New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-04
MUSIC.
DR.. Strauss and His Music.


The second concert OF the Richard Strauss Fes-
u'aI al carnegie Hall last night was instructive in
more senses than one II NOT altogether edifying
Ahefe We're moments when the wish arose that it
were not necessary take the affair seriously I'm
a' us aspects others in which beliefs in the great
ness and significance Of the composer and his music
were somewhat rudely shaken and still others
which awakened an apprehension lest something
snort OF justice were doing 20 man and musician.
The desire 10 come into something like personal
OOnldct win one who has persuaded man look
upon him as a genius Is an arniabe one
and it is always reFrettable vrbe, 4, disiIIusior
ment or any kind follows. DR. Strauss as
composer was no stranger TO New-York. One Of
the symphonic poems performed last nisht has been
On oca concert lists for over eleven years; another
almost as long, while the newest, Don Ouixote %
lives wildly in the memory OF four times as many
people as heard it last night from a hearing which
j received only fortnight ago But DR. Strauss
as an interpreter Of his music. was expected to
speak not only eloquently but authoritatively.
ana therefore he challenged curiosity and interest
the keenest order. Unfortunately a conductor can
speak only through mis- orchestra and II the medl-
UNI be deficient or Incapable the hearer can never
Know whether or not the oracle has really spoken.
Much labor has been bestowed on the prepara-
ions for these concerts. Yet Mr. Wetzer conducted
performance OF Don Juan" which fire.
auenty nmpe1 sadly. and DR.. Strauss came
10 utter grief in Don Quxote" before
be reached the second OF its dozen sections Need
-ThS 70 inquire where the blame lay. with the TACT
confronting one that the composer-conductor lost
control Of the band. and catastrophe resulted
which brought all soaring fancies rudely 20 the
ground. After that Il was difficult 20 rehabnltate
the shattered mood. The demon OF comparison took
possession OF all who had heard the work played
by the Boston orchestra. and the performance
which should have been convincing. only aroused
annoying questions. We had not expected such
finish IN detail Mr.. Gericke and hts men gave
u.s. but it seemed only reasonable TO look for
revelations in the accentuaton Of the character
istic features. These not present, and until
the composition Is repeated shall not know
whether Dr. Strauss wants his wind machine TO be
seen and not heard whether IT is to I'll the
tonal interstices left by chromatic runs and ar
peggios as It did a fortnight go.
DR. Strauss presented himself last Saturday night
as extremely capable conductor. masterful
q man wanting IN all outward manifestations
OF emotionalty can be. There was no mistakins
his beat or his demand for dynamic effects. He
held the men together and swayed tho mass elias
ticany and at VIII. Last night neither he the
musicians seemed confident. and even when dis
aste- did not menace 1t seemed TO be lurking
near 20 Brighten away that sense OF repose which
is BIS essential 20 the enjoyment Il is 10 the
performance OF music. Fortunately. the accom-
panments TO the four songs sung by Nine. Strauss
de Alma went with warmth and smoothness. as
did Tod una VerklArung" which brought the
concert to close. and which. brought as II was,
into conjunction with the most sensational OF DR..
HAduHS symphonic POEMS ana the one which
seems most capable Of standing its own merits
and without a programmatic crutch.
Some years ago, IN discussing Also Sprach Tara
thUstra." The Tribune's reviewer questioned ~
music could really describe Englshmhn who had
gone into foreign parts. changed his religion and
forgotten his umbrella Greater familiarity with
DIT. Strauss methods. gained since then especially
the lessons Of Don QU!xOte," have led 20 the con-
clusion that music can DO this. provided those
methods are conceded 20 have artistic validity. The
thing would be accomplished by the device OF trans
moETihcatIon OF themes and the help Of pro
Eramme. We should have symbol for the hero.
That symbol should be recogn!zably English In
charActer-perhaps paraphrase OF the song assert
ing conscious Anglican pride IN II NJ s. Pinafore'
might serve for II would bear obvious label
fragment OF Anglican chant would bespeak his
churchmanshlp. and another capable o. extern
sion and contraction would stand for tho umbrella
with such material brought to his hand how
simple would be the processes OF thematic treat
rnent which would tell the tale and yield the in
evitable TRANSPORTATION The personal thems
would wander far aheld through modes and keys;
the Anglican chant would gradually merge into
a GreForian tone-what could be apt than
the Tonus peregrinus7-and In the maze OF
derfngs the prehensile theme would drop OF the
score At the end we should stu have the doughty
BritoD who had remained an Englishman in spite
OF ali temptation 10 belong 70 other nations. but
changed IN religion and umbrelaless.