New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-20
MUSIC.
ruE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

The third concert of the current series was gwen
under the direction of Mr.. Theodore Thomas at the
Academy Saturday evening The accompanying
programme was presented:
Serenade in G tmanuscript) &c Villers Stanford
II Overture. LeonOrc No. Beethoven
Ill Concerto in q, string orchestra facA
" symphony No 4, dramatic, op. .-....Ruhin'ten
The orchestra was in full force. and gave fluent
elegant and finely studied Interpretation of these
widely contrasted numbers. Nothing could have
been more faultess or spontaneous than the eXecu-
tion-perfcctly sustaining the traditional excel
lence of this organization. Mr.. Thomas certainly
has the secret of drawing out the best individual
resources of his Instruments Shading, phrasing,
accent expression, nmitable in their tran
ouil beauty. The novelty the Stanford Ser
enade. The work is in symphonic form. in the Sc
ouence of Allegro, Schcrzo Prestssimo-Not-
turno Adago; lntermezzo Presto and Finale, Al
legro viyace, Lullaby, AdagiO. Under these rhyth-
mic divisions the writer has given lovely
transcription of night melodies in all phases of emo
ton There Is profound sentiment without trace
of morbldness or commonplace. There is an atmOs-
phere of the higher ideazatiOn of these trite aud
familiar themes, from first to last II is literally
pageant of melodies which give an individual vOic
ing to all the multiplied constituents of the har-
mony While not severely polyphOnic. 1t sends all
the parts their way, with something winning
for the ear. There few traces of the untred
writer. The themes are broadly laid down and
treated with dehberation and elegant elaboration.
There Is a noticeable absence of OvercrOwded.
inCoherent somewhere musical impulses choke
and perpex the writer. spirit of confidence and
mastery penetrates the work through all its sue
cessIve movements. There is no repettion-no
disappontments. The Scherzo is full of rustllng,
airy, spiritual beauty quite unconventional, and
plainly neither ghost nor echo of any other The
Noctune quickened throughout with deep, plain
tive wealth of finely conceived melodIc figures.
and until its close the interest grows TO a full eli
macterc The work may be characterized as ex-
ceptionally graceful. re>tfu poetic 1t may pos
siblv be classed some day with the Midsummer
Nights Dream music. and its writer recognized IS
disciple but not imltatOr of Mende ISsOhn ana
SChumann. Rarely has a new score developed ouCA
promise and hopefulness in new composer
The great LeOnOre overture followed with almost
free/lur contrast i'm its severely modelled tragic
story. told with the terrible deliberatOn of the
Gdipu, lYrannus. The reading seemed exception
ally Intelligent and apprecdtlVe. Every one KNOWS
it and yet is this overture always fresh and quick
ennE. The planlSSlmO Shadlngs were managed
Bach Concerto. another bold contrast gave new
direction to the feeling of the evening. 10 behold
the severe master of the Passion Music given up TO
the cOutapuutal intrlcdces OF uOtOuS gaYotto-
oourtly. stately, elegant seductive, was certainly
novel experience II was delivered with fine en-
thusiJst and gave the audience timely rest and
breathing room.
The Rubnsten symphony at best is a burden
some duty al the close of such strongly favored
programme. Capricous, mpetuous, meyplicable.
incOhcraut hOpelessly confused and splendldly
melOdlOUs and persuasive. IN turn listener
grows bcwideTed and giddy II might, in the
large afford delight at the opening. but II is very
incubus at the foot OF programme As usual tie
Is