The Washington times., 1912-11-06
BOSTON SYMPHONY
DRAWS SOCIETY TO
NATIONAL THEATER
DR.. Karl Muck Leads Fa-
f.cus Orchestra to Satisfac-
ton Of Big Audience.

Musical Washington cordially wci-
coined Dr. Karl Muck back, to the direc-
torship of the Boston Symphony Or
chestra yesterday afternoon In the Ma
tipnal Theater. a brilliant and fashion
able audience filling the house. Two
great masters of music divided honors
in position on the program, Beethoven
symphony having the conventional place
and Wagner number being placed as
concluding number Berlioz and Liszt
were the composers of the interven ms
numbers.
The Eighth Symphony has won It's
way slowly. being less characteristic
than other symphonic compositions Of
Beethoven. but II is now well estab-
lished In the favor of mus clans. AS
given yesterday the volume and reson-
unce were admirably adapted to the
size OF the theater, more so than when,
"A few years since. ! heard the same
composition In the Academy OF Music
in Philadelphia, when the strains were
which II was played.
The second movement of the Eighth
symphony Is the most novel. while the
minuet which was played yesterday In
the tempo OF symptom 'cs-faster than
that Of the dance-was pleasing through
its pretty air and the pizzicato accom-
paniment. Prolonged applause greeted
the conclusion OF the symphony from
an audience made UP of members OF the
official and diplomatic circles and many
young women.
Carnival Music.
In Berlioz's 'Ove. ture to the Roman
Carpival'' three IL accorded q French.
mans conception of dance and a love
song, combined with. the confusion in
cidental to n masked ball on Shrove
Tuesday in Rome. Needless to say, the
music surpssses the period ana II was
enhanced by perfect rendition yes
terday.
Listz's "Afazeppa'J is descriptive music
pure, but not simple. Everyone ough'
to know the story of Mazeppa and suf-
flee II to say that lie was "A miscreant
bound on the back OF an untamed horse
which carried him. suffering, to a tar
country, OF which he ultimately became
the king. Victor Hugo and Bryon have
given the story poetic form and the
Able Franz expresses II on the piano.
Later, 1t was divided among the IN
struments of an orchestra. Every
schcrzo and rondo IL outdone u IN,
tempo employed to represent the flying
horse, and diminished seventies and an
almost involved theme Indicate tn,
agony of the rider and the mad gait oil
the horse. The later royalty of tn,
rider is also suitably expressed. List7
treated the story as an allegory, call.
ing the rider GENIUS" who comes on
conuueror after much buffeting and
many struggles.
Wagnerian Prelude.
The opening chord of Wagner's Pre-
lude to Die Meistersinger Won Nurn'
berg" seems a herald's call. and sue
cessive measures grand procession. st
sonorous and martial are they. As pr
Muck led his men through the might!
Wagnerian harmonies yesterday II oc,
CURED to one to ask that II Beethoven
il called the master OF absolute music
music Ineligible to music lovers the
world over-what We ought to call Wag
ner, who to his own noble words Sc
such music. so expressive OF mighty
deeds. mindful the while Of the under
lying allegory.
n the supremacy in the East OF tn,
Boston symphony Orchestra has beer
threatened In recent times by rivals. tn,
return of DR.. Muck, as evtnced by yes
terday's concert. seems the best steI
its friends could wish. -
JULIA MURDOCH.