New-York tribune., 1902-02-02

The novelty of last nights programme furnishes
sn admirable illustration. 1t was a superb piece Of
orchestral cooring. a vivid fancy illumined It;
most admirably mastery of making spoke out Of
every phrase. But on what this skill
pended? On purely pictorial attempt. effort
10 suggest a picture. II delightful to recog-
nze an individual a national tone. in the work
uroclaiming that the influence OF Suomi upon her
son had not been wholly 1isspated; Yet a high i'm
srination fred by any one Of a dozen or score of
episodes iu the "Kalevala,' ought TO have 3ound
musical symbols for their elements in eloquent
uelodic thoughts. II may be that a Finn, satu-
rated with the poetry of his national epic. might
feel his blood throb while listening to the music
under the inspiration Of that wild ride of Lem
unkainen: but 10 the uninitiated II but
huge heaying Of short phrase above the sur
face OF g dark and rushing stream OF harmony i'm
pelled bv the galloplng hddles. Color, colornoth-
ing but color Sometimes color harmonic but
chiefly color orchestral. We confess TO high ad-
rnration for the Finnish composers instrumental
art Indeed. IN its general effect II is more satis
tying than that OF Richard Strauss. who is plainly
enough the god OF Sbelius's idolatry. Its prevail
ing tints are richer, more deeply luminous. Sibe
iIUs's instruments speak the languages native to
them. They DO not squeak and gibber, humble and
gurgle in their efforts extend their capacity.
They do not jabber in polyglot. But while giving
such need OF praise cannot withhold an eX-
preston Of regret that the young composer, so
deft shaping his material. should not have found
beautiful material 10 shape. He is Finn, and
therefore has z goody musical heritage. Th=re is
OF the blood Of Wainamoinen still flowing in
the folk-songs Of his people; why does II not get
into their artistic music? We should Ike TO hear
the vibrant ring Of Wainamoinen's kantele and the
wizard musicians voice chanting the runic rhymes
which had power TO stop and moon in their
paths shape the hull, bend the keel and fashion
the OF his warboat; draw together in listen
Eg the birds Of the air the beasts Of the field
the fishes OF the sea. the wild men Of the woods
and the lord Of the floating upward on his lily
pad. We would steep ourselves in the sorrowful
song which broke the old bard's heart as he sang
and made his tears TO flow river that hurtling
against the rocks the shore was resolved again
into elemental drops which fell as pearls upon
the black sands below. Who shall sing for Us the
Great Words Of Blood that stayed the red torrent
which flowed from Wainamoinens wounded knee?
All fair Is she the Goddess of veins-suonetar.
the benehcent Goddess of Veins Marveously doth
she spin the veins OF men with her beautiful spin
come unto mel I invoke thv succor I call thy
namei Bring hither in thy bosom roll Of
may be filed, that the ends OF the veins may be
Such was Finnish music; Of such again should be
Finnish music
The Philharmonic concert began with Tschai-
koEskys fantasy overture Hamlet" and ended
With Brahms's minor symphony. Widely diver
teAN as tnese pieces are, they live IN the aHecton-
ate regard Of Mr. Paur, who brought ont their
beauties, now by panstaking attention TO detail.
anon by throwing such for massive ef-
leets. The schaikowsky composition does not be-
long in the category Of his great works. 1t prob
aoS embodies his conception Of Shakespeare's
chsracter, but the most sedulous search falls TO
OlseoTer the point Of view which he chose for his
exposition There are some palpabe bits OF scenic
music mixed in with equally paIpable efforts at
chronological deneation; but the striyings
!uhbled together. and the mind of the listener is
Ie't at sea at the end. One does not know whether
me composer thought shakespeare's hero a of
ecaoh there Is suggestion Of in the fire.
puently recurring militant sounds) or man of
tHe'e brooding contemplation. Perhaps the solu-
uen might be found in Goethes words: 1T is clear
. me that Shakespeare's intention TO exhibit
M ELECTS Of great action imposed a duty upon
ihnd too feeble for its accomplishment" Ophelia
s better Characterization in the gentle oboe mel
ls' with its distinctly Morse color. The tune re-
linus one Of Mrs. Jameson's simle-a poor dove,
auhg with weary wings. bewildered amid
sofm After the overture Mr.. Charles Gregoro-
'seh played Mendelssohn's violin concerto with
11cA elegance and no little brilliancy. The Rus
sA EOlinist has established himself high in the
s'sein OF NETWORKS music lovers.
me exploitation OF the music OF the young revo-
--oharies Of Germany is 10 go on almost TO the
- OF the chapter. At the sixth concert an ex-
~ - Rom Richard Strauss opera. ''Feuersnoth"
ssAeA had its first production in Dresden a few
~'ntAs ago. Will be played.