The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-28
A NEW SYMPHONY
BY FRENCH WRITER
Interesting Work by Guy Ro-
partz Produced Here at Phil
harmonic Concert.
ELEANOR SPENCER PLAYS

To those who endcavor to read the signs
of the times in the world of music tho
production OF the fourth symphony OF Guy
Ropartz was the only matter OF slgnfi-
canoe In tn ephilharmonic Society's con-
cert at Carnegie Hall yesterday afternoon
The name of Ropartz Is unfamiliar to
local concertgoers. though 1t figured in a
ihilharmonic programme last February
as that oil the writer of a symphonic etude
called The Hunt of King Arthur"
But observers of musical affairs know
that NJ Ropartz Is director of the con-
serNatory OF Nancy. and that. according to
vincent dlndy, he has, In spite OF this re-
| manned indissolubly attached to Franck q
principles Which remark informs us
that the teachings of tho great Belgian
master Cesar Franck. whose pupils are
among the most progressive minds of mu-
slcai France are not yet accepted with
enthusiasm In the temples of tradition and
| theoretic authority.
Without doubt this will seem puzzllng
to those who have not read Roman Roll
ans "Musicicns dAuJourd' hui" and noted
what "A tremendous influence he attributes
TO the gospel OF Cesar Franck I'm the
awakening of French musical art after
the "Dobacle" Of 1871. For some years
France was engulfed in the flood of Was-
herism The first emergenCc was toward
"A passing infatuation for the fluent ma =
tional.sm Of Gr!eg. which captivated Paris
| by the novelty of its idlom rather than bv
the fecundity of its ideas
After the death OF Franck in 1890 his
disciples became the dominating influence
In the musical life Of the Gallo capital
Franck dwelt in artistic regions far re-
moved from the tumultuous waves OF
Magnetism. His serene and contempla-
i've spirit was foreign to the theatre
Keeping his faculties In mcdltative re-
| pose he brought to the enthusiastic young
Frenchmen nj his feet what they re-
garded as the very soul OF Bach and he
| led them toward a new and finely con-
| ceiVed art. some Of whose most noted ex-
| ponents are D'1ndy. Duparc, Chlusson.
| Ltkeu. Pierne. Vidal and Ropartz The
| performance OF the symphony OF this last
named composer therefore had a special
| interest.
The new symphony is not divided into
separate movements, but Is made in one
| piece. The root theme is announced in
| the opening allegro at the third measure
! Other contrasting themes appear and a
| vigorous coda brings what corresponds 10
nrst move ment to It's end TIE adagio.
captiNatingly begun by the English horn,
/ Immediately proceeds, bu, is presently in
| terrupted by an intermezzo of folk dance
| character. of which TIN thematic base
! curously resembles q thought in Dvorak $
! New WORLD symphony. The adagio re-
turns, gives way 20 fuGued alegrctto.
which L. pursued closely by another
adagio, and then begin. tn final section
! In minor and Of a scherzo nature. The
! coda of the whole work H. slow, sustained
| and uncommon,y beautiful IN It's clear.
elevated mclodic thought and its orchcs-
! tral dress
| The composition rs whole did not
/ make 4 convincing impression at fir,t
| hearing. but this may not he the case
| at a repetition. Yesterday this $, emtsi
| TO be the composition OF Il fine. sensitive
and imaginative musical mind not pos
sessed of a master grasp Of the method of
! expression Real beauty OF thought. re-
| iinement of sty.e and elegance of treat
! ment in Instrumentation could he found
/ throughout the symphony. and there were
SOM pages, as in the first adago and the
| finale. OF more than ordinary eloqucnce.
| The reverence OF Rop ritz for Franck
| could easily be d!sccru"j. specially in the
/ FORM the character OF the harmonies and
the contours of some of the thematic
| phrases.
| The entire programme was French, for
| Cesar Frlnck. who's symphonic NIria-
tons for planoforte with orchestra W 9
! the second number, was lorg identified
| with Partisan musical thought Eleanor
! Spencer played the piano part with good
| techn!c and artistic sincerity. The other
numb. rs were B!zet's "L'Arlesienne" suite
/ and Chabriers spanish Rhapsody