New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-23
.BRUCKNER AND BRAHMS.
The Return of GodoWsky, the
Pianist.

ond brace OF concerts by the Philharmonic
Society. which took place at Carnegie
! Hall on Thursday evening and yesterday
afternoon. They were the first perform
ances In New York OF Bruckner's SYM
/ phony in A major (his SIXTH and the
temperance Of Leopold Godowsky. the
| pianist, after a number OF years. which
| have added so much to his fame abroad
/ that a great deal was expected OF him
! here-a little more than was realized,
! though not entirely through his fault
Mr. Godowsky played Brahms's concerto
! in b fiat, and thus the antagonistic BIS
I who served as rallying cries for the fac
, tons which kept Vienna In a turmoil for
some decades we're here brought into con-
| junctlon-a very peaceful conjunction, II
might be remarked in passing. Vienna Ia
never happy unless II is in a wrangle about
/ composer or the director OF the opera {:
It's people are not permitted TO quarrel
about their ruler, and music there takes
the place Of politics here al a means for
| gratifying the universal and natural dis
position to fight. What Is called civiliza-
ton is after all not much more than a
veneer everything a natural and perhaps
not altogether deplorable savagery. Since
history began n periodical outbreak OF
( ba rbarism has brought back health and
strength TO the body polite which had
| been Slapped by excess Of refinement or
culture. so-calied, and perhaps the saving
salt for the world is contained In the
| tremendous peoples whom wise ProW-
dence is holding back till the need OF
regeneration grows greater
We have no musical warfare in New
York and such president philosophy may
be foolishly Irrelevant to discussion OF
Yesterdays concert; neither did II have
anything to do with the quarrels OF the
Bruckner and Brahms factions, when IL
gave zest to the musical activities OF
the Viennese. 1t ID only a passing thought
called forth by the fact that the two
names were linked in the Philharmonic
nrogramme and that the symphony OF
Bruckner was a novelty here, though
composed nearly a generation ago. rer-
haps IL was a pious duty for the fh!i-
| harmonic Society to perform H. " canho'
| he said OF our Philharmonic audience tha'
| II showed itself possessed or Il pious WIS"
70 admire Il, But that is not cnar-
acteristic Of any of our audiences IheS
1--we IN the moment and, as rule court
! its pleasures only The new symphony
| oe,o,.d notbing TO titillatc It's ear-drums.
.asn 10 neryes or excite it's curious
| wander II disclosed 10 the trained listen
org the structural weaknesses or us cum.
noser's methods which performances VI
bis third fourth, fifth, seventh elsh'h
and ninth symphonies had made famiilar
his lack OF logical development. Tor IN
stanco. his substitution Of mere repeu-
ton ~ idea, with dynamic change, IN
| Mace of organic growth toward emo'ioha'
! clImax-but 1t did not call up the picture
| NJ a cyclopean structure, reared DS Pii'"s
! bIock upon block. as some OF us com,
ranions did. And, as it also resemolea
4, all the others In paucity OF fundamental
| ia nreqnant beauty Of thought, IL passed.
hy v,thout leaving an impression deep
! onougb 10 be recorded. II was simply I'M
Interesting music from the workshop OF
| master IN his craft.
f., tho sake OF the unique reputation
vb,cb Mr.. Godowsky enjoys al among
| a.. ,,o-,, hrst OF pianoforte technicians or
| ,o.dav his choice OF the Brahms concerto
WAS not altogether a happy one AS
mic virtuosi OF his order like TO bewiider
and confound. He could do neither IN the
| comnosition which he played. IN Whlch
tho most faultless manipulation OF Keys
and pedals serves only to enhance the
| ,nnsIc In the estimation of the judicious'
and Is all but lost upon those inSensioie
IN the dlgnifed charm OF the compost
! tim n would be difficult to conceive Oh
a more lucid, better articulated perform
| .nce of the text than Mr.. Godowsky gave
hint not AT all difficult to imagine one
with more emotional warmth, more poeti-
! cal grace, holder ana stronger sweep OF
| line greater depth and tenderness OF SEN
! ,t,,ent Despite its incomparably greater
| haauty. the concerto WAS only slightly
higher in It's moving power than the sym
nhony. The fault did not all rest Win
The pianist An accompaniment, which
! ,reouently irritated apprehension had
much 20 do with II. a concerto, which Is
more than half symphony, with obbligato
| nianoforte. must needs be heard with
lind at rest touching the cooperating
agencies II il Is TO give out It's full meas
IRE OF enjoyment The crisp, crystalline
,ossapc work VI Mr.. Godowsky. his de-
| ,,ehtf,lly incisive rhythms, fell trans
! nortingly I'm the ear, especially In the last
movement. but they were elements too
Iorsely confined TO his part In the work
| ., performance. There will be no clogs
ON bis fingers or fancy at his recital next
| WEDNESDAY H. L. ~
!