New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-07-25
A MUSICAL PILGRIMAGE.
END OF THE LONDON CONCERT SEASON.
fFRON srAYY CORREsr0NDgNr OF THE rRfBuNH.1


With last weeks entertainments the London con.
cert season TO an ~nd. Its conclusion Ices
abruptly marked than was that Of the New York
season. but to those who arc disposed to look at the
musical activities of tho metropolis from their
serious side interest in the doings Of singers and the
drawers Of bows and blowers OF brass ceased with
tho last Richter concert on last Monday. This
concert, the same class Of observers were Of
mind IN agreeing was tho finest product Of the
season Il certainly was the nobest musical enter
tainment which I was privileged to attend In
London. Beethovcn's solemn mass in D-maJor WAS |
tho work performed. Some reflections suggested by
1t will recur to little later just now I an con-
serned to make plain the point Of Wow from which |
shall proceed in few strictures challenged by o |
fortnights Close observ atoms Of musical gongson
in London.
According to theEngish idea As we had 10 exen- |
pllded not long ago in the United States bv . |
representative writer from this side Of the Atlantic
fortnight in London 10 more than ample time |
within which to equip ones self to write
present State" Of music in the United Kingdom. |
n mistake not careful computation Of the time
spent by Mr.. Joseph Bennett, Of t1s staf OF Tho
Daily Telegraph. outside Of the railway carriages
during his recent visit to tho States placed it at
three weeks: yet within thst time, 1t will be
remembered, he managed somehow to ct himself TO
write series Of observations on music from Boston
to San Francisco mot forgetting Salt Lake City and
San Antonio or Los Angees which were viewed at
least with wonder In New-York City. Mr. Bennetts
sources Of inspiration wero . little unfortunate 1t
times. and those who know his honesty and desire
To DO just were prompt enough In finding explana-
lions for his warped ideas touching music in the
American metropolis. am happy IN being able to
say that his published views not those Of the
representativ men n music here. On the contrary
have found ell naods. but especially among the
men whose names stand for English mnsic not only
an admiration for the musical activities Of the
United States which is highly hattering to onr
people, but keen appreciation Of the shortcomings
of the mother country and frankness Of criticism
which, were to indulge in it would in all Proba-
b,lty bo scourged BY such Of the Tories Of the
English Newspaper press 10 would honor Inc with
notice. But ain inclined to be kinder TO London
than her own children, and I will not say. ~
several OF thoss children have said to me. New
York is far in advance Of LONDON in the serious
cultivation OF music" however correct and just
may deem tho observation. "Comp afisons are
odoroua" an bound to say. however, that in two
weeks time had several opportunities to study
features of London concert life which sIe ealcu.
lated to give warrant to the Continental idea that
the English people arc at heart unmuscai.
Americana have long been twitted BY their elder
bringing forth tho biggest things on earth"
How members Of . community which patronizcs
concerts in the Crystal Palace and the Royal
Albert Hall can talk IN this fashion l. certainly
incomprehensible. In no American festival. l
speak advisedy. has art been sacrificed to the pen
chant for big tbinss" in the degree that Is charac
teristc Of these entertainments which se seriossly
SGT down and reviewed - concerts. To give con-
certs such place. 10 IN airout to the muses. and
testimony to tie want OF artistic feeling in the
directors, performers snd public AZ mach also.
is the character OF the music performed. Only
few days ago IN agent called on Miss Emily
Wiuans who is spending brief season here and
who made Q most admirable impression at ono Of
tho Patti concerts in the Royal Albert HalD 20
engage her 70 take part in . concert in which all
her aniOrs wero chosen from the first ranks Of
English artists. The engagement was welcome OF
course but when II came to selecting the pieces to
be sung she was urged to consent to Hail
Columbia" 10 It'd bit thrown IT, Independence Day
Saturda, at the Roy sl Albert Hall number which
was received with Isptnrous applause vas an
English version of the simple old German tolksong.
incorporated in bis repOrtory ~ the manifest
deliubt OF the English concert goers, We all know
what charm the Old song (which the programme
credited to FoImes has in the mouths Of babes and
sucklipgs; it remained for the English people TO
discover its fitness for concert purp0sea 1 am
MT that the ouncement that Sims Reeves
will sing "Como into the narden. Maod or
Sulivan's Lost Chord" 10 guarantee at any time
for numerous audiences and hundreds OF handker-
chiefs believed with sentimental moisture. Fancy
such state of affairs in the Oncertrooms Of New
York, Boston, Cincinnati or any one OF dozen
American cities! Fancy. also, an admired
singers repsrtory limited to q few OF such songo.
agreement with the publisher Of the songs by which
SHE receives royalty on every copy sofa, ami con-
sequently it is to her pecun,srv interest 70 Throw
artists. publishers and public put a premium Oh
bad or indifferent music and neglect the good.
But AM echong an English grumble ana am III
danger Of not having the fact recognized. ~
would DO . much more congenlai occupation 20
speak Of some OF the delightful features G tne
concerts which heard. These had their Gu lmina-
ton in tho peri ,rmance of the Missa Solemn.
already referred to- Herr Ricbters concerts have
life of London aud it is well for the English people
and VOL for music in England that IL IA 90: IL
them, at least, . high ideal mas been nalntalned'
formers are fore gners, this DOS not detract from
tho Significance aud value Of tho concerts a.
ional institutions 10 fact. If should rashly
venture npon q conclusion from o fortnight's
Observ ATOMS | should say that 1t was hivh timo
that either by an adTxture OF foreign elements or
a revolution among the native element a new life
he infused INTO the orchestral rnnsic OF London:
was given an opportunity to hear the Phil-
harmonic Society. and though It vas pleasant Z"
lea IN that the venerable institution had this season
met all its expenses the musicians anu critics OF
London do not seem to agree in attaching much
i'm port ance to tho concerts given. can he more
readily undo staud how this may have been the
case after some recent observations Of the work of
English conductors / recall that not many years
ago q German musician who had visited London
being called on for his observations while there
summed them up IN the statement that he had
attended q rehearsal Of the Philharmonic Society
az which Sir Arthur Sullivan sat with his leg,
crossed while he drilled the band in Beethoven's
Heroic symphony. at concerts conducted by Mr.
Henry Leslie aud Mr. Cusins. the Music Master
TO the Queen which 1 attended, the picture pre-
ssnted by the conductor leaning back against q
support white he directed his forces was even more
Indicative of want of energy aud interest than
that of Sir Arthur with his legs CROSSED aud in
each instance tho want OF energy in the perform
snce was precsel, what might have been ex-
| p.cted. IT, then, the sceptre OF supremacy in
haa naasal