New-York tribune., 1901-01-23
Nj USIC.
THE PITTsBURG ORCHESTRA.

It Is not quite plain to every wayfaring why
an orchestra should come from Pittsburg to New
iork TO give concerts in already overcro DIVIDED
season IL Is certainly not for the purpose Of max
ing money; that were foolish futile. Nor,
uhoer the circumstances, can it be from philan
thropic desire enlghten benighted denzens of
the metropolis. They may be dense, but it is not
Ior want of opportunities to learn and the Pitts
burg Orchestra with all it's admirable qualities, has
not yet demonstrated that II has q message TO de-
liver which the musicians of New-York, to say
nothing Of regular visitors from Boston, cannot
proclaim. 1t likely. therefore. that the COM
ing of Mr.. Victor Herbert and his men is less de-
signed for the edihcation of New-York than Of
Pittsburg. In this sense it is a pleasant duty to
welcome them. applaud their good traits and
joice in the public spirit and fine taste of the
munty which maintains dignifed and capable
organization
The band has made admirable progress since
its first visit. Plainly Mr. Herbert is a painstakng
drill master and knows how to fire his men with
zeal and ambition. A perfect orchestra it is not,
but most commendable one Its tone in general
is somewhat acrid and garish, and there is little
homogeneity between the different chOirs. But the
men have attained high degree of precision, and
it is delight to note how earnestly all the men
strive to do their best All the slips that occurred
last night were due to the fact that too much
was asked of the skill OF the individuals. Their
artistic stature is not always commensurate with
the demand made upon it. but their intentions and
their efforts always thoroughly admirable.
The performance of Dvorak's American SYM
phOny last night a striking illustration of
what be done by careful preparation. Mr..
Herbert has worked its details almost pain
fully. but he has comprehended its spirit better
than any conductor who has performed it here
since Mr.. Sedl. and he has preserved what New
Workers entitled to call its traditional tempt
Barring of pianissimo effects in the slow
movement, which sounded like affectaton. the
reading of the symphony tremendously eniv-
enIng and persuasive.
AS the last visit Of the orchestra Mr. Her
bert brought forward work of his COM
position. This time it symphonic poem. en-
titled Hero and Leander.'' The music exempliied
of the best traits OF Mr.. Herbert's character
creative musician. 1t was better than his
romantic suite in that II never became trivial in
theme. but II overburdened with passages
which made for color effect and nothing else 1t is
less pity that the work is overIong than that SO
much of it is remplissage which might easily be
eliminated. A device, neither strikingly beautiful
nor effective. but which captivated the composer ;
fancy, is so eXasperatngy exploited in the intro
duction that interest is dulled before the real
ject matter Of the composition is reached There is
also deal OF panoramic or scenic, music In the
beginning and at the end. which might he spared
10 the beneht OF the genuinely emotional music
which comes between. music built of themes
at once expressive ard plastic and proclaimed with
real eloquence and power. Mr.. Herbert had SYM
pathetic audience, and his work joyfully ac-
claimed.
The solo performer was Mrs Dorothy Harvey. a
local singer hitherto unknown to our concert rooms
- woman Of handsome presence and possessed OF
a voice with good attributes, but extremely unrtpe
Her vocal manner is amateurish IT the extreme.
and the style required by the Mozart air which she
attempted-"Dove sono' from The Marriage Of
Figaro''-is to her book sealed with seven times
seven seals.