New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-09
THE SYMPHONY SOCIETY
zimbaIiSt Plays at a Sunday
Concert.

The fifth Of the Sunday afternoon sub
scripton concerts Of the Symphony So
ciety took place iu Aeolian Hall yester-
/ day Efrem Zmbalist, whose name
suggests thoughts OF another and less
noble instrument but who plays the
violin, was the solo performer without
which a Sunday concert would scarcely
! be conceivable His number was Lalo =
| Symphonic Espagnole,' which was pre-
ceded by Schuberts symphonic torso IN
= minor and followed by Richard
| Strauss Don Quixote," with obbligato
Iparts for the violoncello, viola and wind
machine. Mr. Paul Kofer was named on
the house bill as the player on the nrs-
! Of these instruments, Mr.. Hans weiss
mann as the performer on the second
/ but the virtu0so on the last. which Herr
Strauss took out Of the theatre and pun
! in the concert room. was left unmen-
Toned. so was the bell wether OF the
flock OF sheen that take part by proxy
lin one OF the variations and are also
one Of Herr Strausss symphonic innova-
lions. But complaint on this score might
he INTERPRETED as lack Of gratitude for
Sunday concerts, and a recorder of the
musical driugs OF the metropolis ought
not 10 be ungratenul for the manifold
mulutudirous and mult.iarious blessings
(which are vouchsafed him as fraction
Of the public. .....
so many orchestral concerts have now
been given in Aeolan Hall that it may
be suggested that the need Of a read
| justment of values In this field Is De-
coming evident The tendency OF per-
| formers 81 b orchestral music has been
away from the intimacy which in rs
Ichldhood was Invited. 10y the form As
the music rooms have grown larger the
! players have become more numerous.
With the augmentation OF the string
choir. the backbone OF the organization
there came a need for an augmentatloh
/ OF the tone given ont by the wind IN
Istruments So the company Of blowers
OF wood and brass was multiplied, and
when 81 was discovered by conductors
/ that the elemental powers of the trutn-
! pets. horns and trombones made appeal
/ TO the primitive instincts. which had been
Ilulled into qulescence 10y she art OF the
classic composers. the brazen cohorts
were invited 20 blow blood out Of their
| eyes. SO that nerves. always kept tense
I ty modern llfe might receive the need
[ ful irritation Nil. Damrosch has rec
tanned the normal symphonic band. and
put IL into an environment which makes
petition for a restoration of the Ideals
which prevailed when the old principles
OF intimacy had validity. There was
much beauty IN the fine. fun, gripping
tone which was never absent IN the soft
est PASSAGES. Of the Schubert music yes
tetday, hut its sheer muscularlty would
Ihsve been greater 10 The biz unisonal
climaxes n the ears of the hearers had
not been assaulted by tho players OF
brfss. 10 the T,stjustment OF values
Mr. Damrosch and hs admirable men
must meet MS audience at least hair way.
Mr. Zm1alist played with great deal
OF beauty iu the slow movement OF
Ialo's composition and splendid rhyth-
mical dash and toual hriiliaucy in It's
dance finale. but there is siii differ
ence between the playing u him and hts
Young associate and that OF the vet
Grams who are c0utcHiGg tie. field with
them this scar. Perhaps thai was ore
Or the lessons which may hsyc been
carried away by some OF those who
heard Mr. Damrpsch's entertaining and
instructive concert yesterday.
II. r. X