The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-29
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
FIRST SYMPHONY CONCERT.
Orchestra Has ImprOv ed-Pian -
SherwOOd's Playing.

An audience fattering in numbers and
appreciation listened to the first concert
of this season of the Symphony Orchestra
at English's Opera House. The orchestra,
notwithstanding a long summer vacation,
has improved in many ways. The music
given and the manner of its giving were
creditable alike to the conductor, Karl
Schneider, the members constituting the
orchestra and to the city of indianapolis,
which calls itself musical. In addition to
the orchestra there was the concert solo
list, Mr.. William II. Sherwood, of Chicago,
an artist whose name is known the world
over and whose playing has placed him
foremost among the American pianists, and
in which position he has done much to
further the works of American composers.
Mr.. Sherwood outdid himself in his mag
niicent playing of the Concerto in c
Minor, OPP. 1885,, by Raft. The tone pro-
duced in it's richness and variety and pure
musical sound, was remarkable, the human
voice or a violin could scare give forth
more. His technique is masterful from the
maestoso to the most delicate passages.
Raft as a composer is fun of color and Mr..
Sherwood gave his concerto with breadth
and power that would have satisfied even
the composer himself. After each of the
parts, allegro, andante and quasi, Lar
ghetto the pianist was vociferouSly APP
plauded and at the conclusion he was thrice
recalled to bow his ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Mr..
SherWoods playing of the concerto Will be
classed as one of the greatest musical
achievements an audience in this city has
had the privilege of hearing. The orches-
ira sustained itself well in the difficult &C
compartment which it had to play for Mr..
Sherwood.
After the intermission Mr. Sherwood gave
a group of three solos without the orcheS-
ira, in which he hardly maintained the ex-
cellence of his first number. The waltz"
N MOSZkOWSki. himself ND
the "A fiat Polonaise," by Chopin, were
played, the latter at tremendously rapid
tempo, which did not allow the proper
comprehension, it's only adverse criticism,
but again he received a triple recall and
played a "Barcarole," by Rubnstein,
delicate, ripping, quiet and gentle compost
liancy of the preceding number. The pianist
was hampered by the bad placing of the
that he had not the freedom to which he
is accustomed, an annoyance which should
never occur again at Symphony Orchestra
The orchestra played the Schubert Sym
phony in b Minor for its introduction in
a way that BODIED well. The instruments
of a few places where the strings or the
horns lacked confidence, the playing was
delightfully."- smooth Mr. Schneider has the
faculty of making his musicians catch the
spirit of the rhythm and the rise and fall
of the melody in the first part, followed
by the force of the instruments in the
cries of despair, magn4ned the interpreted
ton of the story which Schubert has told
In sound. In the middle of the programme
the orchestra gave two numbers that were
in strong contrast. a ''Toccata," by Bach
Originally arranged for the organ), and a
"Rigaudon," by Saint Saens, thus bringing
together two widely different periods OF
musical composition. The Toccata is some
thing which has the power of form and
style and the Rigaudon has the grace and
airiness of spirit. Neither one had the pro-
gramme description, which was given to
out which the usual music lover cannot so
well understand to what he is listening
Inc closing number was the ever popular
and pleasing Sylvia ballet. In the making
up OF the programmes of the coming con-
certs might not the ''Toccata" be repeated
ana nave the written description, and might
The success of the nrst concert proves that
the symphony Orchestra should have a
patronage only limited by the capacity of
the audience room.