New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-05
THE BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

irRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
BosToN. April 2.-Nothing could give more
convincing evidence OF Mr. Hgginson's determination
TO advance the standard OF orchestral in Boston
than the policy which he carrying out with tho
Boston Symphony Orchestra. The organization con-
cluded its fin season Of weekly last Saturday
night on which occasion las well Sunday night
when the concert repeated for the bereft Of the
members OF the BAND we had an opportunity TO make
an estimate OF its quality. The work chosen by Mr.
GericKe wncn to sgnanze the occasion was Beet
boven's ninth symphony-ss good test-piece AZ the
literature OF music aiords Putting aside the questions
matters that enter into the conception OF
me wods ,b ana conductor ws can readily Believe
that Boston heard fine performance OF the n-
would not however. go far as did Mr.. Elson in The
Sunday Courier. aud say that the orchestra is
bursts Of local pride ike this easily forgiven. aud
are always TO DO taken as reflection OF or on the
writer's critical acumen 1t Is an amiable fault In con
scnous reviewer TO be extravsgan in appreciation OF
really noble things
cat time. IL must be confessed that the most
obvious defect in the Boston symphony Orchestra one
81 anew cas. For onc Society
and Mr. Thomsss orchestra have had wood wind choir
come decidedly fastidous in respects of fausts and
other blowers OF wood The Boston symphony Orches-
ira wood winds however. challenge some criticism indie
dependently of such comparison They are the only
really weak portion OF the oand ana they are unde-
produce the refined quality OF tone wheh ought 10 be
heard in 80 band a tn ns i e eas
other and the wood-narmony because OF this and the
diversity In tonecharacter wants homogenelty Of the
string quartet IT would be difficult speak with too
much praise. 1t is this portion or the band winch re-
ceved largest infusion OF and blood from
Germany at the beginning OF the season just ended
Herr Gericke seems to have the same belief as Mr.
Thomas Ia the OF young men, the experiences
OF both conductors have shown the OF their
conviction; In portions OF the symphony and all
through the accompaniment to Ocean, thou Mighty
Monster" (Which Nine. Fursch-Msdi sang Oh Saturday
evening" the string parts played with precision.
elasticity. refinement aud nobility toue and express
sivsness that were delightful IL the woodw wind and
uar 0Od IA fhair cAlIaa
other de OF the band and the OF
6nish were obtained from them which is OBJ aimed
from strngs, then indeed Boston might correctly
claim the possess of a model band.
The orchestra numbers seventy-hve players and its
compos is twentyeiEht vions. evenly divided be-
tween hrsts and second ten vioias ekht volonceios.
nine double basses and the usual complement OF wind
and percussion instruments Twenty members OF the
organization were brought by Herr Gorlcke from Ger
many al the beginning OF this IL Is pretty
orally known that Mr.. HigeInson gives Herr Gericke
carte blanche the administration or AFFAIRS ana CON
Germs himself only with results. Though IL II matter
which does greatly to exercise him. IL is pras
ant to record that there has been steady advance IN
the OF the concerto since they were begun nve
ysars ago under the direction OF Mr. Hensche ana tha
the aeason of S85 $50 financially as well as artist
icallr the most successful that the orchestra has bad
This fact doubtless had Its weight ~ Influencing Mr.
ug,inson 10 extend the actives OF the organization
Air Thomas In OF ganzing his present band looked 10
tho emancipation Of it's members from all other hsh
high class work and TO keeping them together under
the Mr. HfgensoD, has resolved 10 widen DIS
sS 9d ao S 10 Twelve 10 do tour Of
country win be begun this weekin the progress OF
louis will be visited Thus far the orchestra has been
heard only In half dozen New England towns OUTSIDE
Of Boston The local season consisted OF twenty four
concerts and the number OF public iehears3s In
May supplementary season OF hight popular concerts
will be gwen Friday afternoons and Saturday even
gs Ii is SCARCELY necessary 10 comment on the slgln
canoe Of the step contemplated by MI. GcrloEe iOT
awhile he thou9h of including New York In his list. but
music this could well stand. He Will. how
Svsr. 40 to Philadelphia.