New-York tribune., 1909-02-19
MUSIC
MR.. pADEREwsxr's SYMPHONY.

Mr. Paderewskis symphony, Of which some
critical and descriptive observations were tele-
graphed 10 this Journal from Boston after it's first
public performance. last Friday afternoon had
local performance in Carnegie Hall last night at
the fourth concert this season of the Boston Or
chestTa- Since it was first heard 1t mas oeen
played four times by the Boston organization--in
Boston, Philadelphia. Washington and Baltimore
The composition is OF kind which benefits from
study on the part of the performers as wei as
the hearers Those who found themselves attracted
bat also somewhat mystihed. by the work ought
therefore. to hail the circumstance that it IS to
he repeated tomorrow afternoon with pleasure
They viii discover, matter how favorably and
profoundly they were impressed last night that it
grows upon acquaintance. Its beauties will he
heightened. its weaknesses will fall less signih-
canty into the ear. From this intelligent music
lovers will correctly argue that is serious COM
position. work undertaken in spirit of honest,
unaffected devotion 10 lofty ideals. and which for
this reason IL no other must be approached in tho
same spirit. For the of its general effective
ness as q symphonic composition il might he
wished that Mr.. Paderewsk had been less filled
with patrioaic emotion and a little less sincere A
strange wish this. perhaps. and that the com
poser Is too honest to sympathize with, but had he
been willing to sacrifice truthfulness of deneation
TO musical effectiveness there would have been
less gloom and pride and consciousness Of
national strength in the mood of the symphony. and
consequently more variety of expression. But I'm
the obviously delineatve portion Of the work there
was opportunity to hymn & triumph; only to
sing Of struggle, defeat. the glory Of the dead and
the hope of the living Had the revolution Of 1853
had different outcome he would have been the
man to hymn it with the fervor of a Miriam. That
was obvious when the orchestra lifted up its voice
with superb and thrilling power in a proclamation
of the ancient chivalry and glory Of Poland in the
first movement. That OF the beautiful and
impressive moments in last nights concert another
was the elimination of the mood OF sorrow and
gloom after the description Of battle in the last
M enf he yarA ant ed in
The Tribune's dispatch from Boston last week last
night they upon the reviewer with increased
forcefuness-an evidence Of their genuine strength
and loveliness.
Another observation worthy of notice 0his re-
view being but sequel the 1rsO that the
Finale. while obviously sufficient itself as
symphonic poem deneatlve OF the Polish revolt
ton Of 1863 disclosed more plainly than at the
first unprepared hearing its association with the
first movement, and therefore the essential unity
OF the work It's reminiscent phrases appear with
beautiful apposteness in the Finale. On the
whole the symphony is work of real dignity
and much beauty. worthy of its subject and its
composer It's first movement enthusias sticaliy
received. and the composer called 10 the
stage several times after each movement. A hne
performance one in the best Paderewski vein, Of
Saint-Saens's pianoforte concerto in c minor
closed an evening which unique the musi-
cal annals OF New York. II. r. X.