New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-11
MIR. HUSS'S CONCERT.

In ono aspect of the case II is rather unior'unae
that voung composers should ever think It necessary
to arrange concerts Of their own compositions "heH
Dr. Won BuelOw gives concert OF Beerhovens Mus"
there is no lack Of people ready to say that TWO hous
even Of Beethoven try the patience OF music lovers Do
matter how enthusiastic and sincere in their love they
NAV be- But there IS education either for The pho-
lie or tho ambitious composer like public performs
ance in music only hearing that is believing. and
ina ,much the audiences at concerts OF this chat-
acter generally made up Of friends and acquaint
ances of the concert gver the harm is not so great 40
It might be at first blush If writer OF taiens
he encouraged thereby 10 pursue better ideal, and
the discriminating comment of honest friends diseovers
faults which be corrected the good done out
weighs the harm, and the temporary sfiicuon may b
endured
We have no doubt that Mr.. Henry Holden Huss
will benefit from the concert Of his own compositions
given last night IN Steinway Hall. 1t was an affair
which did lack the usual drawbacks, but IL nevert
theless gave testimony to the seriousness and honesty
Of artistic purpose cherished by the young musician,
his learning and his unquestionabe, II yet hslting and
undecided talent for composition. The THO for
panoforte violin and voloncello which concluded ths
concert could be listened TO with genuine interest," we
believe that IT has many more beauties than wero
disclosed by the listess. unbalanced and unfinished
performance which 1t received at the hands OF Mr.
IIuss himself. Miss Maud Powell and Mr. Frederics
Bergner Good ensemble playing is department OF
besides Individual excellence. In the music, eS-
pccially in the first movements, there were in
dicatons of fancy above the commonplace, good
deal of technical skill and degree Of apprehension OF
aims and methods which missed I'm most OF the other
music In the eleven songs (siX Of them German, five
English lyIscs by TenDys0n. Richard Watson Glider
and L. j. Lee missed that spontsneity of vocal mel
ody which is essential good song writing, and the
sympathetic relationship between the accompaniment
and the voice part which is none the less essential.
Mr. Huss's model, have been German and he evidently
has high appreciation of the emotional potency which
les I'm modern harmonic treatment But In songs, no
matter how significant the pianotorte part may ba
made the chief thing Is after all the melody which Ia
much more likely TO achieve lis end If 1t gives ex.
preston 10 the prevailing mood of the poem than II s
seeks to publish the transtory significance OF each word
and line. simplicity and dectness Of utterance seem
ia be the qualities which Mr. IIuss needs most Had
his song Der LeuZ ist sekomm n" with its ally joy
Oils melody, been buOyed up by full. spirited, IN
affected acc0mp (say like that OF Memberships
Fruehlingsed"), II would not have failed TO produce
marked effect. Mrs. Toedt and Miss Wssnt sang
In most whole sOuiod manner and did full Justice D
the songs. Mr.. Ilnss was helped ethcteqE IN the IN
slmental portions Of the concert BY Ms Maud Pow
ell, Mr.. Frederick Bergner and Mr.. r. puickcn.