New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-18
MUSIC.
The Musical Dirt Societg.

The Musical Arr Society gave the first OF its
concerts for this In Carnegie Hall last night
The rarest treats which New-York enjoys in the
way Of choral music provided BY this orgaui-
zatlon The concerts are but two in number each
season, but their preparation and performance
occupy all the months in which operas, sympho-
MES and oratorios are heard, and marked by a
greater degree OF devotion and painstaklng than
Is bestowed upon any other musical entertainment
enjoyed by the city. The choristers whom Mr..
Frank Damrosch has gathered together are the
fine dower Of the city's church slngt%s and their
delight in the concerts IS scarcely less than his
and that of the listeners. No wonder, therefore,
that the concerts take on a festal character: that
the glad excitement which thrills the singers Is
communicated TO the audience also. and that
the last thought which enters the mind OF the
musical recorder and commentator is that OF cap
tious criticism. It is possible Of course. always
to wish for something better than that vouchsafed
IN every department OF artistic activity Il Is not
only possiblet Is inevitable. Ideals ideals be-
cause they beyond the reach OF ordinary striv-
lngs. Happiness comes from reaching out for
them. II might be wished soma way could oe
found to eliminate the individual in Mr.. Dam
rosch's admirable choir and make entity put OF
each -gTOup-especislly out Of the sopranos
But perhaps II that were done there would be less
emotional life in the singing, and If so. much OF
It's charm would be sped. IN Pedestrians five
voiced ave Maria which opened the concert last
night, the spirit Of the music would have been
better preserved had the voices moved onward
passtonless. pure serene, like those Of angels, or
men and TRANSPORTED. blest, exalted
above the things OF earth It thus
that praise and supDllcation went up
from the church IN the days when this music
represented the highest achievement OF the art 1t
was vocal incense-aspirant. benedictory. diff
fusive and gracious But IN the rest OF the
ing's music such tona oojectivity would have been
out OF place More OF human utterance de-
manded by the happy "Gaudete omnes'' OF swee-
Nnck. and the ThiTty-Tinth Psalm Of The Russian
@14u
which filed the rest Of the first part Of the
Ing with naIvely gladstone mood. called for
as much frank ernOdonaHty the artistic part
songs by Lassen. Brahms and Schumann. which
brought the evenings entertainment to a close
The Christmas songs. and the canticIe OF the old
Hollander were. indeed the chief delights OF
evening which all delightful
The transition from the ecclesiastical music OF the
first part TO the secular music Of the third (the
plete programme printed in this journal
Sunday made by means of concerto crosse.
with two choits Of wind instruments by Handel
Only about half Of the work was perforrned-that Is
to say, five movements out o: twelve BY a pleasant
coincidence Gustav F. Koge, to whom is due the
credit OF having brought the composition into the
notice OF concert organization by his arrangement
OF It, was among the listeners last night He Is
spending a month in New-York. having been
brought over from Germany to conduct the second
and third concerts OF the Philharmonic Society.
The concerto stands alone not only among the
instrumental pieces OF Handel but In musical lit
erature generally. 1t has moments Of rare beauty,
especially in the Largo played last night Ito which
Mr. Kogel contributed the violin solo. and the
final allegro with It's jocund flourish OF hunting
horns; but It was not wholly effective last night
The doubled parts of oboes bassoons and horns
are conceived for virtuosl. and fail II played
In the generally sapdash and spshod manner
betrayed last night Yet sufficient beauty
made manifest TO make wish for another hear
ing OF the work under more perfect conditioua
1t would be Ideal thing for one OF Mr., Franko's
concerts OF old music in small room and with
competent virtuosL
The pleasures OF the evening were enjoyed by
ine audience wholly capable OF approaching the
rare beauty Of the music and Its performance.
well the joyous spirit which prompted the festal
decoration OF the stage After the Palestrfna
Der. which subjected the choir TO severe strain,
the listeners remained mute; but two OF the Ger
man Christmas songs Gin einem Krippein lag elm
Kind" from Heinrich Loufenberg's "Leder-
handschriftO and "StIle Nacht, he1ige Nacht"
Qn Mr.. Damrosch's arrangement. were exquisitely
sung and rapturously redemanded- All the work OF
the evening. except that OF the orchestra,
q high DlaRa