New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-01-10
1fUSTC.
Fourth Philharmonic Rehearsal

There were delightful features in the fo,r-., ,,,
Tic rehearsal of the Philharmonic Society which
TOOK place IN carnegie Hall yesterday afternoon
uncer the direction of Mr.. Walter Damrosch Not
many OF them were in the performance of Bee
thoven's seventh symphony however thoueh that
would have passed muster unchalienged were not
sA ewes crlucallv bent the playing the
society lust now because of the recent advent of
MI Danrosch as conductor and his expressed pur-
pose tc lift the socieys of the rut into
which long existing conditions tend to keep them.
The fulhlment of that purpose rests contin-
gencies which are within control: though. If a
guess were TO be ventured, it might be said that
they were not made entirely subservient in the
preparations for yesterdays affair The present is
an eNacting period-too exacting, perhaps. Eternal
vigilance, painstaking and devoted zeal are
the price of such excellence in musical perform
ance to-day will command success; and these
qualities be expended upon music that is ia
miliar well that which is Indeed
they must be expended the old in greater
measure than the For music there
fewer standards of judgment than for old.
Curiosity has been irritated by the mere announce
nent and interest excited There confirmed
affections, afectations, presudces to be overcome.
Faculties and fancy eager for the revelation,
and large part Of the judicial faculty is in abey
Music that We know and love must at every
performance confirm knowledge and justify orr
love. It must be revitalized, over and over again
II familiarity the part of conductor and per-
formers breeds carelessness in the performance or
perfunctorness, the fact viii avenge itself in the
attitude Of the hearers.
Now il cannot honestly be said that either the
orchestra MIR. Damrosch was Indifferent or care
less in the performance Of Beethoven's symphony
yesterday. On the contrary, both were intent on
doing their best What, then, was lacking? only
that understanding between the two which Would
have yielded the element of beauty, which was
most conspicuously absent in the fnale-the ele-
rlent Of reIaose This could have been attained pV
rehearsals. but (again to venture a surmise) the
Tehearsals at the command OF the socleS
Ch9p
voted TO Strauss Till Eulenspiegel' and the
finale Of Tschaikowsky's third suite WHICH,
with the symphony. constituted the hsuo
mental mart of the concert. These pieces
deserved all the study devoted to them, ano
the performance rewarded it. But the symphony
should have had more 1t too. would have brought
its reward This is the raison d'etre Of the move
ment to regenerate the Philharmonic society
through the agency of a subscription fund There
oueht to be more thorough preparation for the con-
ceris. more time for each concert more time Tor
each number each programme, more opportunity
for meeting of the minds touching tempo, phras-
ing and nuance. Then such an effect OF uneaslness
and nervousness as narred the finale of the SYM
phony yesterday would not disturb the enjoyment
which old patrons Of the society expect from old
favorites in the repertory.
The features Of the rehearsal which gave Keen
delight Yesterday were the performance of .Rlch-
ard Strauss huge musical joke, entitled IN
Eulenspiegel's Merry Franks" and the singing OF
Nine Kirkby Lunn. The opulent beauty OF the
tive" and enriched the two songs by Wagner elm
Treibhaus' and ''SchmerzenO, though her per
Torrance was slightly lacking in righteousness
in the revery and in dramatic expressveness IN
the SONGS. Nevertheless. hers is beautiful voice,
which is likely for some time come TO give
greatest pleasure in the concert room. where us
rich contralto quality has field denied to It by
modern opera The house bill said that the songs
would be sung with pianoforte accompaniment
the annotated programme promised Motifs orches-
tral transcription-a disagreement which puolsheo
a change Of heart in the period of preparation on
the part Of Mr.. Damrosch- On the whole IL
was a change TO be commended. inas1nuch as
it preserved the original purposes of the composer
Interesting songs these. and their companion
-sTraurne" not only because of their muslcai
beauty but also for their biographical significance
ziyidly recalled by the death of Frau .Wesinconck
who wrote the words and inspired the music Inc
best results Of Mr. Damrosch's study with the
philharmonic Society were observable In the per
Torrance OF Richard Strauss gigantic hui
rnoresoue. It played with spfendld spirit anu
remarkable delicacy craspness and hurnor- The
official annotator of the programme MADE an eI-
fort to answer portion OF the rlooIe "hlch ule
COMPOSER gave to musicians and music lovers IN
this singular work. but IT is doubtful II he proVioeo
any more enlightenment than any of his preoe-
cessors have done. To think of the old hero of the
German VoIksbuch while listening to this music
is to spoil a large portion OF ones enjoyment
IF the music. For those who must as
sociate incident with music in programme
,,,,eio srere IS comfort in the wbr Of the rattle
which tells Of the smashing OF crockery In one
erisode and in the muf11ed drums and solemn
trombones which proclaim the end of the mis-
rhievols ioker But even here Strauss seems to
have had his Joke In the old book Till comes TO
the gauows, indeed, but he escapes death by an
exercise of his unfailing wit, and dies peacefully
and undeservedy in bed, playing practical joke
on his heirs and refusing TO lie recumbent IN his
grave But Strauss certainly kills him. though his
good humor remains with him to the end. and the
epilogue with equal obviousness rejoices IN Ilil
rediViVus.