New-York tribune., 1911-01-20
AAII'SIn'
A Day of Much COnceTtizIng.

A great deal Of music was promulgated
m the concert rooms Of New York yester-
day some Of it very good indeed but mucn
Of IT, and that the most p-etcutious-poor
and futile High water was marked by
Mr.. Josef Hotmanns playing of the sym
phonic Studies" OF Schumann at his re-
cital in Carnegie Hall In the afternoon "a
superb achevemenO and there was cheer
and encoura cement in the same room IN
the evening when. at a concert Of the Rus
sian symphony Society," Mr.. Xaver Schar-
wenka played the sterling pianoforte con-
certo in b fat, with which he won honest
admiration when ne was a resident OF this
city, some twelve years ago. But by the
time that incident in the concert was
reached the patience OF the lovers OF good
orchestral music had been sorely tried. That
concerts OF organizations which exist for
the sole purpose ot propagating the music
OF a single school OF music or OF a people
are apt 10 do much more harm than good
has often been said before. and the Rus
sian Symphony Society has demonstrated
the truth Of the observation, though never
so effectualiy as last night when injury was
unnecessarily done 10 the fair fame OF two
Russian composers who have long enjoyed
the admiration OF American music lovers
Rimsky- -Korsakow and Tschaikowsky Mr.
AItschuer brought forward a novelty by
the former entitled The Golden Cockerer'
and the Christmas Eve" suite, which Mr..
Safonon introduced az a concert OF the
Philharmonic Society when he was its con-
ductor. Both, compositions, save FOR a
polonaise and closing episode in the latter.
rryft "a " La .
cert room. The music is designed In every
measure to accompany pictures and dances,
and without the pictures and dances they
are not even sounding brass and tinkling
cymbals. The polonaise can stand, or more,
on its own feet, and there is real beauty
in the ancient ceremonial song OF the
women and the Christmas song OF the men
which bring the Christmas Eve music TO
a close. Last night the singing OF the Mac
Dowel Chorus was enlisted 10 add 10 the
effectiveness OF this scene, and succeeded
most effectively in doing So though as
arranged by the composer FOR concert use
the vocal part can be omitted. The Phil-
harmonic performance attested the fertility
OF the suite as music pure and simple, and
IL vas a pious hope that the ghost OF
Rimskv- -Korsakow would not be disturbed
by a repetition OF II. But desire always
10 show respect for the dead Is not a
marked characteristic of concert giVers Cor
music publishers as a rule.
After the offence 10 Rimsky Korsakow
Mr.. Altschuler turned his attention 70
/ Tschaikowsky and resurrected waltz from
the ballet "Casse noisette," u which the
fine voices Of the women Of the Mcdowell
chorus were called in 70 sing the inspiring
word "Ah," TO tune which has about the
same degree OF charm as the already no.
torious waltz in La Fanciulla del West.
And 70 do this two conductors were neces-
sary. 8Ir. AItschuler beating time for the
instrumentalists and Mr.. Schindler for the
singers Unless memory plays US false, Il
is a full generation since the like was seen
on the concert stage. Once at a perform
ance Of Beethovan's Ninth symphony Mr.
Thomas directed the orchestra and DR..
Damrosch, and, though the occasion was
one Of the largest dignity, It caused amused
comment for years. But this matter does
not call for profound depreciation. Only
the character Of the music iustihes this
/ reference 10 It as an incident OF a disap-
/ pointing concert. The MacDowen chorus
and its conductor found worthy occupation
/ in Tschslkowsky's beautiful part-song for
/ women's voices. entitled Dawn" FOR which
/ Mr.. carl Dies played the pianoforte ac'
companiment with taste and discretion.
At Mendelssohn Hall in the evening there
was a concert OF chamber music BY th'
I Gisela Weber Trio, the important feature
Of which was Schubert's "Forelen Quin
/ tet," played with tho help Of enlisted
artists. The fact that Schuberts beautiful
work was heard after long silence invite:
} this record az least. Il. Z. X.