New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-06
MUSIC.
DIR. DVORAK'S NEW CANTATA.

DR.. DvORAKs NEW CANTATA.
4, q concer; I'm the Concert Hall OF the Madison
Square Garden last Saturday evening Dr. Dvorak
setting in cantata form OF brakes ode 70 the
American Flag" had It's first public performance
II was the first concert OF a new choir called the
N4w-York Musical Society. which was organized by
and is under tho direction OF Mr.. Frank c. Dessert
and most of the features OF the entertainment were
highly crediiab.e 70 the new organization ana iis
director though TO professional and amateur mns-
clans the interest lay chiefly In the new composition
Tho choir sang well in the MAN. the solo singers
Saving the unnamed contralto who called upon
10 sing The shor, SOLO In Mendelssohns "FIrS, wal
nurrs Nzht" because % the tardiness OF Miss
Clary) were efficient, that most conscientious ana
admirable artist. Miss Maud Powell. played BruchS
frs; violin concerto In a style which would have
been welcome IN n concert OF any OF veteran
concert organizations. and Mr.. Dessert. though he
betrayed nervousness and ncxpcricncc In the am
cult task OF conducting. yet acquitted himself 50
well as TO convince the critical that he has gifts
In that direction that ought not 10 remain uncuu-
waited. II was dignincd concert. one that strove
for good ideals and II the society continues in exist
and Mr.. Dessert receives the proper amount
and kind OF encouragement 1.-TWO IFS which W.
fancy in fact but onc, 1t Is safe TO say that It's
future concerts Will materially enlven ana enrcA
musical life.
Dr. Dvoraks cantata presents an ungracons task
10 the reviewer. Putting aside all sentimental. con-
siderations. 1t is neither an easy nor pleasant
thing 10 be obliged 10 speak WOTus OF ulsdpPoHN-
ment and dispraise Of the work Of composer 10
whom the world much as II does to Dr.
Dvorak. Yet such words. and few others. seem TO
US commanded by this composition. For long time
IL has seemed to IL one OF the chief merits OF
Or. Dvorak lay in the righteousness Of his musical
utterances. He seemed to be the last Of naif must
clans. the direct descendant of Haydn Mozart and
Schubert. In spite of the ingenuity OF his orches-
ration. the daring OF his harmonies the individual
y OF his idiom. he kept before us the thought that
he like those who heard him. rejoiced in his music
because OF It's self-suicent beauty. Especially was
this noticeable In the three compositions which are
at present exciting the admiration of European con-
noisseurs because Of their novel elements drawn
from the popular music OF the United States-the
symphony From the New World" and the quartet
and quintet, opera 80 and 81. 1t a recognition
Of this most amiabe virtue which made Dr. Hans
lick. of Vienna. hail the finale of the quintet the
most delightfully."- naif and sef-satisied bit of cham
Der music written since Haydn What shall be said.
then. of composition in which 1t is impossible 10
find spontaneity of thought or of treatment, which
Is barren of originality and which, though con-
fessedly patriotic in its purposes. is distinguished
by nothing which can be down : a tribute
the American people? For the sake Of DR.. Dvoraks
well-earned and great reputation 1t is pity that
he gave The American Flag for the sake OF
the good which his inspiriting words and more eio-
quent example were doing in the way OF stimulating
thought and ambition in the American composer. it
Is greater pity. We cannot believe that the
Influences which moved him 10 do were worthy of
his genius. that they will do anything else than
injure him and defeat themselves What those in
fuences were is matter OF conjecture merely but
there will be many who will think that they
guess at them from the circumstance that hard
upon the heels OF the announcement that he had
been engaged to come to New-York the intel
hgence that he work a setting OF brakes
ode. That three years ago. yet the pianoforte
score of his cantata. which has been published by
Schirmer, OF this city, is numbered op. 1922 which
would seem TO make II of the latest of his COM
positions
Dr. Dvorak is in Europe and he left behind
him no statements from which the story of the
composition might be got at. Judging from the
evidence OF the music 1t would not be bad guess
10 say that II not written the work
sketched at the time when the of his
ployment upon IL reached this country. II shows
not trace of that enthusiastic appreciation of
the American people and American institutions
which the composer has frequently expressed OF
late and TO which We believe he has set monu
ment enduring II Is beautiful in his latest
symphony. Neither is there employed In IL any OF
the characteristic rhyihmcal or melodic elements
which mark the majority OF the themes in that
symphony and the two pieces OF chamber music
which We have mentioned. Moreover. the hrst
number OF the cantata discioses singular mis-
conception OF the spirit of the poem. such
foreigner might fall into who had had no means
OF familiarzing himself with brakes bombastlc
ode. Those opening lines with which nearly three
generations OF American school boys have made
all split on exhibition days" are set IN mood
Of religious contemplation. like the scene OF the
alteration Of the Holy Grail. The parallel Is not
capriciousy chosen. II any one thinks II II lot
him compare the following lines. sung very slowly
('Lonto macstoro' IN the time denigna,lonJ with
tho eucharist theme IN Wagncrs solemn drama:
n