New-York tribune., 1901-02-27
MUSIC.

THE AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
Perhaps Mr.. Sam Frankie was building wiser than
he knew when he began his series OF concerts with
the American Symphony Orchestra. So far the
majority of his musicians and their associate name
concerned, his experiment dates back several
years: but Ii showed signs Of real vitality
until the purpose of exploiting American born
musicians Qaudable enough in itself. II not power
fully appellant to music Iovers was abandoned
in favor of design artistic and unique.
His first series of concerts at the Lyceum Theatre
this season aroused a sufficient interest TO Justify
second series and the first of this series.
given yesterday afternoon. met with decidedly
handsome reception. There can be no harm in
ing somewhat profound significance In the move
ment begun with such modest dignity IL is the
influence of mysterious something in the air.
which may have its origin in the smell of the newly
warming earth in unconscious memories of un-
speakable antiquity, that periodically prompts the
bringing of tops and marbles In the sprinStime,
and IT may be unconscious longing for spring
time I'm music which is turning the thoughts OF
musicians and those who love the t. it's youth
full manifestations Old works crollpng up in
the schemes of concert institutions the AorId over,
prettily illustrated by the fact that serenade
for four small orchestras. composed by Mozart but
not even published until few years ago. mas been
set down In the list for the coming season of the
venerable Philharmonic Society of London. One
thing was pretty generally recognized in the many
of the music of the nineteenth century and
the forecasts for the twentieth. printed in Europe
and America few weeks ago. and that was that
the is Just likely to return to It's estate OF
century ago i'm of its phases 10 continue on
it's present line Of progress with It's negation of
nearly all the aesthetic principles which valid
then.
The discussion thus suggested is somewhat out
Of proportion with so modest and ingenious an n
tertainment s that which Mr.. Franko gave in the
Lyceum Theatre yesterday afternoon. and it is not
necessary pursue it; tlt it's subject may be kept
in mind without prejudice to latter day activities.
At any rate II is interesting In connection with
record OF the again achieved by Mr. FrankO.
He brought forward familiar Haydn symphony
(that in maj jor. No. OF the Saomon's set. No. 2
OF Breltkopf and Harters catalogue}. but the con-
ditions of the performance gave il peculiar win
someness and charm. 10 account for which wholly
could not but take In consideration the interest
aroused in the players themselves, who could not
remain Indifferent to the influence OF symmetry in
the parts and the sympathetic contiguity Of the
listeners The music more archaic in feel
ing though contemporaneous in creation There was
Rodes In e minor. for violin; prelude for
strings on theme from the "Quando corpus In
PergoIesis ''Stabat Mater and Gretry's overture
To 'I.'Epreuve vIIlageoise''-the last bewitch
ingly gay and piquant little piece, which served a
lovely purpose besides delghsing its hearers in
making plain the influence which inspired the
French opera comique down TO the time Of Auber.
at least. Taking the birth dates Of the composers
on the one hand and the death dates on the other,
the period covered from I110 to 1880. but as
matter OF fact the dates OF the compositions were
not widely separated, If We leave the fact out OF
view for moment that the Persolesi number did
not appear In it's original shape. but In the form OF
q composition written by young musician OF to-
day-Niccolo Westerhout But with all It's
modern harmonizaton the prelude preserved an
archaic flavor in it's adherence 20 contrapuntal
formulas. which gave faithful expression TO the
solemn beauty Of the original melody. All this
music was worthiiy played, and the result was
quite "a much TO the credit of the honest ambition
of the musicians as the lovely aim Of the con-
ductor
Mr. Leopold Lichtenberg played the violin con-
certo and played IL in what conceive TO have
been the spirit OF It's cOmposer-wlth fine warmth
and breadth tone. exquisite technical finish and
superb repose. II anything more could have been
desired il would have been a greater infusion OF
sentiment in the cantabtle parts Those VINO heard
Mr. Iichtenberg yesterday must certainly be wish
ing that they could hear more Of him.