New-York tribune., 1883-11-04
MUSIC.
BROOKLYN PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

The programme of the first concert of the
Philharmonic Society Of Brooklyn, which took place last
night. index TO the character Of music 10 which
MI Thomas and his admirable forces going TO treat
the good people OF Brooklyn this season The serene
dignity Of the classics is 10 be preserved and s In man
ner TO give the Of concerts yet novelties OF
interesting character to be given and the brilliant
music OF the neo-Germanic or Romantic school IS
to throw emphasis upon the characteristic points
The programme Of last nights concert was as toliows
Air, Lord to TSoe Theoaora,,", Handel
Scotch Rhapsody Burns" op "a "A. O. Mackenzie
Air, Che faro {" OEpheus - ali, ..'''''''' ''u0A
BAH scene from Romeo and Juliet ".-......- Beriioz
tagging Of interest in the first characteristic SYM
phony Of Beethoven hardly conceivable SO long as
there remains love for pure music but the interest In
the work last night was heightened by experiment In
the performance The experiment did not ex'end 70 tbe
reading OF the work. but only to the composton OF the
hand the wood windinstruments being doubled Win
view of increasing the body OF tone and obtaining
moro even balance. The choice of the "Heroc" sym
nhony was good one with zwhich TO make
the experiment which would seem TO be OF
dubious utility in some, at least OF the other
eight companion works. The prompting 10
make the innovation does not we believe, arise rom
wish to put into the composition than the composer
contemplated but only to give more eloquent utternce
TO his written word Mr. Thomas In his orchestra last
night had no less than seyenty-two string payeGS-
men with excellent instruments capable OF giving out
maryeously rich and powerful body Of sound Against
such mass he probably thought fuller volume OF 7ouna
from the relatively weak wood winds might be ONSET WIN
proht The same experiment has been tried IN Germany
and has gwen pleasure That good results when the am
pihcation made discreetly was shown last mShl Inc
first movement gained in vigor ana muScui"i'F'
and In the tpnis there was made manifest
thrilling volume OF sound. The colorlng did not
always seem TO be that which have been taught 10
look upon as BeethOven's aim, but THIS was only III the
lighter portions Fortunately for the success OF 'e OK
pertinent Mr.. Thomas has command OF such e1coient
forces that doubling OF the parts did not cause any
burng of the lines of the pieces His orchestra Is oanu
Of virtuOsi
The programme contained a cOmpostiOn-the
rhapsody by A. c. Mackenzie, comparatively young
musician, who is enjoying especial favor III dfe"'
Britain this season since the success OF his opera
"Colomba" Mr.. Thomas has thought him worthy
OF introduction to Americans through the
Philharmonic Society Of this city as well
as Brooklyn and another Of his compositions
will adorn the programme OF the first concert of our Phl
harmonic Saturday. work like his Scotch Rhhp-
sody" in itself interesting, furnishes hardly suhcleht
ground upon which estimate of his worth as
mscian yet exceedingly credtable to him that his
music should find its way into schemes which are so leal
ousy watched as are those Of Mr. Thomass two Soci-
etes and equally credtablc that II should be received
with so many evidences Of pleasure as were called out
by the performance last night Mr. MacGenzie's method
in the rhapsody is not very novel Though uniting ITS
three movements into single piece, he has not given
his work the unity which look for in modern sym
phonic poems. He rather 20 have followed tho
lead Of his Hungarian rhapSodcs for the piano
forte some which have been transcribed for the Or
ohestra with marvellous skill by Carl Ml0lerBergha,s
He has taken three Scotch melodies which are sung To
Rurnss words and which afford fine contrasts OF time
and sentiment, and developed them singy ia truly
rhapsodical manner For the National characteristics
he has depended the melodies themselves than
on their treatment except in instance There Is
nothing in his work compare for faithful reproduction
of the National spirit with Gukas transcription "t the
KanarinsEald, for instance Gades arrangement OF
Scandinavian melodies Yet hc had very effective ma
teria as all will admit who know the melodies or the
snnS by Burns which the notices OF the three parts
Of the RHAPSODY.
few scotch turns besides the fundamental melodies
were all the National element that marked In the
first two movements but in the last we had the bag pipes
drone and the quaint and happy piping OF the chuute
reeds ..-
Madame Trebe gave beautiful exposition OF artisuc
singing in her two programme airs and Mozas Vol che
sapee which she sang after several hearty recalls had
beokened the great delight given by her perfoTnahCe
OF Handrls air. Her Interpretation OF the
three classic pieces deughtIm ChahBe
from the vast OF vicious NOcaiZatlOn when we
are Obliged TO hear the two opera houses
The spirit was screncly beautiful her an was
perfect symmetry. repOse and intelligence marked every
phrase aud IL only lacked frcsher voice. and occasion
ally trer TO make her singing absolutely perfect