The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-09
FRENCH COMPOSERS
BRING NEW MUSIC
Novelties Heard at Afternoon
Concert Of the Symphony
society.
HARP BECOMES PROMINENT
Vincent d'Indy Represented by
symphony on a Noun
tain Song.

The concert OF the Symphony Society
q. Acolan Hail yesterday afternoon was
devoted to the performance OF music by
French composers. The list comprised
the first symphony of Vincent d'Indv
variations plaisantes sur un Theme
Grave FOR orchestra and harp. by Roger
Durisse. "Bourree Fantastique," by
Chabri,r, and Choral and Variations
Tor harp and orchestra by widor. The
harp soloist was Ada Sassoli and the
important piano part in the symphony
was well played by Clarence Adler
Most OF the music was unfamiliar to
the aud .ence and some of 1t entirely new.
certainly none of the younger generation
IL music lovers are well acquainted with
the compositions of Vincent d'Indy. nor
would any Of them experience the shock
which their fathers felt twenty six years
ago when Mr.. Se.dl produced the Wal
''nsicn Trlogy.' We are better accus-
-omtd now to chords that sting and
melodies that bite and so there was moth
.rs 10 the symphony on Mountain
song or symphonic Cevenole" as IL is
sometimes called to disturb any but very
ed fashioned music lovers
The melodic idea which runs through
tae ~ uphony IL a song heard freauently.
movements partly out OF II and partly
around II. His great skill In construction
and development are shown forth in thi /,
composition to much advantage. There
- too much noise In some places. espe-
cally IN the brilliant finale. The or
cnestration Is admirable, except for this
abuse OF brass and Instruments of per-
,Jssicn, and the treatment OF the piano
part is generally but not always effective
Here perhaps most music lovers will
question the wisdom of the composer
There is no doubt at all that the piano
can be employed as an orchestral instru-
'uent. but the moment It IL permitted
10 ohirude its characteristic figures and
individual virtuosty it steps out of the
picture. That this IL too often the case
IN the dlndy symphony can hardly he
El.Hs1.d. Otherwise this is an interest
iHg II not imposing piece OF orchestral
music and might be heard oftener. We
CAL hardly expect to confine ourselves "a
the few really titanic works
As for Mr.. Ducasses variations they
VII probably GO their way In peace and
s,umber without waking. They are mod
ern no doubt and there are new clothes
FOR the harp and new harmonic hobby
horse for 1t to ride: but all this has nc
resting place In the musical hall OF fame
Ada Sassoli played the harp part admir-.
ably and the Barrere Ensemble In the
background tossed off arly the snappy
and unidIomatic little wind phrases de-
v.sed by the composer. Mr. Damroscf
made neat little speech OF introduction
700. And that will be about all concern.
.3e these variations.
'hahrer's fantastic bourree was made
Cor piano and orchestraed by Felix Mottl
:. makes an effective orchestra number
although not OF Importance. II would
70" better for clever composers to write
wight. taking short numbers like this for
o-'hestra than TO have them made over
from piano works Short numbers are
frequently needed in making up a pro-
gramme. Would that there were more O!
them.