The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-15
RARE WORKS HEARD
IN CARNEGIE HALL
Musical Art Society Opens 23d
Season With Characteristic
Concert.
XMAS SONGS WELCOMED

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season Of the Musical Art Society took
place last evening In Carnegie Hall.
TIL activities Of this organization have
prospered through eventful changes In
the musical life Of New York. changes to
which they themselves have contributed
items OF no inconslderabic Importance.
For the conservation Of On acquaintance
with the chaste music Of the Paleetrina
period and the time Immediately border
ing upon II. together with the introduce
ton OF new choral compositions In the
more intimate types not demanding per-
Torrance by such large bodies as the
Oratorio Society. v done much toward
counteracting numerous Influences oper-
ating toward the degradation OF inner
taste.
SO long as some music lovers car listen
to the evatej creations of the COM
posers who have penetrated most deeply
into the true spirit and purpose Of the
hymns Of praise the stirring of psychology
zeal mud puddles by sensationaiists will
not destroy appreciation OF lofty beauty.
IL, therefore. the concerts OF the Musical
Art Society are not always equal In
technical excellence to those which the
ore aniZation gave In its FIRST seasons,
they are still vital with the me4ag Of
uplifted Imagination and they are In
fused with a lovely sincerity OF purpose.
French Christmas songs Welcome.
II is not essential to catalogue all the
doings Of last evening. Some old and
beloved numbers were heard. such as the
ineffable "Adoramus te' Of Palestrina
and the three French Christmas songs
arranged by Gevaert. or these three the
"Chanson Joyeuse de Noel" Is familiar
to patrons Of the Musical Art concerts
and always welcome for the sake Of its
naive melody and Its sonorous refrain.
Pedestrians Gloria Patri." with the re-
sponse from An unseen choir. was also
received with delight and had TO be re-
peated. In the irst part of the pro-
gramme there was q veil written and
digniied "Salve Regina" for four voices
by Franz Arens, the conductor Of the
Peoples Symphony Society concerts.
Doubtless the majority Of the auditors
found ths Creates interest in the middle
section Of the hist This comprised two
numbers. Anton B~ruckner's ant.phon for
lOuI NOlCeS anu OTBAn~ enttIeO lOta
pulchra es." and Sigfrid Karg-Elert's
oanzona. Won Himmel hoch da komm
ich her." a setting of Luther's Christmas
hymn for mixed chorus. boys choir. So
prano and boy soprano solos. violin OBJ
bligato and organ Bruckners music to
his text. "Tota pulchra es, Maria ct
macula originals o este In te," was
probably made for one OF the churches
in which he was organist. In u the pro-
foundly reflective character OF this SIN
gular figure in the world Of music. to-
eether with his simple reverence, are
beautifully voiced In music OF very lofty
character and deep emotional signif-
canoe. Those who have been at tires
irritated by the wearisoms prolixity Of
the composer must have heard this fine.
sincere and direct work with genuine de-
light.
k~arg-Elert's Work Elaborate.
karg-Elerts work Is more elaborate
in it's machinery. and perhaps not al
together SO successful in the attainment
of a noble utterance. But II is none the
less a composition OF high endeavor and
Is generally admirable In execution.
The violin obligato. in particular. is
exQuisitely conceived and artistically
wrought out. David Names. who played
It. was not altogether happy In its earlier
measures. but met the demands OF the
latter portion In such a wa as to give
the part its full value in the general
scheme.
The use Of the boys voices shows the
experience Of a church composer who
is no apprentice at his difficult art, and
the solo for boy soprano Is very lovely
and tender The name OF the hoy who
sang II was not given. but he must be
praised for his purity OF style. as we'll
as for his voice, The organ part Of the
composition IL skilfully made and It was
played In fastidious taste by Charming
Lefebvre.
Three part songs by Schumann. two
Russian songs by Cesar Cut and the
"Neue Liebeslieder' OF Brahms for four
voices and pianoforte. four hands,
were also on the list. Herbert Fryer
and James Friskin played the piano
part.