
Of this class that the Philharmonic Society purposes
study of them to be expected that the greatest
and most lasting benefits will ensue in the advance
ment of musical knowledge, IN the eleyation and
publication of the public taste aud 10 the creation
Of an intelligent appreciation OF what rs best In
choral music. ~, 1T. T..
Last nights concert showed the spirit in which
the Philharmonic Society has undertaken this new
work, and the high standard which IT gas
set for itself at the outset. Whether the superatve
excellence Of the performance De considered. OF re-
the works which formed the programme. or
whether we look at its significance as indicating the
new aud broader policy on the part OF the society
which for the Last forty years has been
ftaAfn
lin our midst il Is quite without prece:
dent in tbe history of the Pbha harmonic Society and
1t is unsurpassed II not uneQualed In the history of
fnnsln In tha CITY Ii would ha dflicnlt to find TWO