New-York tribune., 1906-12-07
MUSIC.
THE BOSTON ORCHESTRA.

Or. Muck took occasion az the second evsliug
concert OF the Boston symphony Orchestra N car
negie Hall last night bring forward BrucSner's
symphony IN major. No. J. To Judge from
several announcements put forth BY the manage
ment, this symphony Is one for which the dis
tnguished conductor has stood sponsor IN quite
number OF musical capitals. II IS 70 be assumed
from the zeal which he displayed in conducting II
last night and the superb results which he acnieVsd
with his orchestra. that he has an afectlonate
interest either In the work or the memory
or It's composer In one respect he was more
circumspect than Mr.. Theodore Thomas, who gave
the work its first American hearings twenty years
ago-in the summer OF 1856. at concert In Chl-
cago and on November IS following, at a con-
cert Of the Philharmonic Society here Mr.. Thomas
placed the symphony at the end or hts programmed
Dr. Muck at the beginning OF his. Twenty years
IS a long time for anybody to keep musical COM
position in mind and a sufficient period for those
who heard it at the beginning to be willing TO hear
II again for the sake Of observing whether or not
their first impressions would meet with con4irTla-
ton Therefore the audience that filed all the stalls
and boxes Of the large room heard the work from
beginning end eithsr enjoying enduring II for
full seventy minutes. Twenty years ago this was
not the case. There being promise OF other
things 70 follow, a small contingent OF the most
serious minded audience which New York boasts
left the hall after the second movement. and a
larger contingent after the third Only two-thrds
Of those who came the concert with curiosity
whetted by the name OF the new composer and the
IOuClInE
set down as his greatest work remained 20 the
end. Last night the case was different; good man
ners and desire to hear the things which were 20
foilow-Rosenthars performance OF Liszts z fiat
pianoforte concerto and Beethoven's overture.
'Leonore No. s''-kept them IN their seats and
a praiseworthy spirit led them TO bestow a
considerable degree of approval upon either the
work or its performance. or both. But the ap-
plause was neither loud enough nor cordial enough
TO prevent the thought from arising that possibly
the attitude toward the performance on the part
OF the listeners was akin 70 that OF the Hndoo be-
fore his idol-they knew that IL ugly. but felt
that 1t was great Twenty years ago this reviewer
expressed the thought that after lapse OF twenty
five years the public might accept the symphony
as beautiful music Four-ffths OF the time has
past twenty years Of restless endeavor on the part
OF the disciples OF the amiabls and ingenious old
vfennese professor TO win acceptance for his
message; but its grandeur and It's beauty 90 not
be manifest Il IS still inpossibIe 70 dis
plenitude OF beautiful thoughts or logical
development and symmetrical organic structure IN
the symphony. or TO accept his cycoDean ptling I'D
Of sections in lieu OF the method Of the masters.
more eloquent plea than was made for IL last
night can scarcely be iTnag gined; but must
main unconverted.
Bruckner's name had appeared but once on
local programme before Mr. Thomas brought tnis
symphony forward. A short time before Afr. Wal
ter Damrosoh performed the symphony IN d minor
at concert OF the Symphony Society Thereby
hangs a tale which might well be told now II
was az time when the old rivalry in the pursuit
Of novelties. which used 20 enltven the symphony
seasons. was'stiu IN existence. Both Mr. DaInrosch
and Mr.. Thomas were eager TO be first IN the fad
with ths work that had caused considerable
noise IN two senses IN Germany. Mr.. Thomas was
probably q careless reader. Ac any rate. hs
cured what he supposed was the work, and
put IL IN rehearsal in Stetnway Hall At
the conclusion OF the rehearsal he met friend
who had come 20 hear the novelty, and remarked
to him that he was disappointed In the Bruclnar
symphony; he could find nothing In tt and wondered
what the German critics had made great com
motion about His friend was more careful OBJ
server Of foreign affairs and quietly called his at
tentton the fact that he had been rehearsing
the work. but It's predecessor in d minor.
MaanwhHe Mr.. Damrosch had also secured the
symphony in D minor. and. though he knew 1t was
not the much heralded one. he stiu considered Il
worth performing. And he ths first 20 In
troduce Bruckner to New York.