New-York tribune., 1905-01-07
MUSIC.
The Philharmonic Society

sesc-e beginning the list 90 Russia, ,,-,.,.,
sons 70 conduct which M safonorY hsa -,
s-o-stlt over rom Moscow. the Philharmonic So
csty. st JUS teurth public rehearsal yesterday sf-
tsrroon, paid musical tribute 20 Theodore T,orss
,-ho was long its leader. Together with ,ha horsa
-, q black bOrdsred circular ~rss s,x.r.n,,.s :
,s-oh read fellows: with profound ravrs. ,ba
vssgssrmonic Society OF New-York Announces ~
q. patrons the death OF the former conductor ard
bnuosa-y member. Mr.. Theodore Thomas In honor
:, me memory OF the deceased the Funeral March
s-on tie T-otcs' Symphony by Beethoven viii be
-.-<orred before the beginning OF the regular n-o
-sru-ne. The introduction 70 the third aot o<
NE MeistersinEer VIII therefore be omitted ="
5hss excerpt rom wagne-'s comic opera had been
,-..-red after M SafonoTs arrival not
.s orig11slly planned. For that reason there
ss no mention OF IL in the analytical notes on the
,rnrrs-ms. once before in its history the Phil
tsrmonio Society played fhe funeral march from
ne Heroic symphony as q memorial 10 the desd
II was the last concert of its twenty-third
=, which had been set down for April q 1855
,,ek before the date the country awoke 70 read
n. swtul intelligence that President Lincoln had
- nsssssinated- The concert Was postponed a
- and when the programme appeared II con-
800 IN announcement 10 the effect that as a
.-f.z,s 70 the dead President the Funeral March
49,, Beethoveu's Third Symphony. which WAS
,-ass,r composed for the occasion Of the death OF
= r-esf here hsd been prehxsd 20 the programme,
~ .
. Y,- would be omitted The sudden death OF
-, setdl on March q 1925 found the last con-
ost OF the socletys hftysixth season prepared and
.-,-sasut- on the programme there figured its
.Lte, sdornnent Beefhovens Ninth symphony. Again
-. oss 70 Joy stricken OUT but this time its
-. was given 20 the death music from wagner's
q-s.terdsramerung.' The funeral march i'm
-..s4z-elv played yesterday, and-applauded' Was
= becsuse Of 2 Inomentsry forgetfulness first
.hurl,tioa Of the uneontrollable enthusiasm which
.i,ss ,,pon the audience when Mr. Safono1 began
~, a. task that brought forth the unexpected and
,-,ost vrsesrnly demonstration Who shall say?
o.. thing Is obvious: We have not vet sioushed off
-. .,-ba-ots disposition TO reward good music
..,, .o,se no matter how solemn the circum-
..p-oss u is piti1ul hut true
" sstonorrs Russian programme consisted Of
.l,voynows sixth symphony. Tschaikowsky's con-
-, fcr violin rhe solo part played by Mr. Fritz
T-.,Sjs-, ana the same composers Fsntasy-Over-
,---s Romeo and Juliet" :he work with which
-.,hsikovrsky was introduced 10 Philharmonic
s-sa-ne rxsnty-eight resrs ago. II has frequently
bser heard IN ne metropolis since and Miss Maud
p.~au NJ Brodslyy cxho ssved II from threatened
A,,r3or, s,d M PitschnikotS have played the con
rs-.o in our concert rooms From the Boston
sv-nuaon~ Orchestra We have heard the symphony
~ The composer who OF al bis contemporaries
s.ens called 70 succeed Tschsikowsky. There does
n. seem 10 be q need, therefore, Of extended
co-n.u; OF the compositions II ought 70 bs
.sw however that they never before were
a, sloousrtly and convin eingly played There
Is irspsrstion n n. safonorTs tremendously
s7s-retic and compelling leadership; inspirs-
In, FOR the players. and Inspiration for
me hearers Ee is an elemental force. and yester-
dsv he again evoked whirlTind OF excitement Ike
rhsf which followed his memorable performance Of
The Pathetic symphony year ago The per-
fsrrsnoe was not uniformly brilliant. There VAS
.tls or nothing 10 praise in the accompaniment 70
me concerto. Here the musicians needed hrrner,
-lesrer more authoritative beat than they could
fnd in the waving arms and beckoning hands OF
ne conductor who electrified them In the SYM
phory The reason was plain 10 the obseTvant ones
who sat n the seats of the listeners Ir- safonon
eon6ucted without baton He has notion that
sirce the baton has ceased 10 have the dimensions
~ ma-xhsis sts1 lost its utility. There Is
music sn which facial expression dramatic postur-
inE and gesticuiRtions serve 10 a better purpose
thar the rhythmic motions of a tiny wand but as
a rule that is al fresco music; like the first
ruovsnent Of Glszounow's symphony. But, besides
rh,s SORT there Is music IN which the time must
bs ntuutely and clearly marked; and in this the
PLAYERS are accustomed 10 watch the distinct and
incsve motions of the helpful ard needful wand
NJ K-siser accomplished q miracle Of violin tech
nique -este-6sy His playing must have sent gai-
rsnio shocks through every member OF the orches-
but the concerto is hideously difleult for the
solo performer and narrowing and nerve racktng
% the accoupanying band. Conductor and musi-
clans reed every conceivable device 10 keep them
together. and we believe that better results would
have beer obtained had M. Safonon not discarded
the little stick. Music is a vastly different thing
now from what It was when the conductor turned
che pases Of the score and put in pianotorte
chord nov and then, leaving the leader Of the
vons 70 indicate the pace and little more with the
rioHn bow. i does not follow that device which
might serve IN z symphony must a-so serve in
concerto