New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-12
MUSIC.
A NEW SYMPHONY.

| At the last concert of this seasons s.ri..
which took place ast night In the Academy Of xr..
the Philharmonic Society brought forward novelty {,
the shape of Mr.. Frederick H. Coven.
fourth or "welsh" symphony. THIS vo,<
was composed for the London PhIIharo,...-
Society and formed part of the scheme concert !,
that venerable organization May 10 of last year. A.
that time the symphony still In manuscript bur q
has since been published in full by Messrs Nove
Ever * Go. 1t in B fiat minor and was oriyiua,,s
without the characteristic title by which nov kpc~n
Its National color will perhaps be so generals
recognized that OF the Scandinavian synphopr
which preceded 1t from Mr. Governs pen Nevertheless
exists in certain rhythmcal pecuartes which can
ibe found In three OF its movements and In the sut
which pervades It, Mr.. Cowen accepted the designaieo
after the critics had named his work for him whethe,
the fact tribute the astuteness OF the critics or thu
complacency OF Mr. Cowen does not signify The title
does not help the work much, but It doe.
not mar it at all The purposes az
Mr.. Governs symphony obvious that there is no
temptation to dig for hidden meanings.
1t is o straightforward, oldfashioned symphony
strictly orthodox in form and orchestrated with tsss
and with the degree of knowledge Of nstru.
mental effects which prevailed in the first
year OF this centsry. Its melodies, especially
those OF the first and last movements fluent and es
ssnsly symphonic in style they accept naturally and
gracefully such treatment the sympbonist gives HE
material and show that spiritual likeness which is e.
sental IL symphony Of the old type is to have unity
But they not broad and strong and tho
rugged orcefulness which might reasonably be looked
for in a work which 10 In degree characteristic Of
the Welsh. The defect is noticeable in the work.
ing out" portions of the symphony Mr.. Cowen
nowhere swings himself up really vigorous uterancs
Repeatedly in the OF his work for instance in tho
subsidiary matter OF the second movement, he
the point OF becoming strong but falls back aghted
int the suavity which fills this movement, like
the last, with monotony. There is fine swing
in the principal subject of the first movement,
and his second subject On ID fat major has beauty
and Elasticity which scarcely be praised too much
these days when mslodic inventveness is at dis
count but in developing them he never gets out OF the
commonplace rut long enough I" on,, Gn.f
righteousness becomes coying. This tos, is the
drawback TO Mr. Governs ingenious scoring The change
with marvellous skill and is charming for several pages
OF the first movement but it 500 becomes weari-
some, and when nnally I'm the last movement he
narshas all his forces ey do not give out the swelling
body Of tone which the expects The scherzo is the
weakest portion of the symphony and is indeed very
weak not TO deserve consideration The Dardic harp
is introduced to accompany q broad and well.
scarcely have been omitted from Welsh symphony.
The work il interesting and each number received
cation of the creative skill of s composer and the people
whom he represents it is not whit more significant
at Mr.. Van der stucken's last Novelty Concert
Between this symphony and Beethoyens in minor,
MI JOstlly pdytu n haloi NeneNeo.
Mr. Josey has played here often that 1t has become
unnecessary TO discuss his interpretations. In effect
they are ali piece, whether the work in hand be
colossal fugue by Bach, Beethoven concerto or tribe
by the player himself Everything In the literature OF the
pIanOforte which Mr. Josey gives 10 the public he gives
In version which bears his label In the noteworthy
features OF his playing we can vel believe toat Mr.
Josefy has day rival. In the production OF mar
velonsly beautiful tonal effects IN conjunction vita
phenomenal iuency and cearness OF uterance his skn
Is simply bewidering. No cares to discover how ne
produces effects it is enough that they are there
They are phenomena contemplated by any system
OF panoforte technics Whether not works like some
the concertos which Mr.. JOsey plays including this
second one Of List, ought to be filtered through Mr.
Josefy sake of the merely sensuous pleasure
which his dital skill provides Is question thst at this
date must be left to ndvidua taste The major
by List Is not study 10 saccato playing; tne
broad which the orchestra under the direction
Mr. Thomas out its melodic subject sought to
have been evidence OF that. Yet NJ Iosefys playing
called out extravagant expressions OF enthusiasm. In
response a hearty recall he supplemented the con-
certo with LISTS Fantasia themes from Beethoyens
" Ruins OF Athens"