New-York tribune., 1906-04-15

critical consulship Of W. II. Fry. and one OF his
associates in the struggle was George Z. Bris-
tow. who passed out Of New York s musical ac-
tivites only short time before he died eight
years ago. The fact that up TO his death Mr.
Bristow still deplorins the fact that the
American composer was not receiving as much
attention the German calls attention to the
dssension in the ranks Of the Philharmonic So
ciety which he was instrumental III fornentin
Yet 1t was 10 Mr.. Brstow 10 whom fell the
honor Of being the first American born COM
poser whose works received a performance at The
hands Of the Philharmonic Society In the con-
sutuuon Of this society, adopted on its organi-
zation sixty-dve years ago. there was a pro-
vision that
If any grand orchestral composition. such as
oVertures or symphonies, shall be presented TO
the society, they being composed In this coun-
nly, me society shall perform one every season.
government, shal! have approved and recon-
fnended the composition.
The first composition written in America which
the society admitted 10 its programme was a
Aarinlon overture composed by George L9der
al mat tine conductor OF the society This
was IN l646-a date which the young patriots
OA Gay ought 10 set down in their notebooks
as the natal year Of their new movement
Loder was an Englishman a member of the
FAMILY Of musicians whose home was Bath gr1
oouotiess brother Of the Ioder one of whose
operas was revived IN London only a few weeks
ago. Inc second composition chosen for a sim
mar distinction was an overture by Mr Bris,ory
ms tHlrd numbered work. This was PLAYED
under his own direction on January 8. ISt- lI-
brlstow celebrated the arrival OF Julien in
america by composing a symphony in his honor
his second composition in this fornl-and this
was played by the Philharmonic Society ON
March !, 1855; q third symphony. In F-sharp
MINOR was brought forward on March 2G 1855
ana fourth. In F minor. which bore the title
Arcadian," on February IA. 1874
II was at the apogee Of his activities in con-
necrion with the Philharmonic Society. 10 which
he had belonged since the second year Of It's
existence, that Mr.. Bristow Joined in an agita-
ton which threatened great harm 10 the society
and does not seem TO have produced any other
results than 10 give his symphonies hearing
In 1855 William Henry Fry took up the cudgels
IN behalf Of American music as the musical
editor Of The Tribune. Mr.. Fry's zeal in this
cause was go great that Mr.. Greeley once wrote
humorously to Mr.. Dana, then managing editor
OF this newspaper, that inasmuch as Fry would
never be satisfied until he had an opera house
devoted exclusively to the production of his
operas he Greeley would be grateful To Mr.
Dana If he were TO have the Academy OF Music,
burned down and send the bill 10 him. Fry who
had written Gn opera which had received a per
formance at the Academy Of Music it was called
'LeOnOre," and Lagrange Grassier, D'AugrI and
energetic ally in Nj Bristow. and together they
tried hard 70 persuade the Philharmonic Society
and the public that TOO much attention lvar
given TO dead Germans" GIaydn Mozart Bee
thoVen, Schubert and their frlIoWsb ana too
little 10 living Americans Mr. Brstow's as
saults were particularly bitter; but It must be
remembered that the period that in which
knownOthingism fOUrished IN American politics
one Of Mr.. BriStOw's utterauCes would seem 10
indicate that the spirit Of that political policy
was not without influence upon his conduct
Speaking Of the society in whose highest COIN
cils he sat, he said: The Philharmonic Society
has been as ants American as If IL had been
located IN London during the Revolutionary War
and composed Of native Tories" Mr.. Pristow
was the cOmI oser also of an opera entitled "PiU
Van Wrinkle" which was performed by the
Pyne and Harrison company at Niblo's Garden
September o. 1855. Twenty years ago the
young enthusiasts Of the american school used
70 date the advent Of American music from
the advent OF John Knowles Paine and Dudley
Buck: they are now talking as If the musical
world had been without form and void until
George w. Chadwick Horatio Parker end Ed
ward MacDowell came: VIII they admit Mr.
BI1stow and his cotemporaries (for he had CO.
temporaries) 10 the ranks?