The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-22
Orchestra Surpasses Its Ear
Iier Achievements - An
Educational FaCtOr-Its
Future In Doubt

Washington Symphony Orchestra came
10 an end yesterday afternoon, with
concert of much dignity
The organization which thus records
p year of progress and exceptional sue
cess, is now only two years old. and
has given only six concerts In that
time it has become d potent educational
factor. it has provided great pleasure
for the sincere and educated music low
ers OF the community, and 1t has given
the musical impulses of the Capital q
substantial force and proper direction.
For these results Washington is indebt-
ed 10 the energies Of Reginald De
Koven, the conductor; Edward H
Droop, the business manager; and a
small number OF local patrons. who
have made the regular rehearsaIs of its
men a possibility. It would be difficult
TO overstate this obligation or 10 de-
pct in too high eoIors The prospect
which the further development Of this
orchestra involves
Yesterdays concert included the
Dvorak Carnival Overture Beetho-
ven's classic Fifth Symphony, and the
List Hungarian Rhapsodie No 2 The
soloist was Ben Davies. an English ten
OF. who performed the prize song from
'aeistersinger,' and three songs by
Schumann The attendance was large,
the audience was fashionable In the ex-
IRENE. and the applause-while not in
the least discriminating notably
hearty and enthusiastic. Before Mr. De
Koven raised his baton for the first
number he was presented with a rich
silver plate intended to express the es-
teen entertained for him by his sUbor-
dinate performers. At the close of the
concert most Of those in the audience
persistently kept to their seats and re
fused to leave until a portion OF the
List Rhapsodie had been repeated Al
together. the concert was notable for
q bond OF hearty sympathy between per
formers and patrons, q spirit which
holds out an aIlurtng promise for
more abundant and more profitable sup
port should the orchestra be continued
& Triumph for the Orchestra Alone.
IN the light Of this record fer the or
chesJra it is unpleasant TO note that Mr..
Davies was a distinct disappoint ment.
He has long been prominent in oratorfo.
His reputation in England is wide But
in Washington he was the least notable
OF ali the soIoists who have Rraced the
Symphony concerts, with the possible
exception Of Nine FRITZ Scbeff. His one
attainment Vas the performance Of
Sehumann's -8Iondnacht' Otherwise
his singing was only moderately good
and It suffered a disastrous and-climax
in the form of cheap falsetto fireworks,
The orchestra surpassed itself AS
each OF its earlier concerts has been bet
ter than its predecessor. so this fare
we'll of the season was the best of ali.
The band played throughout with pre-
cision, evenness, color, strength and
soIidfty of tone rarely heard IN any city
from any organization. These qualities
contributed 10 make the DvOTak number
delightful But they were most clearly
manifest, as they were most valuable,
in the famous Fifth Symphony. The fine
alienation between the two sections Of
the orchestra in the first movement, the
fluency and richness of melody in the
andante movement, and the strong
climax OF the Symphony finale estab-
lIshed a new standard for this excellent
band Finally, fred no doubt by the
success Of the symphony and the pros
pect Of a long summers separation, the
orchestra arose TO a performance OF the
List RhapsOdie which ranked the or
ganization in power and control with the
best orchestras ever heard here.
II has become something of a custom
maDces to say with wise holdings of the
head and rolls o. The eye that this
music is very fine, indeed. but it is not
up 10 the standard OF the Boston sym
phouy Orchestra" DisTegaTding the If
releyauce OF This comparison in a city
which has not heard the Boston Sym
phony Orchestra for years, and IS not
likely to hear II again for many years.
II should be noted that there are hardly
q dozen critics in the whole country who
can accurately retain IN their mind the
standard established by any orchestra at
any performance. Music is that most
deeting OF ali the arts Sooner than the
notable achievements in any other field
O. ART the greatest musical perfor-
lnauces cease 10 be. Comparisons. are
thus matters O. memory and impression
exclusively. 1t Is 20 be doubted whether
any single person who has in this way
announced his favor for the Boston SYM
pHony Orchestra could specify q single
respect in which the work of that great
organization surpassed that OF its Wash
fngton coreIative yesterday afternoon.
The truth OF the matter is that this
music OF yesterday was Of so high
grade that criticism, excepting that OF
the conductor TO his men, is superfuous
Valuable Service for Washington.
1t is appropriate at this time-when
tbs orchestra has concluded its first full
season and its future is unsettIed-that
an Acknowledgement should be made Of
the service which if has performed for
Washington.
It's primal influence has been that on
the musicians themselves and viii lie
manifest in the Improvement of every
theater and hotel orchestra in Wash
iHgt0n. Most of them were masters OF
the grammar OF music but few of them
knew its literature. Today they have
learned the meaning Of Beethoven. have
become acquainted with the spirit Of
Gricg. aHd have come 70 appreciate The
greatness OF Wagner or The value OF