New-York tribune., 1908-03-15
ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS.

Dr. Karl Muck will signaze his farewell in New
York as conductor OF the Boston Symphony Or
chestra by giving on next Thursday evening pro-
gramme of music by Americans, and Saturday
afternoon three substantial classics. Two of the
American works listed by Frederick s. Con-
verse and Charles NJ Loeffler and here,
while the third is MacDowell's Indian Suite, -
which has already had several hearings this winter
the final matinee Saturday the programme
WIFI be-
Overture The Marriage of Figaro Mozart
Symphony No Beethoven
Mr.. Converse's work to be heard on Thursday
evening is a suite of five movements and is pr
marily music for the theatre 1t was written for
small orchestra in 1906. incidental and entr'acte
music TO Percy Mackaye's drama Jeanne dare
which was played during the following by
Mr.. Sothern and Miss Marlowe. During the winter
of 1906 and 1907 Mr.. Converse rewrote this music,
the overture and entractes, for larger orchestra.
and In the spring Of 1907 it was played for the first
time in Boston in Jordan Hall, with Mr.. Wallace
Goodrich conductor of the orchestra Last
summer Mr.. Converse again rewrote and developed
music for fun symphony orchestra and in this
form il had its first performance in Boston ten
davs ago. being played by the Boston Symphony
Orchestra.
The first movement is entitled In Domremy,'
The mood of this bright and lively, showing the
Joy Of the peasants, and in contrast 70 this is heard
the love motif which later is to undergo very
considerable development The second movement
is called Pastoral Reverie" and in this Mr.. Con-
verse makes use of the peasant pipe. The third
movement Battle Hymn" opens with the old
"Neni Creator the hymn sung by the soldiers
under Joan OF Arc when they went into battle
and later the music develops into a wei! defined
battle scene. In Night Visions the fourth move
ment. the composer seeks to suggest the super
natural experiences OF the Maid. especially the
vision in which St. Michael appears The final
movement, The Maid Of God opens with the
chants of the priest for the soul OF the martyr,
and may be regarded a musical resume OF her
career. The simple motif Of the first movement IS
developed TO a great climax, and with the end
comes the apotheosls.
Mr.. LoefHer's Pagan Poem" the other novelty
OF next Thursday. is dedicated to the memory OF
Gustave Schirmer. II written originally in 1901
for performance chamber. music and for these
instruments-pianofo two flutes oboe, clarinet,
English horn, two horns three trumpets behind
the scenes. viola and double bass. 1t after
ward arranged for two pianos and three trumpets.
and was performed at the house of Mrs. John l..
Gardner April IS, 1903, with Messrs Proctor and
Gebhard pianists In 1905 and 1906 the work
was remouded and treated much more symphoni-
cally-
The tone poem suggested to Mr.. Loefier by
certain verses in the eighth ecogue of Virgil.
which is sometimes known 'Pharmaceutria'
(the Eorceress) II is dedicated TO Polio and was
written in SO b. c. IL consists of two love songs,
that of Damon and Of Alphesibeus. Each song
has parts. and these parts divided by a re-
curing burden of refrain Alphesb9us tells of the
love incarnation of Thessean girl. who by the
aid OF the magical spells endeavors to bring back
to her cottage her truant lover Daphns. Virgil
himself borrowed the IDEA this eclogue from the
second idyll OF TheocrituA