New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-05
MUSIC.
NOTES ON RECENT PERFORMANCES.

More dignined more impressive. more peautilu''
more credltablc to the intelligence. the taste and
| the feelings Of the people of New-York IMAM "ou'u
| have been the paradng Of an army win panhe's
was the celebration Of the victory AT Mania "ich
| took place in Carnegie Hall on last Saturday might
Some Of It's incidents have already bcoh recor"eu
In this journal-the performance or waiter Dam
rosch's Manila TIE Deum' AT the first concert for
the season OF the Oratoro Society the presence
Of n numerous company of Navy ana ARMY OH
GERS. some Of them in the gay trappngs which 40
so much to help along a gala anair; IN" FAVOR
with which the work received. and the en-
thtlsas;ic sgns Of appreciation bestowed upon the
composer These things. together with mention
OF the fact that fine stands Of coors (out OF one
Of which stood boldly the flag OF vice-admirai
In commando graced the stage. that the singers
were also In gala dress and were directed In their
work by Frank Danrosch and that the audience
rose to hear the last number. complete the record
OF facts The "Te Deurn' has been described In
The Tribune even more exclusively than any Jour-
nal specially devoted 20 music Is likely to describe
IT, and 1t may therefore be taken for granted that
The Tribune's readers know the character OF the
composition. The only thing that Is called for
is expression Of opinion as 10 the artistic
value Of the music L. II significant compost
ton? Is II worthy Of It's theme? Does Il do honor
to the United States? VIII It 1--we?
hearty yes can be answered to all these ques
lions wiki reservation prompted by discretion. az
TO the last Mr.. Damrosch's ambition to celebrate
Commodore Dewey's wonderful victory was In the
highest degree audablc He IL patriotic and a
musicians patriotism could have found no nobler
expression than that which he chose. There was
nspratio In his theme and inspiration in his love
OF country: and he has shown hts heart In his
work. 1t Is foolish thing to sneer at occasion
ais" II music is to be more than creature OF
mathematical science II must be Informed by on
thusiasm: and cannot grow enthusiastic over
an abstraction. Another composer might nave
raised a perfect pecan OF Thanksgiving; but
he did not. and so Mr.. Damrosch must not be
faulted too severely because Of the signs Of mex
pericnce and want OF academic training which are
in the work There musicians In New-York
who might with case and entire propriety set NJ.
Damrosch TO right in important matters that are
taught in the classroom Of the Conservatory har-
monv teacher: but there IS no musician who could
display greater happiness in his labor than is dis
closed in the TIE Dcum' Mr.. DamrOsch has In
vented prosy themes; his inspiration is occa-
sionally asthmatic. and the devices Of an expert
routinier by which his fataring might have been
screened at his beck; also ne talks more In
the idiom OF Handel than IS becoming In an end
Of -the-nlnctcenth- century composer; but he has
IDEAS and he Is frequently eloquent In their express
beginning and end amazingly uplifting. and he has
been completely successful In the difficult task OF
Introducing the melody OF The Star Spanged
Banner" into the closing lines Of the solemn cam
,icle without vugarizing the music or hurting its
churchlv character Mr.. DamrOsch has temporarily
put aside all other work and is trying to find him
SELF as a composer. The Manila Te Deum' will
help him to that end. even If 1t falls to win and
hold place IN the repertory OF the choral societies
Of the country. And 1t made many people happy
last Saturday night.