New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-10
MUSIC.
THE SECOND PHILHARMONIC CONCERT.

DIE SECOND PHILHARMONIC CONCERT.
Inc solo performer at the second concert for this
season of the Philharmonic Society was Mark Ham
oourg who played LISTS concerto In + fat Mr.
lainpourg has played no less than six times in
New-York within the last month and the discus
sion OF his gifts and the use which he makes Of
them have been ample. Novelty being absent from
,he 500 performer. the listeners persuaded to
look for the chief interest In tho concert where Il
ought always to be looked form the music played
rms was all familiar except the central number
IN the scheme. Mr.. Frank Van der Suckers sym
phonie prologue to Henes tragedy william Rat
ciin' Mr. Van der Stucken long prominently
Identified with the higher musical activities Of New
York, and when the Philharmonic Society did him
the courtesy of placing his composition upon its
list it emphasized the kindly act by also inviting
him TO come from his home in Cincinnati TO
duct the rehearsals and performances of 1t. 1t
was an eminently proper and gracious proceeding
which added to the interest of the meetings
Friday afternoon and last night. He warmly
received by both audience and orchestra
Mr. Van der Suckers music was lightly
composed; neither is It to be played or heard in a
careless spirit. 1t into existence as long ago
as 1873. when Its composer only twenty -one
years old, but it is serious music TO the backbone
1t has since been reorchestraed which fact may be
said TO account for much OF the latter day mo-
dernty in its color but the well knit and ingenious
structure Of the piece and the consistency and
huency OF its thematic development speak loudly
for the sincerity OF aim and soundness OF training
which the young American carried away from his
academic experiences In Antwerp
The composition is conceived and executed on
ultra romantic lines and It's subject Is at once
inviting and repelng. The story OF Helne's trag
edy. as all those who read 1t In this journal last
Sunday know. is sinister and shocking the
burden of the old Scottish ballads from which. IN
deed It may might have been derived; but 1t
Is OF the Kind that lends Itself readily q muaca
delineation. especially deineaton OF the modern
type. ldyllic love. Wild passion, disappointment,
longing. resentment. despair murderous rage-these
are the mental and emotional factors which
vertically the food Of music. Give to a composer
who knows his Wagner the assurance that he Will
be listened 10 intelligently and he could ask moth
ing better than such story to tell by means OF
typical phrases symbols and their development
one difficulty in the present which. II may be
said, Mr.. Van der stucken prepared for himself grew
of the fact that the story Of the tragedy only
be understood In the light of the story OF tragedy
which preceded it. The catastrophe which grows
out Of the love OF Edward RatClif and Fair Betty
Is repeated in the case of their children. The
opportunity which this circumstance offers to the
composer, who belongs to the order of the Latter
Day, is alike in subtlety and interest TO that which
utilized by Thackeray. as by nobody else since
the world blessed by letters in his Henry
Esmond and THE Nirginians"; but novelist
a Thackeray, count a recognition OF
his purposes where a musical composer can only
hope despair. Mr.. Van der Stucken made a
daring effort. The passions Of his young lovers
and their direful outcome associated with
those OF their parents by relationship Of themes
but was this relationship recognized and under
stood by the audience, there two climaxes
IN story? We cannot speak for the people who
heard the work last night this point
only say that the warmth and fluency OF the
music, the pregnancy and Elasticity OF the themes,
the vvdness of delineaton and the gorgeousness Of
color gave keen delight 10 the most experienced and
discriminating audience that New-York boasts and
the United States possesses.
Was It chance or premedtated design that put
the programme another piece Informed with the
spirit of Scotland. though manifested through me-
dunn and methods about far remote from Van
der Stucken's could well be imagined? At all
events the tuxtaposition OF Mendelssohns Scotch
symphony was fortunate in afordng a certain
continuity of idea for those who chose TO yield to
the influence of such things, and afforded pointed
contrast In mood and general effect. Unfortu-
nately Mendelssohn's symphony did not receive
so satisfactory treatment did Mr.. Van der
stuckens prolof ue. The playing was sometimes
rough and unfinished. though Mr.. Paur saw to 1t
that the performance went with abundant spirit
and energy. His reading Of the "Freischttz' over
ture, too, with which the concert began. was i'm
bued with rich imagination and romantic feeling.
though here, too the orchestra did not in all re-
spects reproduce the composers and the conduc-
tors intentors. Mr.. Hamburg was recalled after
his stormy performance Of LISTS concerto and
added solo piece by Leschetizky.