The San Francisco call., 1897-10-22
A SYMPHONY SUCCESS.
ScheeIs First Concert One of the
Musical Events of the
Year.

Some 700 patrons of sweet sound gath
cred IN he Metropolitan Temple yester-
day afternoon to listen to The first concert
by Fritz ScheePs new symphony band.
The programme was a masterpiece of tact.
1t was both bait for the popular ear and
light, seductive diet for the discriminating
musician, and 1t was played as no one has
played an orcht stra here since Scheel left
seve raj years ago.
Scneel is virtuoso of the baton. He
gives personality, rotile and a wealth OF
aruStc adness TO almost any work he
touches, al d this matinee found him in
ms best ven, full of enthusiasm and fin
nervous power.
ON the way in l met several sinister
looking musicians, The bodeiui pessinlists
OF the craft, who assured me that the band
was raw, half the players second-raters,
ana Scheel sour and fretiul alter the un-
profitable experience in the East and the
hasco at Sutro's. These toredoomers were
not IN sight on the way out but l i'm
aeIned their disappointment.
The concert was really a gem, ard the
music seemed 10 find every body's mood
braVos were sounded several times during
the afternoon, and as they came from way
back III the balcony, where the deadhead
scorns to SIT, there was no question CT
clsque.
marks Country Wedding'-or Rus
tc Wed ling sym phony, just as you
please; IL Is known on the score as
lie luiiche HochZeit," which is hardly a
symphony IN the strictly classical sense,
since 1t is fragmentary to some extent,
and illustrative OF a scheduled pre-
gramme rather than a com usiliOn in
rigid SONATA form. But 1T is capital mu-
sic, full OF delicate melodic episode and
vivid color and easily digest'd on a
cloudy day. 1t was played here before,
once by Bauer at the Tivoli, but never at
any of Scheers Auditorium or Vienna
Prster concerts, l think.
With the first wing out os the we'd
ding march thene-trst movement-by
the 'cellos and basses, ScheeI showed that
ne had lost nothing Of his Old grip, an
The thirteen variations, with their devel-
opment OF theme and counter theme,
came out with beautiful address.
The little Bridal Song" (allegretto) was
done IN Just he right aria spirit, without
an excess Of rubato ana wiIu good oboe
playing in prominence, and the "Sere-
nade" was played with feeling and deli
Gale articulation. The braves began here
and the "Serenade" was repeated.
The slow movement, In the GaTdeu,"
was made charmInGly illustrative of the
picture intended by the composer. Scheel
lured a sp.endln measure of passion from
W
out maintained q ierYid note OF rom an
ticism.
The Country Dance" made brilliant
finish. The fugue intricacIes were de-
hight ully explained.
The Mignon overture Scheel handled
with his old plain buoyance. 1t was
brayoed and repeated. Schumann' 5
Evening Song" Was substituted for the
Handel Largo" l thought the muted
strings were bit murkv IN this, hut there
were more braves and ScheeI descended 10
bit OF skirt-dance music, which, l m
glad 10 write. was not 100 riotous re-
ceived by the audience.
1he concert ended with the "Tann.
| hauser" overture played with a quick
melodramatic pulse. Possibly it was j
bit n-Wagn erian IN gait, but OF :wo ex-
tremes in tempt the faster is the better
and there was some artistic discrimination n
i'll the velocity of Scheel.
The musicians did phenomenal work
considering the short time in which they
have been banded. The balance was good.
and the attack sure TO The last man.
ASHTON STEVENS