New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-27
NEwYoRK Daily TRIBUNE. TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 81 leca
MUSIC.
THE PITTsBURG ORCHESTRA


+ or reasons in which the music patrons OF Pitts
burg are pore interested than those Of Naw-yorl,
can possibly be, the PittsbUrg Orchestra gave the
second or two projected concerts in Carnegie Music
i.aIl taSI night Lest this preliminary statement
should appear ungracious let It be said that New
I'm i NOT suffering from dearth OF orchestral
concerts, and In general has not vet manifested
disposition 10 unite in the cry of few other cities
IN 'he country to the effect that there can
pe no good orchestral music without what
Is regularly called a permanent orchestra
In New-fork orchestral musicians are occu
Pleu an the time, and could not piay much
oi'eher II they were employed permanently II
SoieeF'glVer Is able to get the best men together
ms concert is likely TO be as good as any other
Ho"e'er permanent the organization may pro-
less 10 be. Notwithstanding that the hand NAV
nav 10 torego the label Moreover. when the per
i"'ieht orcnestras need men they are recruited
rom the rank and file of NETWORKS musicians
% 'le a"esome word does sound so impress
slVe here as IL does eIsewh here Meanwhile New
ioEA Is genuinely interested In what is doing in
ochestraI music elsewhere, and glad to encourage
ming good in this line in every other that
Il brought 10 its attention. The Pittsburg Orches-
ira, which is the outcome of very lauda BILE strtv
ing has twice been received in this spirit and If
mas oeen peasant TO observe the hearty approba-
ton given TO Mr. Herbert and his men They are
an exceedingly commendable company. and they
have twice displayed spirit that must make for the
good of musical culture in the community in which
they are active. The discipline of the band is ex-
cellent- and Mr.. Herbert's zeal Is warm as his
knowledge is broad and well based. Yet there are
disappointing features about the band It's tone IS
wanting in homogenety and distinction There is
little sorority in the strings very little indeed and
whenever single instrument asserts itself, as in
the case of the first horn. 1t only emphasizes the
discrepancy between itself and It's fellows Eu-
phony in orchestra is the product Of years of
waiting and working, and that quality is not yet
distinguishing characteristic by the Pittsburg Or
chestra.
MI Herbert's programme last right began with
number that put the quality of the band to q
we're test, because it depended so much on absolute
beauty Of tone and loneliness of expression. It was
Mozarts Jupiter symphony. In the other num-
bers, even in Wagners "Siegfried Idyl" the blend
ing OF many colors made the task of impressing
the listeners easier For the same reason and
others the orchestra seemed 10 be at its best in
MI. Herberts Suite Romantque" which had its
first performance in New-York on this occasion.
There is much ingenuity Of thenatic workmanship
and cleverness Of instrumental coloring in this
work We cannot comprehend why the wedding
celebration, which, according to the programme,
ends the series Of four pieces DIVISIONS" 'Aubade"
'Triomphe glamour" and ''Fete Nuptiale') should
show great splashes of Oriental color but that is
matter Of less concern artistically. than that the
broad melodies at the climax OF the third and fourth
movements should have disclosed the physiognomy
Of the operetta style. The New-York public know
that there is lovely trend toward the higher
forms in Mr.. Herbert's strivings, and because they
We're forced 70 admire the effective instrumental
ldloIn or his Suite they ought 70 have been spared
the commonplace which. We fear, must have been
generally noticeable
The solo numbers Of the programme presented
Miss Sara Anderson in the air from Tschaikow-
sky's Jeanne dare with which she her
first triumph here and in Worcester two seasons
ago. and in three songs by Franz. There are still
signs Of the preciptancy which has been dePored
heretofore in Miss Andersons singing but she has
the material for the making Of fine artist and
interested IN good music could begrudge
her the popular success which she last night