New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-22
MUSIC.
Nc,r Music BIZ Richard Strauss.

cal
r.s+,val. which has Deen Occupying modiluTH %
- attention Internationally for some weeks.
-, 10 an end. In its FINAL thToes Il gave hTth
: +. new WORK the latest Of Or. Strauss = com
l.t,~.s the u.uch heralded Symptoms Domes-
rY.fs composition. and two others whlch
70 - ...s-5 repeatedly before-the symphonic
- Don Juan and Also Sp-ach Iarathustra
80 conducted with much energy. great spirit
- enc command % al tho elements OF muslcal
,.ae-ship by che composer. = would moolly the
- and PENALTIES which attach 10 The once o.
- .,.,su-er af musical doinEs for daily journal
i, -, lessons plainly enforced by the festival IN
- as rflases artistic, financial and social could
:. discussed with adequate fulness In connection
.p the latest emauaton from the composer
49,. b--+ this S. obviously impossible when
- a. so much pressing eagerly forward for men,
- This much may Ice said as "A prelude. Tor
SO who having ears were willing 20 hear nav
- -be faculty o. discrimination were Will
80 10 fudFo and having convictions were willing
80 test lie validity OF their foundations. the occa-
-, has been beneficial The only unfamiliar com
.ltsor OF the man who came over 10 America 10
,rpl5t his creations as he went 10 London last
--i,g which the festival brought forward was
,i.t which had it's first hearing last night The
- % has compositions were reiterated 50 that
- could remain deaf 20 their matter or ignorant
- the composers manner OF presentation. IN con-
60 OF tbs they forfeited some OF the sttri-
-. ~ originality which they seemed TO pos
,.es When heard siugly and az long Intervals The
forced upon the minds or al Clscrlrl1lnat-
-, listeners that even the archchampiOn Of so
liz progress ir music works over last and
-. ~ ar arbitrary line. that dance rhythms.
f..,sr+r, or-restrated. furnish the moments %
..,isbJe cheer: melodies OF tolk-tune character.
,s-r1orIzed with the naive SUGGESTIONS or Thirds.
,ou-tbz ffths and siEths as simple folk and hunt
,- horns sing them supply the periods OF refresh
=. e-7-- intricate and tortuous manipula-
,ior NJ set themes: bells ring 10 proclaim -ne
psychological moment in tonal proclamation of
q cosniral philosophy and also 20 toll The time
NJ haby's dovnlynE and uprising mat renee
.,o- takes the place OF inspiration. and technics
~ feeling. ;hat Iu everything that DR. Strauss has
---,,+e~ there is a uonstrous dispropcrton be
veen the value OF the musical idea and tho cloth-
trg and adornment hung upon II. ano Iha5 IN an
hs evrnrhorit poems. full n interesting features
- .,,,-essiva beauty they may he. the centre
- ,--sv5ty re- outside OF music. IL was well 70
.s-- tbsso things even at the cost Of tho humiEa-
IONS which fen % the lot OF the distinguished
visitor here for fher recognition Will open the
,o7flar mind 10 souuder. sy-eetcr. more p-ontanie
conceptions o. than some that are being crowd
81 In upon them with wild and coryhantic ysOp
just now
some DAYS ago this journal gave 10 its readers
rs much information as could he gathered from
g hurried glance AZ its score and the little in
formation which the composer has been willing
81 times 10 vouchsafe concerning the symphonic
Souestca hearing leaves all that information
intact The work is laid out on large lines. and
there is even more than the usual vast array Of
Instruments II IS individually programme music.
and programme music OF the most urconprornising
sort; bur ir il closer knit and less episode and
fraenentarv than most OF its fellows. DIR. Strauss
has given our officially that ne wished 20 have 10
listened 10 music pure and simple-but this IS
Impossible To many hints have gone out a. 10
ITS signidcances. and there are too many strange
and otherwise unaccOuntahIe things in the score
10 permit such a notice TO pass muster There is a
programme ir The title, a. programme IN Dr.
etrsusss statement that g. illustrates the occur
renoes or n day in his family life; a programme IN
note vioh I'm some manner inexqncable 10 US
got into the printed score Oof which more anon.
programme in the dt-ignations which the com
poser gave to the themes when he supplied them
20 The New-TorS Times" newspaper. clear Indi-
cations Of programme in realistic portions Of the
music itself We shah not speculate about any
~ the things which the composer wished TO leave
10 the imagination OF his hearers. and shall
see the Gay with sincere regret when the inspired
oraoles tel the world of the incidents and i'm
pulses which in Dr. Strauss mind under.ie the
music. This much may be said from the indices
already cited. The music IS supposed 10
b. tonal depletion OF domestic incidents
which filed dav OF tho composers
life. the principal themes are the musical symbols
NJ Monsieur. Madame ct Bebe. the last occupies a
vast deal ~ the attention Il the other two per
soraErs. and has a voice which is lifted up with
a. frank initiation the bIeatug OF the sheep
Dr. Don QuiNote". now marvel. We sceptics touch
INK the capacity ~ art q narrator OF incidents
Two aunts discuss bahy's features. one asserting
that De- be- the image or his father. the other thar
he resembles his mother. here We must pause and
explain that -nis is seriously meant these indica-
tons appear ir the score. and they are the only
oros which do 50 appear. How is the astonishing
exposition uade2 BY application Of the principles
Illustrated in one Of The TribUues concert reviews
some DAYS ago. Theme No. is brought into com
hinstior with theme 40. J. and then with theme
No
who hear the symphony have received the requisite
reading from without To resume the enumeration
Of progranmatic contents # the work: Baby is put
% bed ~ O'Clock. and sweet peace settles over
The household and reigns just twelve hours Tor
when the clock strikes again, amid the
live the country. bsby's theme enters
and hahv himself seems TO he the cause
of family disturbance into which
Go feel inclined to inquire too cUriously. There
Is double figure at OF about breakfast time. and
~. Strauss has labelled its subjects "Behauptung
assertion and 'GeEeu behouptuug" counter asser-
nom. II Is a strenuous debate whatever It's sub
iecu. and eliminates in a din which might well
proclaim the crack % doom. We have not the
70 peer closely into siEnihcances here: where "a To-
band and wife discuss family matters in this
manner strangers would better hold aloof. It's a
mercful providence that all ends Eood-hUmoredly.
Tho fear obtrudes Itself that this description will
not be accepted serious: yet not a word has
'--en written down lightly or In Jest. Not this re-
NoiueI. nut Dr. Strauss. Is responsible fOr this
oe"iloering phantasnagoria Let Us leave the con-
Ap.alon OF Il and consider some o. the musical
lures In Dr.. Strauss magical hands the
-es (Which were printed in The Tribune
800 p" become wonderfully plastic. and they and
-'7s oerlVeo from them are woven together
ana voiced by the Instruments with sometimes
a,iSlille results. The scherzo section which
"S ne introduction OF the themes
arc begins their elaborate Illustration is Fun
1@-H'y beauty ana delicious humor, and
ld3l4ic loneliness in the slow
sortI1n Sr-Lt ma r-...,.,. IL - -.