New-York tribune., 1908-12-09
MUSIC
GUSTAV MAHLER's SECOND SYMPHONY

Il
Though the patrons os the New York Symphony
Society doubtless looked u2on Mr.. Gustav Mailer
ss their guest lsst evening when he conducted
.he second % lis eight symphonies at Carnegie
HAL, ir was by demonstrations OF far more than
7re-e poteuess that the large audience found vent
y7- is feelings Of interest and pleasure n this
-eT music and iJs author, After the SchubeTtiau
second movement there long continued ap-
rlause and al the close Of the composition, which
hs6 -asted including fve-nlinute interuissions
c-se hour and twenty-five minutes. there cheer
tx ant waving OF handkerch hiefs until Nj Mailer
xss compelled to sppear several times 10 bow his
thanks and appreciation Whatever the relation
ship between the composers lofty aim and his
actual accomplishment IN this symphony, it Is g
-ieszlsre record THE quick and evidently sincere
EXPRESSION Or New York audience Of representa-
i've character II its favor II is none too often
rhsr rphooic writer Of class attainrnents
Sands before American music lovers in their 6wn
country. and 4 is good have such occasions
marked II the fashion o. last night.
7 vas e ponderous musical apparatus that Mr.
Nsh'e-s work demanded for its presentation. In
clu6l-g The orchestra visible upon the stage and
Ire several groups II brass Instruments heard from
e distance there were rs players enlisted besides
e ulX=d chorus of TWO hundred voices from the
o-ar--to Society. snd a soprano and contraIto
so.aisr Il composers & much further II erl-
-z-E--E The machinery needed tor a hearing ot
-1e-- scores symphonic concerts viii become too
expensive Tor even the -fIlgest set Of EgIa-anrors
70 maintain But IS M Mailer Is bv no means
El--s among modern composers n his demands for
ere largest and most varied assortment o. or
c1esr-s- t-sr-Ur7euts, this feature of his second
Symphony may b. set aside for the moment L IS
-Ee ain and content OF work that claim chief
-1-sl6ersrio1-
-He composer has distinctly asserted that he
seeks expression IN music, only when no Other
medium VIII convey his thought and this declara-
--7- comes with al the more weight from M
Mailer since he has given proof Of some elcquence
writer II words Il not easy. therefore, 70
ssT what re meant utter n this c minor svrr-
pn--E. especially several Of the Eve movements
contain widely coutrasted moods. The first sec
non Is Al allegro r1eesroso. and its main theme
ls rather se-tertloUsy rnou-leuL interrupted.
however By what Is perhaps the most beautiful
ep-soce q tae symphony. passage for strings,
harp and one Or tvo subd2ed brass instruments.
mich Is si1EIlary lovely The next movement
Ez-ks hack II Schubert n character. and its
Charming simplicity seems cu-tously unrelated 70
WAT Ezs preceded Il Next the composer sum
the auditors with biood-cu-dling drum beat
- read anew the paths n to-day There is run
ming figure the strings and voodv1nd that sIz-
E=s-s echo Of Berlioz- presently the contra
E-~-aI writing suggests g Bee-hovenian treatment
-- through ali o. this music there speaks truly
modern -es-Lessness- and II Il be said. 4
-0-e o. 5-co1seouence- There Is extraordinarily
Ingenious orchestral writing n the fourth division
ct re work coupled with Qroclarnations from the
Invisible brass choir that seem po--entousv insiE-
--1-z--. INTO the midst of the seething ferren-
& e- projected the voice % the cort-alro singer
r---.at-1t1g rhe gospel OF faith in the ultimate
redemption and renewal O sor-oving suffering
mankind and rhe vanquishi1E Of Death Itself. The
=-71-s-Ce q cL-s vocal EPISODE must be warmly
praised Again, in t1e fifth and final section the
-=7 solo voices ard the chorus sing long and az
-s---- q the victory or the soul. and there Is
- hea--srt-E power
7e~c-6 Il doubt NJ Nzh-er deeply in
earnest The1 le wrote -lAs music. and Of the
hearty and insight Of certain episodes there can be
- doubt ~ E-s- hearing there seems however
5-z - significant and commanding originality.
= -= mora cerebral than passionate, intel
=----7- -1a- Co-rPe-l1ngiv emotional Il view of
ne @-e--tveress - -zs- nights pe-fo--1a1ce. which
rejected credit upon al concerned. including the
-T- z0-o singers. Miss Laura Combs and Mrs Ger
tide S-er-Beiev. especially the latter Il may De
~-e5 that rh-s symphony v5u be heard again II |
--s c--~ within reasonable time NJ. Nahler's /
7-z = TOO ls-Ee u be passed upon AZ first per
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