The Washington herald., 1913-03-26
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
IN FOURTH CONCERT
Washington Organization Presents
Beethoven Composition-Herman
Sandby Is Soloist.

Yesterday afternoon, at the Columbia
Theater, the Washington Symphony Or
chestra gave the fourth concert in the
series for this season. Mr.. Herman
Sandby, first 'Celist OF the Philadelphia
Orchestra, was the sOloist.
The symphony was that one Of Beet
hoven. the eighth. sometimes styled the
"Maelzel,' because of the second move
ment, of which the ticking rhythm OF
the lower strings is persistent against
the weaving of the themes by the rest
of the orchestra The rhelodic lowell
ness Of the minuettO of this symphony
is UNSURPASSED by that of any other.
TIE cello and oboe work in the trio
are memorable features. The finale IL
characterized by 4 tumultuous impet-
uosity, vet delicaCy. The climaxes were
beautifully worked up by Mr.. Hammer.
and every tonal figure was clear cut
Mr. Hammers readings are always
marked with Clearness; his phraslng Is
gem-rke in the nicely Of detail. but this
exquisite fineness Of finish happily Joined
II a mastery comprehension OF the work
as a whole. so that not only great
polish but breadth and artistic grasp
are the result These qualities have been
at no time more apparent than in the
reading Of this Beethoven symphony. and
in that Of the Schubert unfinished gym
phony, given early in the season. After
hearing the Beethoven symphony yes
terday afternoon one cannot escape the
conviction that with fully adequate ma
tcrial and unhampered by frequent
changes of personnel Mr.. Hammer
could. in a short time. bring his orches-
ira TO the rank of the first in the Coun-
try.
The programme was rendered more
sr,.a two hnFar-SR
the production of two quite new orches-
ira compositions. both of high degree
Of merit The first Of these is by A
Rcer-Walhrunr. and is entitled Bur
lesduet from NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. and
was inspired by a satiriCaI comedy based
on "Aristophencs' Birds 1t is an IN
terestfnC work, having plenty OF melo-
die beauty to recommend and elevate
What might otherwise prove to he pot
pouri Of novel and somewhat fantastic
motifs.
The second of the new compositions
presented, and which Mr.. Hammer mod
estly placed at the end of the PRO
rramne was an American Rhapsody
on Sioux Indian themes. by Heinrich
Hammer Mr Hammer tails this tho
First American Rhapsody" and in its
ror7pnsition he has drawn from the thir-
tv-three songs of the Sioux Sun Dance
After the performance Of this work
Mr.. Peter Peters. one of the 'cellists OF
the orchestra, made Il speech in praise
Of the composition and presented Mr.
Hammer, the composer. solid gold
medal and certificate Of honorary mem
bership in the Brotherhood OF Nortn
American Indians.
One of the most interesting numbers
on the programme was the cello SOLO
T,rnhoiEou-eIyy-'s sENorio-
lions on a Rocco Theme" The melo-
dies in this work are beautiful. and Mr..
Standby sang them with a sure. even and
mellow tone. Parts Of the work We're
very brilliant, and the cadenZas numer-
GUS. In the highest degree artistic In
his reading, he was at the same time
thoroughly master Of the technical re-
ouirements. He was warmly applauded
and responded with Saint-Saen's SWAN.