New-York tribune., 1909-03-21
LAST BOSTON
CONCERT.
SYMPHONY
THE

The first warning that New Tork's winter OF
music is nearing its end IS annually given by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra, and for the current
this notice was served at yesterdays matt
nee at CarneSie Hall which marked the last ap-
pearance here OF the visiting organization until
next November. AS II to emphasize the precious
qualities Of this Boston band Mr.. Max Fielder and
his chose as their principal number yesterday
the Fantastic Symphony of Hector Berlioz. than
which few compositions in the repertory demand
for their performance more crystalline clarity OF
string tone or a greater virtUosity IN the otheE
groups Of players The Boston organization is a
shining exemplar OF what orchestra should oe
in these respects, and II is safe TO say that the
supremely expert presentation Of the "Fantastlc
symphony yesterday would have pleased Berlioz
even moro than it old the fine audience The gaunt
themes beloved OF the romantic Frenchman were
sounded with a proud nobility OF utterance by the
vions and the heavier strings; the English horn
and the oboe lent the colloQuy in the fields
delicate Yet piercing beauty, giving the precise
suggestion OF remoteness and inconsequence intend
ed while the peals thunder that rolled from the
drums at the close of this third division OF the
symphony. and went with consumrate SKILL
The full flavor OF the Walpurgis Night music OF
the final movement achieved by means or the
splendid responsiveness Of the players in every
chcr to the requirements Of the score and to the
directions Of the conductor. Mr.. Fielder DID ms
share and the result will remain among the sea-
sons many delightful memories
10 the music in and for itself, II loses some OF
it's Importance as the years go by, but none OF its
plcturesqueness Of It's sardonic humor. Not by
any modern seeker after character in music. o1ten
the of beauty, has the ingenious craftsman
ship Of BerIioz been surpassed And. as the an
notator of the programme book observes. Beethoven
had not been dead four years when the Fantastic
symphony was first performed, on December D.
1880; Schubert had been buried little more than
two years; Schumann had Just obtained his mothers
permission to study music; Verdi was poor and
unknown student at BUsseto; Wagner was study
ing at Ieipsic with the cantor OF the Thomas
schule: Brahms and Tschaikowsky were unborn
Until the third movement OF Ernest Schellings
Fantastic suite for pianoforte and orchestra
which followed the symphony yesterdays list II
may well have seemed to some listeners tnat MI
Fielder had not chosen wisely in placing together
two works approaching each other IN mood ana
bearing similar titles. The first two movements OF
Mr. Schelling's admirably written suite, which nad
made a success when first played here season
or two ago. are examples OF bithe and wholesome
musical thought. avowediy aiming at no depth OF
feeling but altogether happy and charming In IN
tention and execution. From the point OF view OF
to-day perhaps the first bit Of musical speech tnat
carried words Of tenderness and seriousness at this
Boston C ncert came when Mr.. Schelling, who was
himself at the pianoforte. played the expressive
theme OF the third movement Of his composition
It fell gratefully upon the ear. and While II IS not
by any means a remarkable melodic idea II stood
out on this occasion with surprising effectiveness
This side OF rnusc's emotional function was set
forth authorttatively in the programmes final num-
ber the overture weber's Der Freischutz
To recur to Mr.. SchelIing's attractive suite. this
new hearing OF the brought further adnlra-
ton for the composers ease and freedom or Or
chestrai and piansic uttsrance, and for the frank
and engaging quality of his thematlc Invention IN
the third movement there is a suggestion OF the
same purity and chivalrtc tenderness OF thought
that marked a good deal Of the music Edward Mac
DoTeII wrote: perhaps in both cases the spirit OF
the music may be called essentially American
With the fourth and last division Of his suite MI
ecbsIIing's well remembered conturing with Dixie
and "Old Folks at Home came TO the front, and
the popular response by the auditors was instant
| The composer-pianst's Interpretation Of his own
music was marked by n1odesty. enthusiasm and an
ample skill