New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-03
MUSIC.
THE LAST PHILHARMONIC CONCERT.

|
thrown into confusion by Mr.. SeidVs death Save
| the lyric dramas OF his master. no composition ap-
reaed TO the conductors sympathy, hery magina-
| ton and ambition more forciby than Beethoven's
Ninth Symphony. In his comparatively BRIEF career
as conductor OF the Philharmonic Society. he had
brought the work forward twice, and the hrst time
at least achieved n notable success with II. He
justified In looking forward to It's aid In .
brilliant close OF the seventh year of his director
ship. And had he lived conduct last nights
cert he would doubtless have provided material for
reflection for all the music lovers who are given to
thought The choral symphony is not only monu.
mental in dimensions. Ii stands alone In symphonic
literature for the that IL offers to the crea-
tive capacity OF the conductor. The two foremost
orchestras In the country had played the three in.
strumenal movements In NewYork only short
time before. and 1t would have been Mr.. Sedls op-
portunity to show to what extent the genius OF an
interpreter might make good the nferiorlty Of his
medium Besides. the work was TO be given in its
integrity-that u.s. with the choral portion. which
is essential the rounding out and eiucidaton OF
Its poetic contents. There much. therefore, TO
look forward to In the concert and little cause for
wonder that the death Of Mr.. Sedl carried q
double measure of dsmay to the Philharmonic So
ciety's subscribers
This dismay nothing, however. compared
with the dlstressfu tate into which the directors
OF the society were plunged. Reverence for the
memory OF the dead man prompted postponement
OF the concert until the posnancy OF the public
found TO be impracticable II not impossible. and
the public was informed OF the fact. Then
ductor for the concert had to engaged. and he
was found in Mr.. Van der 81 'cken who had 10
come from Cincinnati. Only one day was left for
rehearsas and that the day OF Mr.. Sedps funeral.
Then there arose public clamor which called for
either a postponement abandonment OF the
concert Those who raised the cry not many.
nor we're they as gentle and conslderate as the
sentiment which they professed ought to have made
them They asked the subscribers 10 pronounce
condemnation on the directors Of the Philhar-
monte Society by remaining away from the pubhc
rehearsal and concert. II they were subscribers
who wished this they were either very small MI
nority they did not practise what tney had
preached. There one hundred and nity ao-
sentees from all causes on Friday ana perhaps
as many last night But Fridays audience was the
third largest of the season The cry was IN ques'
,ionable taste Is Il certain that the names OF
Anton Seid would have been more honored ny an
abandonment OF he concert than II was Dy the
performance? Plainly. nearly five thousand people
thought not and It was more respectful TO the
dead 10 do Justice the five thousand than 10
bumor the three hundred Shall a musician be hon.
ored by silence? Is concert set apart Tor SUCH
music as Baca and Beethoven as mace up inc
greater part OF last nights ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
,,ons permeated with the ofest feelings o. religion
to be looked upon in the lish; OF a diversion
merry-making. mere amusement IN the ids
sonse which obtains since have forgotten the
origin OF the word? Anton Seidl would have mad
smau opinion OF any friend who exhibited so mean
an appreciation OF his art
But this is not all. II was decided 10 give bee'
thovens Ninth Symphony without the last move
ment That is. OF respect to the dead CONDUCTOR
the ode 70 JOY" omitted This proceeding
which robbed the concert OF the distinction WHICH
was 10 have had was tribute the significance Oh
which can only be measured when IL is viewed IN
connection with other facts. The Philharmonic so'
arfz n
Ninth symphony IN America. The first performance
took place IN 1876. Since then the society has re-
peated work nine times mot counting public re-
hearsal.-in 1860 1866 lsGs. 1877. ISL 1856. 1890 1873
and 1896. Always It given In its entirety except
IN 1865. when example was set for tho course
plrsued Yesterday. But on what an occasion. 4
fortnight before assassin had robbed the Nation
OF It's President. The land was still mourning 'of
Abraham Lincoln. and instead OF the lode 70 JOY
the Philharmonic audience heard the funeral march
from the 'Eroica" symphony. Last night II Vas
the death march from Die Gotterdammeruns
which took the place OF the hymn-Anton Seiil was
placed in honor by the side OF Abraham Lincoln
Finally the directors issued the following Official
tribute to the leader which. on sheet deeply Dor
dered with black was inclosed In each programme:
ANTON SEIDL.
Died March p. 1928.
The Philha rmonic Society OF New-York closes its
Qua In its history in sorrow and mourning through
the sudden decease OF its late honored conductor
After the resignation OF Theodore Thomas in 1891
Mr. Seidl was elected conductor q the society and
has since continuously served in that position until
his sudden demise while actively engaged in prepar
alton for the present concert. Under his leadership
the society has uniformly prospered In its attend
and In its artistic results. and the members
desire TO place on record their profound respect 70.
their deep sense Of loss in his decease -
was tostered by assdaoGs study and long early as
ISOLATION with the masters OF this generation HIS
formed by the society and the vitality and charm OF
these performances under his direction will long Be
cherished in the memories % those who have been
guided by him in their performance and OF those
who have listened to their Interpretation
Under the circumstances. II would have been I'M
wise TO expect concert marked by special excel
lence yet the programme was admirable. The pro-
crarnme consisted OF five pieces-first. the familiar
orchestral transcription by J. j. Albert OF the Z
sharp minor Clavichord Prelude. and the G minor
organ fugue by Bach. separated by chorale which.
I'm the ingenious treatment OF the transcrber. is AZ
terward made to do service as "A cantus rrnlus
under the fugue: second. dramatic scene. entitled
"Cleopatras Death the words beginning,
Give me my ,s. robe put on an my CROWN have
composed by Henry Holden Huss and sung BY
Nine Clementine De Vere-Ss 80 third. Webers
overture TO "Euryanthe'; fourth. The three purely
instrumental movements from Beethoven's Ninth
Symphony. and. last. the funeral march from Dls
Ciotterdammerung" As might have been expected,
the music which best played was that ny
Weber and Wagner In the Beethoven numbers
though they were played much more satisfactory
last night than on Friday afternoon ,and small
wonder considering that Mr.. Van der Stuckens
only rehearsals were held before and after tho
funeral on Thursday, there were few surprising
Is few evidences Of want OF complete under
standing between the leader and his men, Yet the
results were In the highest degree complimentary
TO Mr. Van der Stucken the summons from C'n-
cnnati had been In the first instance Mr.. Husss
scene which through Nine. DE Veres sympathetic
interest has had a hearing in the Antipodes. Is an
ambitious effort on modern lines Not only does tho
young composer essay TO give musical expression