The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20

Correspondence Of indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK. Dec. 19.-The Boston SYM
phony Orchestra for many years has set
the standard. in its kind, for stability Of
organization and excellence of performance.
Its concerts in New York are the most
profitable events in the musical season of
the metropolis and the present winter is the
eighteenth OF the orchestra's work here.
The personnel of the orchestra is the best
that could be engaged in Europe and Amer
lea; IL Is a collection of virtuosi. The pro-
grammes are formed Of the highest orches-
ral literature and are played with certain
understanding. purity and huency of tone
and the most delicate adjustment of in
strumental values The conductor, Will
helm Gericke. is uncompromising. but most
or his lists contain a number of marked
first time at these concerts with the name
OF modern composer opposite
The programme books are a consistent
factor in the orchestra's scheme and. the
bound volumes issued at the end of each
season form a uniquely valuable depart
nent of a reference library. They are now
written by Philip Hale, the extent OF whose
information Is frequently matter for mar
yelling. An effort will be made in this let
ter TO convey a measure Of the thorough
ness with which Mr.. Hale does his work.
by accompanying with his notes a report
or the most recent pair of concerts given by
the Boston orchestra at Carnegie Hall. The
technical descriptions Of the compositions.
which are elaborate will be omitted and
the historical paragraphs abridged to bring
the material within the necessary limit OF
space.
The first programme OF this pair began
with a symphony by Ernst Won Dohnanyi.
played for the first time at Buda-Pesth
Jan. Z. 1903. and now heard for the first time
In New York. Ii is I'm four movements and
the prevailing key is ID minor. While 1t
does not rise to a great height of signf-
canoe. IL is formed of fresh melodies, 1nge-
niously composed and il has the rich Slavic
color Dohnanyi was born at Pressburg.
Hungary. on July q. 1877. and therefore has
plenty Of time before him. To quote Mr..
Hale: "Dohnanyi's father is a professor
Of mathematics and physics at the Press
burg gymnasium, and he Is said to be an
excellent 'cellist- The boy. before he was
three years old, showed unmistakable mu-
steal instinct but his father waited until
he was six, and then began to teach him
the plano. The boy also studied the violin
and at later period played the viola in
Quartets and in the orchestra. His earliest
attempts at composition date from his sew
GILL year. ne chose IOT MS
present a sheet of manuscript music paper,
and in the early morning the child began
10 write down notes tndiscriminatingly.
The mere writing OF music gave him the
tons were evolved. The first that he re-
members were seven pieces for violin and
piano. When his father laughingly played
them with him, the little composer was
quite indignant at such levity. Several
smaller piano pieces followed in the lied
form- All these composition were strictly
correct In harmony and form, although he
had not received any theoretical instruc-
tion-' But let us leave the passionate BIZ.
ographer.
''In the spring of 1894 IL was determined
that Dohnany should make music his pro-
fession. and that he enter the university
and study philosophy While ne was pursu-
ing his musical studies. He entered the
Royal Hungarian Academy of Music at
Buda-Pesth in September. 1894. and remained
university, but left it after few months.
His teachers at Buda-Pesth were Hans
kOesslen for composition and Stefan Tho
man for the pfano-fOrte. In 1895 DOhnanyf
produced his piano-forte quintet in G minor
COP. u, which was played at Buda-Pesth, al
Vienna and at London (Nov. 16, 1889:
KOessler, who intimate friend or
Brahms. had often spoken to the latter
about young Dohnanyi and his remarkable
quintet, Brahms expressed a wish to know
the work. and as Ernst DOhnahyi was then
unable to go himself to Ischl, he (Brahms)
begged the composer 10 send him the score.
oSer tes pg M DO
TO be there at the time, and the Kneisel
Quartet. At Brahms's express wish the
quintet was played at the TOnkunstler-
verein, Vienna, again with success.
I'm July, 1897, Dohnanyi went to study the
piano-forte with d'Albert for two months.
He then went TO Berlin sand gave recitals
on Oct / and Z. He played afterward at
Dresden, Buda-Pesth, Vienna and other
towns. He made his first appearance In
London at Richter concert, Oct "a 1898
His first appearance In the United States
was at a concert Of the Boston Symphony
Orchestra at Cambridge (Mass.). March Is,
1900, when he played Beethoven's concerto
an q major His first appearance in Boston
was at symphony concert, March H. 1900.
when he played the same concerto. He