New-York tribune., 1896-12-06
MUSICAL COMMENT.
MIJSICAC C1JMME ENT.
I'm WEEKLY CALENDAR-MR. WILLIAM
arpINwAY-HIs INFLUENCE ON
UJsIC-NOTES ON CURRENT
AFFAIRS HERE AND
ABROAD.

9u.saai si'ai BY Hans KrOnod Chamber Music Hail
rec,,a by sievekins; Sis 2; m, SECOND recital BY
Bronslaw Hubernann; Hotel Waldorf $50 p
N metropolitan matinee musical
w'a7ssaaSSaNus0ear w'aTsnnSauser IN French p. ,n "FaustS
Hotel M pamcfoTs rectal
M Mr Krs6bss psti'ps pS;b Lecture on the
part. Metropolitan Opera House. D. m. con-
csrt csrt Of the Boston Symphony Orchestra; Men
vsi Gle oSd Gdu6 6rdn nn hrsdey r % recital by
,,,aayNcarnegie Hall p. M. public rehearsal for
tie second Philharmonic concert: Metropolita9
p conses bg ,Sd
RRoston symphony Orchestra. under the auspices
oS ,Se Brooklyn Institute.
.Morta'; Carnegie Hall. p. m. second concert
Snctor: tor Academy Of Music. Brooklyn. p. m.
aTeTnoon concert OF the Boston Symphony Or
chesra
ur William steinway. who died lest Monday
~o-n,nr and was buried on Wednesday afternoon
x,th imposing and impressive artistic and civic
,onors was SO potent an influence In the musical
er.rs of the city ard country that IT would be I'M
rossible 10 name another man whose death would
Nv. bssn so far-rcachins In its disturbing influence
o, full extent of his artistic activity has never been
n,a.,v known To the general public his con-
,,o, with music seemed limited by his aots
.ha head Of the great pianoforte manufacturing
.orroratton Of Steinway & Sons. Even for those
,s since II easy to think them dictated
h,.av by sef-intercst 1t is possible to imagine that
y. never received sufficient credit. Certain II Is.
con.,dsring the active competition between piano.
.orA manufacturers ard the vast amount of capital
employed in the business, that If the advertising
vs,ue OF bringing such artists as Rubinstein Pad
erewsh and Rosenthal to America was all that
is thought by some, moro manufacturers would
struggle for the privilege. In this field. however.
Stinway & Sons have practically had neither COM
pct;ors helpers. and Il IS therefore possible 10
ignore the commercial aspect OF the case altogether
and speak fervent tribute Of gratitude TO the dead
man for the innurnorable benefits which musical
culture has derived from the policy which he pur-
sued.
That policy was a matter Of love to Mr.. Steinway.
He encouraged music in o pr.ncely manner. not
merely because 1t was part of his business but
because he fond of 1t. In his early years that
fondness took the most perfect form of expression
possible-in personal participation. Long years ago
the WRITER having occasion to speak Of the iniiu-
ence which German singing societies have cxertod
unon the cultivation of music in America. wrote:
When the German came he brought with him his
The traditions which have been, fixed in his
through centuries of national growth are not
shaken by a change in his national surroundings
He crosses the ocean but the music OF the Rhne
he makes his home the Western prairie, but still
within the shadow M Of the he BgS2tsR GSnT nd and s
song with him, and SO soon as he hnds
ins insttuiions of his faiherland are estabilsned
Prominent among them IS the Munnergesang Il IS
song and companonshp. 1t celebrates the things
nearest his heart-his love, his country, nature,
fbs oye Of ese e and SO as he is
to comprehend anything they are instilled into his
songs which, with simple sentiments
and tuneful melodies both the fruits OF truest in
spiraton. create and nourish the loves of his race
Mr.. steirway was such German. For many
mars he was an active member OF the Liederkranz.
He could not get upon his feet AT gathering OF
musicians or music lovers without bubbling over
with "reminiscences of his singing days He was
proud Of his physical prowess as young man. but
prouder of the range and strength Of his tenor
voice. He liked TO tell Of his participation as q
chor.ster in the performances OF Weber's Der
Freis chiitz' years ago. and OF how he view with
signor Stigelli (who was German tenor named
Seiegsl In either a rehearsal or performance OF
Beethoven's Ninth symphony given by the Phil
harmonic Society in 1850 There was scarcely ever
q gathering OF men around the banquet table when
he was present at which he did not lead tho way
with the German musical toast: "Hoch soil er
leben"' Perhaps the last time that he sung it was
on Election Day four weeks before he died. Then
he sat at the head of the table with Roscnthal al
his side who is now lying I'll in Chicago with the
same disease that carried him off 1t had become a
nxed tradition in the Liedorkranz 10 eject Mr.
stenway president every other year. Had the con-
s;itution not prevented. he would have been in
danger Of election as president for HE The So
ciety is TO celebrate the fftieth anniversary Of its
foundation next spring. and one OF the most ardent
Of Mr.. steinway's wishes WAS TO accompany it on
projected tour through Italy and Germany, which
TO be the elimination Of the anniversary ies-
tivities. Ii seems more than likely now that the
tour will be abandoned, and there can ne no ques-
ton that the death cf Mr.. Steinway Will throw
gloom over tho celebration in more than one par
t:cular.
II census were taken Of the p.anlsts. violinista.
singers and other musical performers, native ana
foyes1 who nave sought TO gain the pubic ear In
New-YCrs wl;hin the last twenty years. and or all
the teachers who have come mere hoping TO prac-
tse their profession in the metropolis. 1t would
doubtless turn out that nlEe-tcntas OF them had
gone 10 Mr. Stoinway sooner or later afier thcir ar
rival for help and encouragement TO them MS
door was always open. and II was no uncommon
thing TO sec ircn six TO dozen men ana women
waiting In his an.eroorn for their turn TO present
their requests Somehow he found means to cheer
and encourage them ali. When he aid no more ne
sent them away with their confidence in tho virtue
CT honest effort strengthened. That was the lnIu-
ence OF his always buoyant spirits and the hearty
tone Of his voice
His means for giving practical announcement CT
the kind which likely TO be Of lasting VaIuo
vas aDprecably lessened when the Steinway con-
cert hall Was closed May !. 1880 For nearly
twenty-five years the room had been In a particu-
lar sense the home Of high-class music In New
York Fashion and financial considerations sent
Inc organizations which have large subscription
nsss one after another 10 other rooms. but always
70 the disadvantage OF music and the sincere regret
Of It's vo,ares The generosity and pubiic-spirited
policy OF Mr. Stenway made the hall the cradle OF
many dlgnifed concert enterprises. 1t was thc
scene Of Mr. Theodore Thomas's labors wnen MS
efchsstra the finest In the land and was kept
al tho sacrifice Of what must have been com
stable fortune by Mr.. Steinway Here. too Dr.
O1mroseh laid The founda ton OF the two societies.