New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-10-05
WORCESTER FESTIVAL.
1zco Concerts Command Respect of
Visitors.
IBy Telegraph to IN. Tribune.

Worcester. Mass. Oct L-Thsre were two con-
certs to-day at the festival Of the Worcester Coun-
" Musical Association. both of a dignity which
commanded the respect of visitors from the
capitals where music culture is a matter Of
months, instead of days. rs here. Both concerts
were largely attended. and It was made plain that
inc forty-ninth festival is destined TO mark
era as the first OF many festivals that Will cost
nothing to the guarantors but will leave a surplus
In the exchequer OF the association.
In the afternoon the choir had nothing to do. II
was an ordinary symphony concert such as New
.1ork and Boston is accustomed to: its chief in
terest to the visitor consisting IN the performance
OF set OF variations by Frederick A Stock. Mr..
Thomas's successor IN Chicago and conductor Of
the Symphony Orchestra OF that city. The COM
position has been heard IN Chicago. but nowhere
else. yet IT deserves a wide hearing.
Its composer from the ranks IN tho Thomas
organization His music had to make it's way
against the popular prejudice. not against the new
but IN favor the old In music love what
we know, not what hear for the first time
Familiarity does not breed contempt. but under
standing and love. assuming it to be good music
The variations have been performed several times
in Chicago. but. far I know. nowhere else
until this afternoon
They good music masterfully written. with
defects that q veteran of the concert room can
point out but with merits that he is bound to ap
preciate. Among them true invention OF a
plastic theme. the knowledge OF orchestral and
harmonic color in the development Of the vara-
tons. We could wish for greater variety Of mood
in the progress OF the piece. the composer being
seemingly obscured by the gloom in his minor
theme and Its first statement But admiration Is
challenged by his orchestration and his command
OF harmonic device and It is not difficult to forgive
his lesnings toward Meyerbeer and Wagner in the
development OF his work. for after all. the piece
unsteady beautiful and not dependent on sx-
traneous things for It's effects
Besides the stock pieces the concert which was
admirably conducted by Franz Kneisel presented
Goldmarks charmingly fresh Spring overture
Schumann's symphony IN D minor and two solos
vocal and instrumental. by Mrs. Margaret c. Ra-
bold and Timothee Adamowski, of Boston. Mrs
Rabold. like about one-haf OF the solo singers Of
the festival. halls from New York. where she
occupies modest station In art
The festival has served a good purpose IN lifting
her into prominence. and the popular liking OF her
performance Of an air from Bizet's ''Pecheurs de
Perles'' brought with It a call for more which
she answered with an afr which the reviewer could
not Identify further than that Il was of the Pom
chielli type. AS for the lady's singing. It was
excellent from one point OF view. deficient from
another, that 1t may be said TO have been charao-
terisuo Of the festival a whole-coo good 20 be
seriously faulted. too mediocre be praised with
out serious qualifications.
Mr.. Adamowski has been heard In the Saint
sasns concerto for violin. which was his number In
New York when he has played It better. with nns
virility. but also with fine devotion to true intona-
ton. quality that not much 10 the fore
to-day
At the evening concert the programme a.
vided between Brahms's Song OF Destiny and
Verdrs Requiem the latter familiar from previous
festival performances. It Is a household word In
most cities in which choral music is cultivated
The Brahms number was a novelty IN the festival
scheme. but not wholly new to the Worcester mu-
sic lovers since Il had figured In of the schemes
OF ]. Vernon Butler. who seems TO be determined
keep his city up TO date. though he cannot
mand the apparatus needful for the full interpreta
ton OF such music this piece by Brahms which
calls mperatfveiy for the orchestra In order that
its message may be uttered
In the Requiem the choral part had merely per
functory performance and the chief interest lay In
the singing Of the solo quartet. composed OF Miss
Louise Ormsby. Nine. Isabelle Bouton Daniel Bed
doe and Frederick Martin. all except last singer
local TO New York. In large measure these sing
ers brought the eloquent message OF Verdi home
TO the audience the most admirable features Of
their performance being the artisticaly Intelligent
well poised singing OF Miss Ormsby, who knows
what style means though her capacity IS not alto
gether Verdan, but rather classic. Mr.. Bsddoe'
splendid performance OF his duets. Mr. Goodrich
conducted.