New-York tribune., 1901-09-27
NEw-YoRK DAILY TRIBUNE FRIDAY SEPTEMBER q 1901

all. AS recall the doings OF the Jim ir the stories
which were told to Haroun-al-Raschid, they were
all accomplished with exceeding deftness and
But it is small wonder that composer who could
make the delusions of Macbeths conscience audi
ole in an imitation of the hoot OF owl should
also make the magic work of the Jim sound like
the ponderous straining Of Wagner's giants. The
last movement is worked to death. 1t perishes
mserably from incorporate contrapuntal strivngs
A programme said that Mr.. Kelley had de-
signed TO illustrate the harmonic and instrumental
treatment OF music by the Chinese in his suite
The Information should have been accompanied by
a diagram like that with which erstwhile he
strewed the poemical arena with the distectra
membra OF poor Brahms. The harmony Of the
Chinese is limited TO the OF the fifth or fourth
in connection with the keynote. which results from
the custom OF brushing across two strings Of their
guitars in ending a section tune. His imitation
OF the Chinese band, with the help of solo violin
muted trumpet mandolins, xylophone snareless
drum and gong. is the perfect native touch in
the composition
The audience this afternoon showed keen appre-
citation Of the humorous element in the suite and
gave respectful call 10 the composer Mr.. Kel-
ley's contribution TO American music was chleny
curious and dvertng: Mr.. Chadwicks was inter
esting. instructive and gratifying and opened a
view OF that bright bow of promise OF which he and
half dozen of his colleagues afford US a glimpse
at long intervals. 1 cannot say that the work
sounds spontaneous as q whole, but It hangs to-
gether and the music keeps pace admirably with
the sentiments OF the text. When he becomes
frankly nelodious invokes the spirits of the old
New-England psalmodists. and what might be
called the oratorio portions of the work are dis
tinctly the most filing and satisfactory but
the harmonic and instrumental substratum on
which his declamatory melody floats is full OF tell
ing and ingenious device.
There were splendid elasticity, animation and
cola in his orchestra. It was some famous man Of
the last century who. commenting on the first op-
cratic attempt Of another, who is now equally
famous, said that IL was customary to drown the
first litter OF puppies. Mr.. Chadwick's Judith"
ought not to meet the fate thus prescribed but
ought have trial the stage. If It should not
maintain itself IN the glare of the footlights it
would surely give evidence Of his possession Of the
gifts and requirements which belong to the sue
cessful operate composer.
In numbers well character. the audience
which listened Judith eloquent tribute
10 Mr.. Chadwick. For the first time since the
festival began the hall filed, and many repre-
sentative American musicians were among the
listeners. Professor H. w. Parker. who had just
arrived from Europe. where he spending his
Sabbatical year TO hear the work Of his
old teacher. He returned in order take part in
the bi-centenniaI Of Yale. for which he has COM
posed music TO Greek ode, and Will go back to
his family in Munich as soon the exercises in
New-Haven over. Arthur Whiting. H. X Had
ley and Thomas ". Surrette were on hand to rep
resent New-York. and in the Boston contingent
B. ]. Lang. Augusta Rotoli Emil Motlenhauer
and H. NJ Durham. There were present also at
least a dozen conductors of choral societies from
other cities. among them Benjamin Guckenberger,
of Birmingham, Ala, and Professor Casper. OF
Washington. The prevailing spirit was joyously
festal and Mr.. Chadwick was made TO feel that
his work had met with approval The performance
was the most finished of the week Miss Gertrude
Nay Stein. Mrs. Bailey, sang in her muscally
pure and whoehearted fashion. Mr. Bispham was
splendidly dramatic Holofernes, while DR. Dufft
and E. C. Towne inspiring in their smaller
parts the music allowed. There were weak spots
in the choruses. in which a dramatic manner was
attempted by the composer. but when all was plain
sailing the choir finely sonorous and effective
It glad night for the American composer.
H E. K