New-York tribune., 1908-02-10
MUSIC.
aolxiE IN THE CONCERT ROOM"

II will not be surprising IL Mr.. Ernest Something's
Fantastic Suite for pianoforte and orchestra'
made known at Carnegie Hall yesterday afternoon
gains an extra musical popularity through its IN
cIsion OF Dixie as one of its principal themes
Listening to the suite performed oy MI
Damrosch and the New York symphony Orchestra
with the composer pianist, the racy tune was
found TO respond readily TO symphonic treatment
as to cause wonder that the experiment had NOT
been frequently tried before Mr. scheilins set
his hand to the task II could no. have been only
the pleasure of recognition (strongy as tne nina
responds to unexpected sensation OF TINS Kno'
that yesterdays auditors to sudden exchanging
of obks and smiles and mods. that for an instant
IL seemed likely that the music would be interrupt
ed by spontaneous wave of applause Tnis was
no doubt the ruling element IN the momentary fees-
ing that passed through this hall, bus ,nere must
also have been some measure OF thought Tor the H.
herenty human and expressive quality Of the mel
ody composed almost fifty years ago by Daniel
Decatur Emnett-"Old Dan Emmett, as he was
arectionateIy called in his later days
The story of ''Dixie's' composition on rainy
September Sunday in 1859. for performance the
next night by Bryants Minstrels, in this city. Is
familiar to need repetition but 1t Is simply
of many signs Of the tunes continuing vitality
that Mr. ScheIling should have seized upon it, along
with fragment OF Stephen Fosters "Old Folks
Home ("Suwanee River'D and Of Yankee
Doodle for the final movement OF hts ambitious
and ingenious This movement is called by
time. motto vfvace. and in the key OF fiat major
The Dixie theme is first given out by the piano
forte and IT sfterward appears in varied and ef-
fective orchestral guise. especially when combined
contrapuntaly with "Suwanee River" the latter
being carried by the strings against the livelier
air the pianoforte. A third theme enters this
movement of the suite. but Dixie dominates IT
But it would be unfair further 10 withhold ref
erencs to Mr.. Seedlings original work in the first
three movements of the suite His music is built
throughout a foundation of clearly defined dia-
tonic themes and II IN his first movement the tonal
structure defes the of musical architecture
by failing 10 preserve close relationship between
Its thenatc ground plan and its developed facade
there many other buildings, musical and other
wise, which have admiration despite similar
fault Of design The second movement, scherZando
motto leggiero with its joyous suggestions OF
Dvorak in New World symphonic mood tthe
debt is slight. but yet noticeable). made a very
happy impression. particularly in its opening and
closing portions, though the contrasting trio is also
well conceived and carried out. with a Characters
tic episode for panoforte and English horn
In the third movement. nter1nezzo adagio, the
English horn again sings expressively-the COM
poser has used the wind chors with marked skill
throughout his score. though may fairly ques-
ton his taste in mutng the horns and trumpets
in the final movement at 'Dixie's'' entrance,
conveying notion Of undesired grotesquerie On
the whole then this Fantastic Suite of Mr.
Seedlings made most agreeable impression, and
1t will doubtless be heard again. especially II the
composer be at hand TO play the pianoforte part
with the beauty of touch and clarity OF intention
in evidence yesterday.
Mr.. Damrosch and the orchestra gave Of their
best In performing the suite, they had already
done in the B fat major symphony of Schumann
There another work the list FOR solo instru
ment and orchestra, Tschaikowsky's thene and
variations, in which Mr.. Henry Bramsen. the SYM
phony Societys first violonceIist. gave fine
hibition Of his big and well controlled tone and his
sound musicianshp. The concert programme ended
with of Goldmark's sumptuous overtures. all OF
them good to hear and only perhaps. enjoying
greater popularity than that selected for this oc-
| Spring"