The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-07
Richmond Symphony Organ
ization Makes Its Debut of
the Season "Wednesday
Night at Coliseum.
A LARGE AUDIENCE
WAS MUCH PLEASED
Brilliantly Led by Conductor
Earhart - Mrs. lgleman,
Soprano, Miss Peltz, Pian-
ist, Had Ovations.
1Y ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.

BY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.
The first of the series of two con-
certs to be given by the Richmond
Symphony orchestra in the Coliseum
last evening was an unqualified musi-
cal and social success. between eight
hundred and one thousand of the or
chestra's patrons being out. An audi
ence that would have filled one and
packed the other theater.
Much has appeared in the public
prints of late with reference to the mu-
sical merits and personnel of this ag-
gregation of Richmond musicians but
no adequate idea of their artistic ac-
complishment conveyed to those who
had not before heard the organization
which has played for one or two May
Festivals-or of the progress made to
those who were familiar with its pre-
vious achievements.
Suffice to say that last evenings per-
Torrance showed distinct and crafty
ing orchestral advance in harmonious
unification and in confidence of attack,
as we'll as in a more sophisticated en-
to their directors sympathetic and
scholarly readings.
AS has been said before. the anna
teur, either individually or in the COM
bination, is not to be judged by those
critical canons that obtain in the con-
sideration of the professional. SO that
it is not in kind. but in degree. that
! Ho To- "a f1f a at
evening should be made.
What Is Required.
Until an orchestra takes on that mu.
sical f1nesse acquired only through
presentation, the more subtle readings
cannot be expected or given.
That as much color, verve and nu-
ance was thrown into the playing OF
the difficult compositions on the pro-
gram as was done, is an indication of
what may be accomplished through
the fostering of the musical
this musical body, for what
ever the individual talents of
the orchestra may or may not be, it Is
in their combinations that effects are
made, and flashes of interpretative
genius, may be heard from a body of
musicians whose units may be made
up of ordinary talents.
The psychology, in short, of an or
chestra is sometimes seemingly mex
plicable. and that mercurial NANTES.
tation of brilliance or truth which
sometimes surprises public and even
startles director, might be chargea-
BILE to that psychic quality induced
through musical propinquity--a sort
of concentration of artistic essence to
a point, if it might SO be put, and
, which will thrill an audience of either
professional or lay complexion into a
! white heat of enthusiasm or tears.
The familiar overture from Mar
tina" was used for the opening number
last evening and felicitously present
| ed the composition appeal
ing to the layman through
a certain haunting quality, In
! duced, perhaps, by the French horn
played, in this instance by Charles
Groce, which carries the musical mo-
tif later continued by the cellos, oboes
and clarinets, the melodic undertone
of the deep-toned strings and the
reedy wood winds combining in fasci
mating effect
To Educate Public.
II is in the continuation of this or
| chestra, by the way, with its series OF
concerts, that the public will be edu
Gated into discrimination which can
not be brought about through other
than familiarity. That will enable the
lover of music. whose knowledge of its
technical basis is negligible, to differ
entiate the instruments, not only in
class but individuality, and to acquire
some nice perception of componen,
musical parts and how effects are
achieved through their manipulation.
The orchestra was, perhaps. heard
| to the best musical effect in the Schu
bert Symphony. the two movements Of
| this unfinished composition embodvins
catholic variety in motive and treat
ment which lends itself to a harmony
charming to the unframed
ear, the cellos led by Hubert Smith
in the ALLEGRO Moderate" being
heard exquisitely.
The Bizet suite gave vivacity to the
program. the prelude, with its melody
carried by the oboes, led by J. r
Watson, bassoons, flutes and clari
nets, being given with much dnesse
the "Minuetto," with its flute solo by
Wilbur Hasemeier and its string STAG
cato. contrasting vividIy with the
i"Adagietto," played entirely by the
strings with the cellos dominating.
Chopin's Funeral March," followed
played with much smoothness and ap
| recitation Of its harmonic phases. md
the finale, q Beethoven Overture" wal
fCouffnued an PaZA Tenl