New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-24
4 CONCERT OF AMERICAN MUSIC.

Mr. C. Mortimer wlskc, who IS giving series oil or
chcstral concerts in addition 10 his many choral ell
tertanments in Brooklyn this season, last night de-
voted the fourth Of these concerts TO American COM
pnSers That fact invited attention 10 the OCCASION
The American composer has In the past suffered from
neglect and It seemed patriotic duty. as well as
duty toward this Journal. which has for long term
~ wears advocated recognition Of native talent IN
the musical field, that reviewer OF musical doints
should be on hand so audabe an occasion as uio
announcement might naturally lead one to suppose
Mr. Wlskes concert would be. Truth compeis inc
confession however that the American composer never
suffered half so much from neglect as he dld
from attention at this concert. II avale"
nothing that one panoplIed In good-nature ana
natriotism and had adopted rule Of action that
the true province Of criticism was to separate eA
ceence from defect and present the former Tor puoo
recognition ignoring the latrr. The wheat was 80
hidden tn the chan that amount Of good nature
patrotsm and desire 10 promote the cause OF American
music was equal to the task OF careful and con
scientlous wlnnowing. After nearly two hours oil
painfu endurance the strongest impression that could
he carried away from tho concert was that IL WIS
the urgent duty Of the Manuscript society or some ohef
body OF American musicians. 10 appoint suaiudn
ad Item or friend 70 sue ont writ Of iiIuh''on
AGAINST Mr. WisAc if ever again he should undertake to
patrnuiZe the American muse tn the way OF Nau'lH
concert II wa, m orchestral concert, but an hour
and three quarters ma pdNH''l u'A''' ''''
music had been reached in which the band could speak
a language that was recognizable As orchestral fcr-
hans an exception ought be made In favor Of k'pe
Thallons Evening song,7 but that was only Craze
hIl and effectively written melody for strings ana hap
and looked out but mo.estly from behind the mAfc"'
| overture and symphonic movement that stood OH
the list before IT, In those prctentious pieces the
orchestra spoke sort Of Voapuk or patois that may
have been many things IN the estimation Of INC com
hut uae music. n" banu III
| fact only found its tongue, II we except tho Two
| foreign pieces introduced by Madame llauk. IN MI
Bucks Romanza for four horns and orchestra VINO"
almost belongs to preceding generation 70 FAR AZ '
date Of It's composition IS concerned As to tho Things
that happened after the dstrcssful two hours "ere
past, no account be given here.
It hodge pcdSe OF programme ana Monanie
Hank added 10 IT'S extraordinary character by
| singing Elsa's recital 81 her vision very. very
badly In Italian Having won the ehthuS'aSuo
| plaudits Of the audience by this means. she sup
plemented Wagncr's music with 1.-THE OId foi"s
AT Home" PLAYING her accompaniment after taxing OH
her gloves The removal OF her gloves evoked an
equal amount 81 enthusiasm; IL was such an act "i
| devotion 10 the American muse. But as the melody
she sang was worth all the American music which had
been performed up 10 that time many times over inc
iudlclous found II possible to forgive her In strong
contrast was the simple and dlgnhcd behavior OF MISS
Maud Powell who played concerto Tor vloIln com
posed by Mr.. Harry Rowe shelley IN A"Hfcrhhu H7'
summer. That artistic performance Tor "hl'h
not only Miss Powell. but Mr. shelley can honestly 10"
CONGRATULATED II invited ,crious attention to the
mu.lc Much OF this attention the composition lu7u
fed The work j. composed IN Mr. shelley mcIsilo',
vein, but suffers from an accompaniment 80 s,anu Anu
mouoouou- A. 10 be unworthy oi the noble appiaii-
cupl we'd In II. \ concerto 1, a dlgniled artist"
,~n and no matter how convinced one may be 81 thc
ucco,sity Of lifting the solo instrument Int" prom
hence II will not do I'm this day to deny all Interest 10
Tho accompanimeut. A. for the -Dlo part, II may
he said That there indications In II tina; Mr. shelley
whose melody I. a happy conproml,c between inc
n,nular ballad and music Of loftl"r kind, has com
mrudahle IDEAS 0f what 1s the VIOLIN and that he mas
managed al any rate. ~ keep clear ~ the remnis
rocns which are often found In the early efforts OF
-n,,rr cnlnn.ser.. 10 handle tho lArgo fnrm,.