New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-14
MUSIC.
DAMROSCH AND SEIDL CONCERTS

ostui"sy iheht MI Walter Damrosoh invited the
patrons OF that organization make study OF the
present condition and capacity OF his band and the
ihci1V Vi MS readings such proceeding is honest
even II us luaciousness might be questioned at the
beginning OF season. During the last ten years
appreciation OF the higher manifestations OF music
has grown greatly in New-York Indeed It has now
attained stage where II seems 10 threaten the ex-
btehce OF all concerts devoted to the lighter forms
tcw p'nhotorte players howeve, admirable their Skill
dare venture TO give recals nowadays and the nd
'"s"io"e" MISCELLANEOUS concert Is almost become a
par'eh uaoluon' To obtain the stamp Of dignity re-
course must De mad 10 the orchestra These hngs being
So Is OF course incumbent upon the orchestral organ
lzauol, season by season. show signs OF improve
meht especially those whose permanency is guaran
teed either by endowment or q stable subscription
hSt' vi these NeW-Iork has two, the symphony
society ana the Philharmonic The former is first In
the field with Its challenge for judgment; the hitter
may be heard next Friday afternoon and Saturday
morning.
circumstance that has embarrassed criticism at
the outset OF each in NewYor for several years
lies in the imperfect ical conditions Of large
music rooms. At the Metropolitan opera House dur
LIE tie regime Oi the German and italian companies
two or three performances were always necessary TO
ehaoie one 10 habituae his that the music
might properly be heard. The need always inter
ered With perfect enjoyment OF the first Philharmonic
concert IN the case OF the Music Hall greater sorority
Is attainable, but there yet imperecons IN the
large concertroom which must be borne In mind, II
one wishes to AVOID lronouncing false judgment 1t
may have been recognition Of these impcrlcctions
that determined Mr.. Danrosoh this year to group all
MS oVnsle-baSses on one flank a the band. We do
not know, nor can say. that any advantage has
been gained by the change. Friday afternoon and
again on Saturday evening want Of homogeneily
ana refinement Of tone initiated greatly against com
pete enjoyment of the music. AT time there
| a hut fhe
crude and harsh In all the choir Of the band and they
refused to blend with each other. Effects that shodh
have been brilliant were merely garish, and when
Mr. pamrosch tried for breadth and fitness Of
Tor instance In the fushctto passage OF Beethovcns
funeral march,, the voices Of the instruments sounded
forced 10 the verge OF vulgarity. As for the kettle
drums, their every entrance was awaited with apprc
| hensve dread. We not believe that II Is the
fault either OF the player or his insru
ments, but the fact Is that Mr.. Damroschs tympani
are dreadfully noisy, uncouth and unmusical
In view of the fact that these pcculiaritics were
noticeable At the beginning OF last season, but wore
of very apprccaby from concert to concert we are
inclined TO charge the defects. at least "a lar;'
share Il them, to certain acoustca siaguarties Of the
hail to which, In time the ears Of the listener, viii
crow accustomed In respect Of boldness of attack
and precision the coatin gent which NJ. BroaSk>
has subordinate command made most CONNIE dablc
exhibition. admirable one, indeed, that We can
cny regret that the muscularty Of the band'- string
tone Is not paired with greater sensu0us charm. Bn
on all these points more accurate judgment VIII be-
possible at the next concert.
| The music of the concert consisted Of Beethoven
| Heroic symphony. the same composers hymn, 9TH
Heavens Declare Grieg's suite Aus Holtergs zeit,
| the air 80 Fatima" from Weber's "Atu
| Hassan,7 and the Bacchanalian music rom
| Tannhaeuser' as extended by Wagner for the
Partisan performance of 1sG1. The symphony, played
In parts with considerable precision failed to rouse
| enthusiasm 1t was delivered in perfunctory manner.
as II all its beauty and significance lay on the surface
and must needs disclose themselves II the notes were
PLAYED with reasonable Observance Of the marks Oh
| expression such symphonic reading have 40 Pi'''
| in the present musical life Of New-l ORR. IL "aS
probably the popularity by the music composed by
Criec for Poer Gynt" which led Mr. Dam1osch to tax"
! mn the earlier suite OF tine same composer These
| latter pieces. III their orchestral earo VheE are
ranscrptons for string orchestra OF panoiof'c pec
| have been seldom played since their ihuo'u'"o"
| ,nto our concert schemes by Mr. Thomas hcaIN
seven years ago They lack the pcturesqueneSs o. ''
Peer Gynt. music, and with due apologies ~ the
| auuotator OF the programme be 1t sndl also TIE
| national characteristics which have SuppAcl 80 III
tercsting an element TO Gtieg's compositions be'hI
only an experiment In the admired Instrumental forms
# go years ago But they are succ',si'i cAp'ii
! mont and very pretty music
Nine Belle Cole who has won great popularity In
London Of late years, the singer Of the evening
! The Old admirers Of her smooth aud III eng IL fi'
| nd admirable phrasins, were htt' dsappoih' Il Ia
Ter performances, which were more ph4tS nal' 'iAn
! was wont be the case and a-ao d'scl'''d Ten
dcucy toward coars, ness, which we have noted here
| ,ofore % a product Of Eng'd Influences The bau
inn letting OF Cellerl's hymn Die /! mmcl r"hnen,
was scarcely wise choice for such an OCCASION u is
one Of the sublmest Of Beethoven's songs but is
| grandeur finds publication best in tie cohcer' rom
through a choral arrangement such as the German
| singing societies are in the hatit Of using In It's
! original form as IA song for solo voice win l'hn"
orte accompaniment, except in the hancs Il conSum
,st artist Of the rad style, II is best fitted for
the eoioyment OF God at home as Goudnel SAID 81
| his harmonized arrangement Of the "'Ne'"h p'a''F
in Difference to the restrictive injunction Of Ca VIA
Mr. ecldl al the Lenox Lyceum last night devoted
the second OF his popular concerts TO music by wagner
and again demonstrated the potency Of that name II
xo,ryor1 Tie room was crowded, and great deal
., enthusiasm prevailed all cvenng-a little more than
WAS always capable Of juohfca'ioh we i|"r' NJ
lcas there seemed TO be no reason LOT 'he aPp'"''
vb.oh rewarded Madame Tavary after she had Shame
rnuv rnaltreacd prahInss lovely Cradle sone IN both
the vocal and instrumental parts In respCn'e 10 u
rscou in The first part Of the programme Inc Wan1
Of discrimination seemed 70 be merely cDm'Gq"'icSg
rht Dcrlapf be he'd to aoned for 10y the cirrnm'
stance thai Mr. Lrdwigs fine m ,eiIa,H' I wp
lbired 10 repeat Wolfram romance TO me EN"nHs
sta Among the orchestral numbers wac Ia'a.a
on ,nelodics from the arst act ~ L"heIIsIIh, hI
o., IA Nv rohn Rict7cl ono OF the members Of LIE
oTchcstra. The arrangement lao been Derry G'he,
U.h ntre recognition Of the rights OF contrast ana ur
an"billties of tho various Instruments IN uie bhi'
though his judgment IS pronounced htlc OF u!r,t
some Of the music beiag handicdPPc' w pun p''"e'
4, tine first Of Mr. Damrosch's Sunday night con
t IA ,be Music Hall that eIfterprsng director
,iod lrst experiment with plan which VIII do"o'
loss win much popularity this winter A''er "
nisceIIayeons first part, In which MIS- Juc I Nii
.icf or and The orchestra distinguished thcmSeIles ~
Tsctvo work Mr.. DamrJsch introduced an yPct"'lCt
on, Sunc I'm concert style. The music "hH ln"t y.