New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-06
MUSIC
GOSSIP AND COMMENT
Pisnoforte Recitals-A French Sym
nhonv-The Opera Contest.

phony-The Opera Contest.
Had AFR Stojowski's first historical recital
I'm Mendelssohn Hall last Saturday AFTER
noon not been preceded by somewhat 100
long spoken prologue II would have been
quite as interesting as II was and consid-
erabIy more enjoyable. Mr.. Stojowski mas
PREPARED a series Of concerts with serious
educational purpose in view. His plan Is
not unlike that carried out by Rubinste'n
in ST. Petersburg few years before MS
cath. when I'm number OF concerts he
illustrated the development OF music writ
ten for keyboard stringed instruments from
the sixteenth century down TO his own nay'
RubInstein included the fine school of Eng
ish virginaists, which hourished century
before the French clavicinists and Ger
man harpsichordists came to tho fore.
This. unfortunately, Mr.. Stojowski did not
do but both men prefaced their playing
with EXPLANATORY remarks on the music of
tho period covered by their programme and
the individual composers. Unuckily for the
audience land therefore for tho speaker al
welD. Mr.. Stojowskl was all but inaudble
to the large majority of his audience. and
caused a trial Of patience which must have
of people who were kept standing in the
corridor for half an hour while he talked.
So far as could he judged, however, his re-
marks were Apostle and edfying. and they
were delivered gracefully. No doubt had
they been heard by all they would have
contributed materially to the pleasure
which his playing gave.
Mr.. Stojowskrs programme was not
arranged in strict chronological order, for
he began with Handel and ended with
Bach both OF whom figure in later chap
ter of music than Coupern the Great. an
earlier than Paradies and Daquin and
different than Rameau and pomenico Scar
latti, with whom they were contemporaries
Nor was II quite correct for the programme
to call these men masters Of the clavichord
when all tho music which they wrote for
public performance on keyed stringed In
struments was designed for the harpsi-
chord. which. though less expressive than
the clavichord, was more assertive ana
capable Of a larger number Of effects. BIT
there Is much confusion even In the hand
books on this subject and Rubinstein HIM
self COMPOUNDED them in his explanatory
talk on Scarlatti. Mr.. Stojowsk was
wiser: though he wrote clavchord. ne spoke
of the harpsichord The programme was
made UP of characteristic examples from
the works OF the various composers ana
Mr.. Stojowskfs fine muscianship and nu-
ent lingering brought the charm which lies
in the old music home To the appreciation
of his listeners in every instance. Dsquin
dainty "Coucou' had to he repeated. Inc
tremendous stride from the graceful dance
measures from the court OF LOUIS NV 10
the chromatic Fantasia and Fugue OF bach
deserved a word Of comment. for 1t Is quite
az significant in the history or piahoiofte
music as the step from Pergoleses SerVa
Padrona" TO Wagners "Meistersnger III
opers But Mr.. Stoiowski made the music
speak for itself The series OF recltals de-
serves attention as one or the slshihcah'
incidents of a season which has not thus
far been distinguished for the congruity OF
it's offerings in the concert room
II Is fortunate for the admirers or MI
Husoni's pianoforte playing, marked as IL
4 bv qualities that are always Characters
,ic of the artist. provocative of thought
and full of interest that he draws very
broad line between his precepts ana his
reapnearance here last season after a long
absence from America on the change "hioh
had come over his bearing and his style OF
playing From the most modest ana seii
cracing of artists he has become one of
the most self-conscious and assertiVe' IN
harmony with his new character, be mas
taken to writing. not only music or an
ultra latter-day sort, but also newspaper |
articles Recently ne took it upon himsef
10 chant a little rhapsody upon the delights
of rest and quiet on shipboard. far from the
turmoil of traffic and concerts and, worse
than ALL the noise Of critics. He deplored |
the fact that music had gone down TO i've
with the democratic multitude, whereas it |
should hold itself alopf, monarch among
aristocrats; and he rallied right Justify !
against artists who give concerts for hlthy
lucre Also he inveighed against the au-
tboritv still attributed to the classic COM |
posers and a fancied disposition on the part |
Of musicians and public to underestimate
the value of new things. OF course, he |
didn't intend to be taken seriously. for only !
a short time before he had written enthu-
sastically about the appreciation of music |
which he had found on his American tour
scarcely dry before he was back again in
New York Now he is giving concerts with |
a vengeance Last Friday afternoon in
Philadelphia; last Saturday afternoon In
Carnegie Hall, this city; Saturday night |
back In Philadelphia and last night again
in New York. And as for making music for
the masses instead If the muslcally elect |
what must he have thought Of the audience |
which crowded the Metropolitan Opera |
House last night to hear the sounding brass |
and tinkling cymbals OF LISTS + fat con-
certo? Had he taken himself seriously two |
thousand people or more would not have
enioyed the artistic treat which he pro-
vided by his playing of the variations when
Peethoven wrote on the theme that seemed
10 the greatest of all tone poets SO preg-
nant with lovely possibilities that after con-
ceiylng IL as n coItradance he wrote TINS
set OF variations on ii for the pianoforte
and metamorphosed IT into the wonderful
finale of the "Eroica" symphony. Having
doliqhted his hearers with these variations,
he transported them with music by Chopin
and amazed them with some wizard mar
monies by List. Why this unhappy sea
change? Cannot the advertising methods OF
tradesmen be left to them and Richard
Strauss?
Mr. Walter Damrosch signalized his re-
sur!ption OF the concerts ot the symphony
Society after a brief nterregnum yesterday
afternoon by producing a symphony by
Paul Dukas. the French composer known
on local lists heretofore by his ingenious
descriptive piece known as "LAppren'i
s.orcier" Being a composer OF the young |