New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-10
Promises for the Coming
Season-Remarks or
National Hymns.

The dates set down for the concerts Of the ora
tori, Society in the coming season are December
d and Is February 20 and April 3 AT the nrst con-
cert Beethoven'z ''Nissa Solemnls N - VIII
be performed. Al the second and thifd haHueA7
Messiah " at the fourth Handels Judas Macca-
hans ~ the fifth Saint-saens : Samson ana
nali1ar, II is an interesting announcement Bee
thovens great mass has not been heafc N New
York at 2 since the music feStiNai d 'ile
7tb Regiment Arrnory conducted hv Theodore
Thomas in 1882 and II is longer still since Hande4s
stirring and sterling oratorio was heard December
being an opera night it is possible that the date
will be changed.
MrJ s Van Cleve Western critic. has taken
1mbrage at the comments which Sir Edward Elsa7
is said TO have made recently on the national or
patriotic. songs Of England and America, ana
stoJtlv comes to the defence of Ny Country, lis
Of Thee The Star Spargled Banner and YANKEE
Doodle" in an article written for The DAYTON
fOhiop Herald" Sir Edwards remarks were
scarcely worth So much bother. Il Is an old thing
for Englishmen to ridicule the grammar and the
rhymes Of God Save the King but only ignorance
At this late date assert that its melody was
stolen from the Germans or find it unsatisfactory
for that or any other reason It has stood the
test Of 80 years in England where it
was composed, careless writers 70 the contrary
notwithstanding. and adoption by several of
the German countries we'll the United States
is tribute IT. in the face Of which Sir Edwards
sheer only serves make him more ridiculous
The words Of America have also been faulted,
but they incomparablv more poetical and ele-
waiting than those Of God Save the King" and
they will live. The Star Spangled Banner is stir
ring poem. but is ell but impossible as 3 musical
piece the voice because Of the range of mel
ody Efforts have been made to modify the melodfc
contour 10 bring il within the range of the
average voice. but they have had effect Its mel
odv popular for political purposes long before
Key wrote the poem with which it is now forever
linked, and it will remain national tune in spite OF
private criticism public official action. Here
/ Mr.. Van Cleve says very Cogently:
As for The Star spangled Banner" that again
is most thrilling and admirable poetry. It has
sentiment. imagery. rhythm. euphony and has an
its composition which make it a brilliant and in
spring song.
Yankee Doodle" has its raison d'etre In its tune
alone. The Americans do sing 1t. they play II,
march to it. whistle it, drum its rhythm. which is
spendidly propulsive Nearly all countries have
such light hearted. subsidiary tunes. to which
popular heart is quite responsive as is to the
national tune proper Englands Right Little
Tight Little Island is case in point. and It i.
really a pity that and amiahly spirited
tune should be used ''Rogues' March" for
drumming purposes. AS the matter of
origin. that will play very significant role in
the election of tional hymns Americans. Saxons
Prussians and others have taken the tune of God
/ Save the King and IL is theirs Haydn wrote the
Austrian hymn but. either consciously or uncon-
sciously. borrowed much Of it from Croatan tune
Hswaii's national hymn, the words of which Of
royal authorship. has melody composed by a
German bandmaster and fashioned after God
Save the King but 1t is a fine hymn. and ought
to be recognized now that Hawaii forms part of
the domain of the United States.
After all. musicians of Sir Edwards type ought
10 be permitted 70 criticse national hymns: they
| cannot write one.
The dates of the Philharmonic Societys concerts
| in the approaching season are November 10 and II.
DECEMBER l and 2. Is and 16 January 8 and g. l9
| and 90 February and 10. March and 3 and %
| and "a The conductors will William Menge-
| berg. OF Amsterdam; Victor Herbert. OF New York;
| Max Fielder, of Hamburg; V. I. Safonof. of Mos
cow: DR.. Ernest Kunwald. of Frankfort. and Fritz
Steinbach. Of Cologne. Miss Otie Chew yiolinist
will play the first concert under the direction of
| Herr Mengelberg.
| II the Russian Symphony Society does not win
success In the coming II is going to try to
| deserve it There to be six Saturday evening
| concerts OF a symphonic order. and three Sunday
| afternoon concerts in which, we gather the rnusio
| is to be Of a more popular order. ONLY Russtap
composers are to be represented on the proersnna.
though the term will be construed literally an "a 20
| include the Finn Sibelius who is SO much n,
patriot that he will scarcely relish being clsssad
| among theRnssians. 1t is an awe-inspirine lie, -,
names which the society publishes in its prospectus
reading follows IN the considerations which IN.
| society seems officially 10 have adopted: We read,