The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-05
Music AND MUSICIANS.

Dir. Damrosch announces for performance
at Carnegie Hall this afternoon Beethoven's
-Wellington's Victory; or, the Battle Of
Vittoria." Mr.. Damrosch may not be
personally responsible for the widely dis
scrninated statement that this Is TO be the
first performance in America of the COM
position. At least one previous is on record.
In December, 1870 in a Beethoven festival
COMMUNICATING the centenary of the
composer birth, this music was performed
in New Haven by an orchestra Of fifty
players. nearly all from this city. under
the direction of DR.. Gustaye j. Stoeckel,
professor of music in Yale University,
This festival lasted three days and in
it's course the Richings-Bernard company
gave a meritorious performance of "Fi-
delio' Theodore Thomas contributed 10
the success of the enterprise by advice,
and his suggestions about the Wellington
SYMPHONY as it is called. were especially
useful.
1t would have been Drawer in Mr.. Thomas
to suggest with all his persuasive eloquence
that the thing be not performed at all
But the late director Of the Chicago Or
chestra was never ayerse TO using the name
OF Beethoven as a drawing card. He once
performed in Chickering Hall Beethovens
Musk zu einem Ritter Ballet, which, out
of respect to the fame Of a great man. should
be permitted to repose in eternal silence.
The came thing may fairly be said about
the Wellington symphony 1t is not a
symphony at all, but piece Of occasional
programme music, thrown together hastily
by Beethoven at the suggestion Of a smart
mechanician, Maelzel. tine inventor Of the
metronome. and showing no traces Of the
genius Of its composer
The truth is that Beethoven seems ~
have succumbed to a temptation held ont
to him by Maelzel to plan a concert thar
would draw an audience and at the same
time give him an opportunity to produce
his seventh symphony. I he great defeat
Of the French by Wellington at Vittora
took place on June 81, 1873, and the news
reached Vienna on July IL. Beethoven and
every one else was much stirred by the
news and the composer easily WIS led 90
accept the scheme 'vhich Maelzel laid be-
fore him.
The opportunity 10 give the concert
was found in the following October, when
the entertainment was PINNED 10 raise
money for the relief OF the wounded az
the battle Of Hanau. in which the Austrians
made a valiant attempt to cut of the retren'
Of the French from Laipslc The pro-
Rramne OF this concert contained the
seventh symphony. two pieces for Mae
Kels mechanical trumpet and the yelling
ton Symphony.
It Is easy to see that the chief purpose
OF the concert in Beethoven's mind was 70
get his seventh symphony heard, and the
other things were TO amuse the kind public
for consenting TO listen 10 the more serious
matter. Mr. Damrosch. OF course. does
not expect this bit of Beethovenian weakness
TO be taken as u manifestation Of the power
OF genius. He doubtless intends TO pro-
duce it 70 show bow the mighty Gun fan
when under the influence Of the com
mercial" mana ger.
The Pittsburg Orchestra. under amlabls
Emil Paur recently produced virtuaso
and virtuoso piece Of unusual kind BIr.
JlTsky, the principal double bass player
of the orchestra performed a concert zJiece
by Simsndl for double bass aud Grcheetrs
Siulandl is one Of the famous double bsEs
performers Of Europe and was the teache'
OF Jirsky
Bottesini used TO astouish and delight
London and even America with his Won
derful performances on the double bass
but he used bdsso dd camera. su-al
three stringed instruments. IL would b.
interesting as a mere matter Of curicsitY
10 hear Jirsky do his stunts He ~ not
Juvenile prodigy, Of coureA but can'e V'ii-
genial Snowman be prevailed upon to bring
him hither?
A gentleman who spent last winter n
Milan writes 10 THE SuN TO cay that IN the
estimate recently given Of Glordano and
Franchetti some mention ought 10 have
been made of the formers operas -F'edoTs
and siberia and the latter's 'GernAnis
This correspondent declares that Gtor.
dnno's two Successors 10 'Anfhca ChSnier
have been pronounced by musical ltsN
10 DO equal 90 that work, and ~ tol ieVe-
that this composer will eyontunl,y sdrlSsa
Pucoint L>oacavallo and haScaE-i,
Siberia = TO be performed in m-HF
Italian oiteS. -Cerrnania- the Co0rr-'spni-
ent calls -spleadid work H. -' in-
timates that Influence may have h,a muc1
N do With tha HainnrpSalon Of Ir.oYsCaV ulioa