Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-19
DroRsk's srMpaoNY.
"from the New World" the Talented COM
poscr Has tsaiIed n.

poser HAS called It..
The second public rehearsal OF the Phil.
harmonic society az Music hall Friday was
certainly among the most notable of recent
orchestral concerts, marked as it was by the
hrst performance from manuscript OF q
new and important symphonic work from
the pen of the foremost symphonic writer of
the day, DR. Dvorak, entitled "From the
New World" MIR. Reginald DE Koven
writes of 1t in the New York World:
Any important work 10y so noted a COM
poser at its initial nearing would naturally
attract the attention and interest Of mu-
sicians and amateurs, but this particular
work does so to an unusual extent, owing to
the fact that IL is the first really important
work produced by DIR. Dvorak since he threw
IN MS lot among us, as we'll as one avowcdly
inspired-as to its essential contents at
least-by indigenous musical material, and
written under the influence OF surroundings
and conditions peculiar to this country, il
not IN the strictcst sense of the term ma
tional.
1t is manifcstly difficult to properly as.
simulate so important and extended a work
as DIR. Dvorak's new SYN phony on Il single
hearing, without having had an opportunity
TO see the score. n first impression rather
than Il final critical Judgment or ANALYSIS
can alone therefore be properly recorded at
thls time. In this symphony, according to
his own statement, DIR. DvoraK, notably in
huenced by his American surroundings, has
endeavored TO reproduce the funda mental
characteristics OF the Indian and negro mel
odies he found here and made a study of in
their essential meaning rather than their
formal external traits, by means of the spe-
ritically musical resources which his ~inspira-
tion furnished.
The symphony must thus be regarded as
nn ~ nj Enn t,A,. - tlA ...... go .l.--
the letter of what DIR. Dvorak is pleased TO
call national American music. Whether it
will be accepted as Enthusiastically ma
tional in the spirit of Its composers meaning
ana purpose, or whether, indeed, negro or
Indian melodies, or limitations or rcproduc.
tions of them, however clever or scientific,
can Justly be considered as representing
national musical thong hit, are questions
which can hardly be discussed here.
u Is, however, certain that in this, his
world, a work attractive, interesting and
mastery, both in the nelodic freshness
aud individuality OF its themes, and
the skill and ingenuity with which
the thematic material is handled
and orchestrally expresscd, as well as one
which must be considered as a most important
addition to modern symphonic literature.
Of the four movements, the first is probably
the most generally attractive and spon-
famous, as it is also the one which best
ptN ~ IAINhlti ulu
intent. Two of the three principal themes
set iorth IN this movement, which also
dominate the entire work rs they recur in
various forms in each OF the three succeed
ing are appreciably negro in
character. Indeed, throughout the entire
work the influence of the negro melodies has
evidently been paramount with DIR. Dvorak,
although the Indian melodies, being less
familiar, one can hardly tell Just to what
extent they have inspired him.
One would think mat the scherzo, n bril-
liant, spirited, rhythmically forcible move
ment, perhaps more than the others, was
written under the Indian influence. The
larghetto'a dreamy, languorous movement,
suggesting the I'm broken quiet of a virgin
forest which is full of charm. is almost too
placid. too poetic, too contemplative in
character to be considered Enthusiastically
national in spirit. In the last movement,
which is broad and massive, with a curious,
majestic sort OF plaintiveneSs, it is a little
difficult TO trace the purpose of the composer,
except in the splendidly effective coda where
the principal themes are worked up into a
climax fairly thrilling in intensity and
power.
AS n whole, the work is subjective rather
than objective, suggestive rather than de-
scriptive or pictorial. 1t is highly interest
ing as an exemplitication of the influence of
new surroundings aud conditions of life on a
highly trained musical nina, whatever may
be its bearing upon so-called national music
or the foundation Of a distinct national
school, and.also highly instructive in show.
ing what effective artistic use may be made
OF tho musical material indigenous to this
country, which lies ready to the hand Of any
one who will but take it. t.
Whether DIR. Dvorak has borrowed his
themes or not--had he been an American he
would certainly be accused of so doing in
several instances-the work as a whole is
eminently individual in style and treatment,
splendidly scored with delightfully."- varied
color, episode and incident, and must on the
whole be regarded as a successful accomplish
ment of it's composers object and purpose in
writing il. The symphony was thoroughly
well played by the orchestra, and read will
great understanding and in evident accord
and sympathy with the composers meaning
by Mr.. Seidl.