New-York tribune., 1895-10-13

ness NJ uttersnce and a recognition OF symmetry
Of form were the "be all and end all OF '"e
art. time-beater sufficed 10 this end. But NO"
the contents OF music are greater the vessei h"'
been wondrously widened, the language Is w
come c,,rio,Isly complex and ingenious ana no
composer can write down his thoughts so mat
they are universally Ineligible. Some one m''s'
grasp the whole expound II to the factors winch
make up the performing sum and interpret "
70 the public That some one Is the conduc'or'
and II IL scarcely TO be wondered at that ne mas
become n person Of stupendous power IN 'he
music culture Of to-day The one singuiari'y u
that he should be so rare. This rarity mas hhd
Its natural consequence and the conductor WIZ
can conduct. in contradistinction to me con
ductor who can only beat time, Il now II s''''
At present we see him going from place 10 piac'
In Europe giving concerts, at which he Is SOU
and sometimes sole attraction. hundred DOW
ers OF brass, scrapcrs Of strings ana 'oou''S y"
windy wood labor beneath him transipu'ihg Inv
composers mysterious symbols Into hVihs
sound and when II Is all over we frequeh"!
and that Il seems 70 have been done for TIE
yrea,er glory Of the conductor Instead OF the
glory OF the art.
Wo are not finding fault with the custom indis
cr,m,notclv. but simply recording 1t for rue pur
pose Of directing attention to A phenomenon J"
,,h,ch we Americans have an interest Of curiosity,
~ NOT prIde Three conductors who are now ENJOY
ing n special measure OF European renown maze
,he,r richest and most valuable experiences III
tho J-nited States Mr. Henschel has been con
duct,nr symphony concerts for ten yenrs In Lon
don and has achieved with them financial aS
.oII no artistic success In spite Of English con
servotism. And Mr.. Hensche won his spurs as
n conductor in Boston. Instead Of thinking MS
hr,of American soiourn Improbable he went
back to Europe a decade ago with the confession
,,ot no had learned more in the last six months
Of his American career than in as many years
| I'm his native Germany. Mr. HPrche anu W.
Nikisch were men Of larger experience than MI
| Hcnschel in the department OF conducting p"
they. too found the opportunities offered to them
in this country ncalculaby greater thah 'n''
had eyer enioycd abroad or are likely TO enjoy
| again. unless they should return TO take 'h'i'
| old Mace at the head OF Mr. Higginson's superb
| institution America has thus bad much larger
| part than seems ever 10 have been suspec'eu III
developing these artistic prophets ana nlt'hg
| them into public view. Perhaps, too America
is responsible for n widening OF their Ideas
which has not produced such unalloyedly amiaoie
| results Mr. Gericke returned 10 his old nome
and one Of his old posts In Vienna he took
INTO himself wife, and thus riveted the bonds
which held him TO the Austrian capital. But
| alas. there came reports Of dsagrecments Win
the tme-honored customs Of The Society OF the
Friends OF Music, and Mr. Gericke retired from
his post as their conductor. Mr.. Niklsch left us
before the expiration Of his contract to become
director Of the Court Opera at Budapest, bur
no had been there scarcely n year when there
came an explosion between him and the royal
mowers that be- and now he is going 10 conduct
| the Gewandhaus concerts in Leipslc regularly
and play the part of star" conductor ut the
| philharmonic in Berlin Did these good men
imbibe social and political notions Incompatible
, with the regime under which they were brought
up along with musical experience whlle mere