New-York tribune., 1908-03-30
MUSIC.
BEETHOVEN AND THE PusLIc.

While this city's annual tribute OF love ana rev
for Beethovens music has for many years
past been ample In volume and of steady hoW Inc
pblics phenomenal interest in the Beethoven cycle
to be concluded next Sunday afternoon ny MI
Walter Damrosch and the New York symphony
Orchestra has afoat considerable specuiatioii
Perhaps it is fair 10 explain the quite unexpected
manifestations that have marked the five concerts
thus far given including that of yesterday, by
crediting Mr.. Damrosch with choosing the prec47e
psychological moment for such return TO Hrst
principles 1t has for over decade past been salo
that music is going through period OF 'rarlsi-
tion. The vivirying influence Of Richard wagner
has become already part OF accepted tradiuon'
there remains nothing Of what for so long was the
ail-pervading Wagner question 50 caIieu-
Tschaikowsky and Dvorak, about who1n 'h7re
never was a doubt in the public mind. have also
passed into the general category Of things precious
but not controversial Richard Strauss mas said
nothing new in his many voiced orchestral IAN
zuage since his uninspirins Domestic Syrnphony
so far the concert room Is concerned ne mas
for the nonce dropped out Of the reckoning as os-
nandins any attention beyond the ordinary De
busy the logical OF musical observation Just
now in the operatic domain. has done as yet TOO
little for orchestra alone 10 provide Tnaterlat iOi
good sized public movement for or against niiii
his several short pieces thus far given mere hase
excited appreciatfve comment. while his trfptycn
.aThe Sea" proved real disappointment 10 the
majority of hearers-but there is no large De
bussv question vet in respect to concert perform
snces though this Frenchuan's 'Pslleas ct Meii-
sande' looms big the operate horizon
For the moment, then. concert music mas 80
without a prevailing current or trend In such a
condition nbs. more reasonable than that the
public should welcome return to the safe haroos
of Beethoven. In tn midst or hesiIa'ioh 60
uncertainty 1t is the strong. clear voice tnat "ifs
and when Mr. DamroscE invoked it by announcing
his ambitious and well planned beetnoveh cScI7'
the response was quick and gene-ous- hus11
lovers will have been abe. by listening 10 tne nn7
symphonies in their proper order ana 10 Ihe o'"
orchestral and vocal music brought forward III
these six concerts 70 standardize and readJusl' 50
~ cav their conceptions of what is lasting ana
vital in the art, and thus better equip themselves
to meet and evaluate what contenpoIaIS
,oesrs are doing. There is little doubt too, that
with a considerable number OF hearers this rehe"a
of close and speca- relations with What OF D.
thoven's music Mr.. Damrosch has orered Iheni
will lead 10 a further extension on their own De
half Of THEN acquaintance with the master Cle0
mind of nineteenth century music Ana IhlS SUI
NJ artistic exploration is likely TO be richly
rewarded.
Carnegie Hall was again filed yesterday aI
noon with responsive hearers at the nIth Coh'e
Of the series The eighth symphony was pldSeu
with fervor and enthusiasm that refiected nap
tt g.. s,i-t. or huror and it's abounding energy,
.sneciaIIv the first movement Before the aAIe-
sretto with its familiar theme Of Ia Ia. 'a'
Herr Maezel' a choir of men ana women liViii
tho Oratorto Society sang -he amusing NIUE
we'll supper given the man who perfected 'lt
u1etronorne. and who had had business ana p'O-
fessienaI relations with the composer. II vas
Ingenious TO resurrect this dexterous little piece
for this occasion and for the skiIful moderation
of its dynarlics that X led up appropriately
to the repressed opening Of the allegretto II 1he
symphony there must be record OF adnlira'ioH
for the conductor. Besides the symphony the
orchestral works were the King stephan over
t,1re the once admired Turkish March from me
Ruins of Athens and the overture 10 F1delio'
No 4 The orchestra was in capital form through
out.
Very effective was the Incorporation in this pro-
erann1e OF four OF the many Scotch folksonss ar
ranged by Beethoven for Thomson. the scotch pup
Usher They the exquisite Sunset, 100 sell
dom heard in concert; "Oh Sweet Were the
Hours Faithful Johnnie" and "Bonny Ladcle'
Highland Laddie" Mr.. Claude Cunningham sang
them with sympathy. and the sccompanirnents
were delightfully."- played by Messrs- Danlrosch
SasIavsky and Bramsen. on the pianoforte. Violln
and vfooncellO. respectively. Two other songs
were also introduced. The Kiss and The Song
of the Flea the latter from Goethes Faust and
brimuing with sardontc hurnor- Next Sunday
afternoon the Beethoven cycle will end, with the
ninth symphony and the Benedictus from the Sol
ernn Mass as a logical elimination