New-York tribune., 1909-02-13
MUSIC
PaderewskIs Symphony Perform
once in Boston.
tBy T.iserspa to ne Trfsune-I J


Boston, Feb. 13-Arnid scenes OF giadsorne excite
ment Paderewski's symphony performed at
public rehearsal Of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
here this afternoon. The occasion the fifteenth
afternoon meeting OF the orchestra and its patrons
and served eoquently to the great popularity
OF the Polish musician. Long before the concert
began there was not a seat to be had in any part
OF Symphony Hall. and would-be purchasers Of
places not subscribed for gathered in the corridors
of the hall as early as o'clock In the morning.
Before long the lins extended Of the hall far up
the street. and hundreds were unable 10 gain ad-
nlittance- In the audience were musicians and
music lovers from other places among them eigis-
mond Stojowski. Ernest Schellins and Alexander
Lambert of New York Nine, Sembrich more than
two days out on her voyage to Europe, remem oered
her oountryrnan by sending wireless message in
Polish expressing her hope that the eymphony
would meet with suocess.
The programme contained only two numbers-the
symphony, which received its first public perform
ence. and the minor pianoforte concerto by
eaint-SsSns, IN which Mr.. Paderewsd played the
solo part The celebration of Lincoln's birthday
had charged the atmosphere with patriotic feeling.
and this gave peculiar appropriateness to the Ia
triotism which the insiration of the symphony
Mr.. Paderewski by his own confession paid tribute
to his native Poland and memorial OF the rsvolu-
ton Of 1sSS-s4. The uprising and it's woful out
corne receive nuslc al dedication In the final move
rnent- which is frankly programmatic. but there Is
also hyrnnins OF Poland's heroic period in the
first movement and OF the musical nature OF the
Polish people in the second, There are only three
movements in the symphony at present but a
fourth movement. which Il is to be supposed Will
body forth the happy side Of the Polish nature
since II Is TO be scherzo, will be added when Mr.
Padereweki takes the symphony in hand again
The work promised when the composer was
last IN America The fact that 1t Is still unnnshed
Is evidence OF the serious manner in which he has
devoted himself to his self-imposed. but highly
honorable, task
Ntne-tenths OF Mr.. Paderewski's music Is express
sion after mood 1t is freighted with melancholy
II tells OF a great oorroding longing, vain effort
and hops which never shines resplendent. but ap-
pears ever at the end only fickerins light
IN the last the voice Of the people striv-
ing 20 throw of the yoke OF oppression finds ex-
preston in the frequent occurrence Of sugges-
ton Of the Polish national hymn. 'JsZsze Poska
ME zgineta'' C'Poland is not yet lost'O, but the
suggestion remains only suggestion The de-
vice has been used by other composers IN treating
patriotic political thenes-by Lttolh in his
''Robespierre' overture, by TsCha4kowsky In MS
IS12'-but generally there is swelling proclarna-
ton OF the typical hymn a. the end But Mr
Paderewsh has consumraaton which ne can
hymn. his song is only of longing s6u chertshed
and pride unbrokcn- To at q hrst hearing the
most moving portions Of the music were the buoy
ant proclamation Of the second theme IN the
first movement, which seemed 70 tell Of ancient
stortes and heart searching threnody N the Iast
movement after the din of g lost battle ana De-
fore dirge for the heroic dead
Structurally Mr.. Paderewski has pald oeterenoe
TO approved symphonic forms IN his first two move
aents and exercised the utmost freedom IN MS last
which has the dimensions and the outlines OF q
symphonic poem. In it he has heun to the INES
of historical incident Il might bear superscrip-
tion ike Tschaikowsky's overture, already men
tioned-"Poland 1853" might have been It's ute
Il is delinsaton OF the STRINGS OF popular IN
rest the zeal OF youthful patriotism the unheedeu
adnaonitions Of wise conservatism, of warfare De-
gun with needless daring and enthusiasm or de-
feat and lamentation. ending with shnarner OF
hope.
The impression made by the music Is not go eesiiy
described Mr. Paderewsd has invented some preS-
nsnt themes but they are not strikngly novel, ana
his treatment Of them makes them sound scant
OF breath. There IS excessive amount OF luera-
ton Of short motivi borrowed from the themes
in the working out OF the cliulaxes Ills FABRIC Is
polyphonic and the singing voices are heard al
vsv. but much Of the music is ulonochromauc-
This may be because Mr. PadereV'sh has hitherto
been chiefly a composer for the pianoforta. which
Is an embodied tutti but except In the motulatory
rsttera.Ions his music does not sound as II con-
ceived for any other instrument than the orchestra
II is anything but Transcribed pianoforte music
Portions Of It might be improved by reorchestra-
ton but there is much color IN the score. and
some of it's effects both brilliant and original
The audience applauded the first movement and
the last to the echo and would not desst until the
composer had repeatedly voiced his thanks. The
second movement called forth only ripple OF per-
lunctory handclapp.ng h L. n