The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-02
PIANO RECITAL.
E. A. Mcdowell Plays for the Matinee
Musicale.


e. A. MacDowen before the Matinee Musi-
Gale, has not been equaled by any like per-
Torrance that has taken place in this city.
Mr.. MacDowell is thoroughly American and
stands foremost in his art in this country.
He has none Of the affectations of musicians
as a class, and when he walked in, it was
with vigorous, manly, healthy stride. For
complete musicianship. the work of Mr..
MacDowell was entirely satisfactory from
the arrangement and numbers of the pro-
gramme to the final note of the "Elfin
Dance" which he played after the last num-
Der, when hats and wraps had been almost
adjusted Mr.. MacDowells playing was
characterized by breadth, life and free
dom that was like elixir to the one hun
cry for music. His tone is the proverbial
hand of iron in the glove of velvet and his
manner and style is at once restful. His
mental grasp finds an adequate expression
in his perfect phrasing and variety of tone
color. Perhaps no one selection gave the
example Of his powers as his own Second
Sonata (E1roica), OPP So" 1t is truly heroic
in conception and tests the technical ability
of any pianist The first movement is "slow,
with nobility" and the tremendous sweeps
Of the keyboard and the full chords are
suited to that style. The second movement
is "Blf-like, as light and swift as possible, -
and the effects of the fairy-like scheme were
Kaleidoscope in their shimmering variety.
The third movement was full of pathos and
tenderness and the last movement was ma
jestic in its herceness and swift passages.
The number is d superb composition to
which the composer did full justice. In the
first part of the programme there was a
Fantasia" by Mozart which served as a
beginning and then came Les Trois Mains -
by Rameau, a quaint bit of composition.
Then came the Schubert "Impromptu," to
which he gave a distinctly new and inter-
esting interpretation. This was followed
Veritable night song. In marked contrast
was the Midsummer Nights Dream" by
Templeton Strong which was fanciful and
filled with fairies, and all sorts of delightful
suggestions The music seemed to be a
translation of the thought SO admirably did
1t mt the words:
Titania Ito fairies)-"Be kind and courte-
Gus to this gentleman.
Hop in his walks and gambol in his eyes"
Bottom: Il have d reasonable good ear
for music
Let US have the tongs and the bones"
Titania sleep thou and L will wind thee
in my arms
Mr.. Mcdowell gave Chopin's "Berceuse.' -
Edgar Thorn's 'Amourette'' and his own
Witches Dance, OPP. II, No. 2" The third
and last part of the programme was a
group of his own compositions. They were
preston of an idea. From and Indian
Lodge" was mournful, and it's few monot-
onous notes, were Like Indian music An An
the wonderful feeling expressed in I'm
exorable:"
Thou straight line of eternal fate, that
While on thy moaning breast
We play our puny parts
And reckon Us immortal.
His "Czardas" was typical of the Hun
garian gypsy, and was given with a mar
velous speed and lightness. His fingers
flew over the keys as if inspired No less
majestic in conception was 1.-The Eagle
described by Tennyson:
''IIe clasps the crag with crooked hands,
Close to the sun In lonely lands,
hinged with the azure world he stands;
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls,
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like thunderbolt he falls"
In the music there was the eagle, and the
whole scene and at the last, by means Of
thunderbolt as strongly defined as the line,
The boy was dead" shown in the Schu-
bert-Liszt arrangement of the "Erl-king -
Not only poetic, but dramatic. With quick
transition the next was 1.-The Shadow
Dance" light and fanciful selection. No
number pleased more than the next, a
Scotland, an old gray castle and from the
easement peers lovely face, womans S,
white with Woe" The lines are after
Heine and not a phase was lost in the
composers translation from verse to music.
Mr.. MacDOwell was so enthusiastically APP
plauded that he played it a second time
and there were many who would have liked
it repeated again. The last number on the
programme was a Concert Study, on. 49,
which was a revelation in composition and
execution. 1t embraced many FORMS and
it would seem that the mere ACCOMPLISHMENT
of this would admit one to the upper circles
in music. 1t was after this, when the audi
ence refused to go and remained to applaud
that he came out to play the ''Elffn Dance. y
The audience completely filled the assembly
nail OF the auditorium and there were many
gentlemen present
After the recital at the musicale Mr.. Mac
DoweH went to the Institution for the
Blind With Miss Carman, the president Of
dren, who were delighted at the treat. Mr.
and Mrs. MacDowell were guests at the
bates House until II o'clock last evening.
Miss Mary Josephine Wight who will be
assisted by Mr.. Karl Schneider.