New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-02
MUSIC-THE DRAMA.
MR. RJTMMEL,S FIRST RECITAL.

Mr. Franz Rummel. in opening his series of seven
historical plano ectals yesterday broke again a
silence that he has maintained this season with much
greater persistcncy than has been acceptable 20 sin
ecre music lovers. The undertaking which he has
Just begun, however, will so far as compensation,
for 1t Is destined to be most important and interesting
addition to the musical experiences OF the year. and
Is moreover one that Mr.. Rummel Is admirably fitted
70 carry out He has laid out series of seven re-
citals covering the entire literature Of the piano
from the old English. French and Italian writer's Of
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries down to
composers now living and working In Europe and
this country In the fulflment Of this plan Mr.
Rummel has chosen his programmes with uncommon
judgment and insight and with sense of histor-
teal perspective that will make the series not Only
Delight musioally but illuminating and instruct
I've exposition Of the growth of most 'mpor'ah,
phase OF musical art Yesterdays programme incnded
the names OF william Byrd aud John Bull the Eng
lsh composers Of the sixteenth century; Coupenh
Rsmeau and scarath, Johann Sebastian Bach and
Handel, Graun, Carl Philip Emmanuel Bach. Haydn
and Mozart. beethoven will, of course, be gwen an
entire afternoon today, In which Mr.. RUNNER VIII
play six OF his most characteristic sonatas' tlch CONF
the immediate followers and imitators OF thn MASTER
torether with schubert and Weber; Schumnnn stands
alone upon the next programme, and Brahms ana
Mendsussohn divide the succeeding one then ioho"s
Chopin, with an uncommonly comprehensive choice oil
to usat and to living composers of variety OF schools
Mr. Ru,nmel's wholc>soucd devotion to whatever he
undertakes was never clearly shown than In his
treatment OF his first programme yesterday In when
the archaic element was necessarily 50 conspicuous
Byrds Quaint variations upon the old English aI the
Germans Whistle" and Bulls "The Kings Hunting
Jigvs with It's elementary attempts at initiating the
horn were played with scrupuous observance OF
their composers intent was Bach's great ChIo
matic Fantasia and Fugue. Some Of these earliest
plcces indeed, make Unexpectedly heavy demands
upon the resources Of pianist of these days "a
for instance, Couperin's "Le Bavoet Foitaht' Ill
which more than Enthusiastically modern erect
in piano technique is fOeShadowcd, Mr.. hummer
playing OF Scarlatti's "Cats Fugue," the thFN OF
Bach's well-Tempered Clavichord and his Chromatlc
Fantasia and Fugue eptome of all that 10 best
In this special department-so clear and luminous III
tho exposition OF the polyphonc structure. so beau
TRULY balanced and withal expressed with such fne
feeling as q musical whole Mr.. Rummel plays Bach
with the true breadth and power, and this portion OF
his programme. Including besides the pieces named,
the bAat Parta, gave especial distinction TO ms
afternoons work. The spirit In which he approa he'd
tbo ondapte and variations by Haydn and the fanta ia
and sonata by Mozart, showed equal sympathy with
these works. The audience ey1nced an ample APP
prcclation of Mr.. Inmmel's admirable playing.