New-York tribune., 1916-02-28
Symphony Society Plays
ScIlOenburg's Hammer
symphonic
AMATO, AT BENEFIT,
SINGS NEORO'S SONG
$4,000 Raised for Italian War
Relief-Casals Philhar-
mOnic SOloist.

There were three concerts yesterday.
all Of which possessed features Of in
terest the two symphony orchestras
in the afternoon and the Italian benefit
at the Biltmore in the evening. The
New York symphony Society's pro-
gramme was Of considerable novel in
terest, in that it was devoted to or
chestral chamber. music and contained
as its opening number Arnold Schoen-
bergs "Kammersymphonie," which had
only once before ocen played in New
York, at private concert Of The
Friends Of Music. when it was given
by the Philadelphia Orchestra, under
the leadership of Leopold Stokowski.
Before the arrival Of Strawinsky,
schoenberg was the latest thing in
music. Now that We have heard Pc
trouchka he Is Uieur jeu. Well, let
him be so to the musical Progressists
his "Kammersymphonie" is modern
enoughl
Mr.. Damrosch in ono Of his char
acteristic addresses prefaced the play
ing Of the Schoenberg work with the
remark that It was TO be taken
neither as a joke nor freak, but as
the logical result of certain ideas
And he continued, much to the amuse-
mort Of his audionco:
"The 'Kammersymphonie' caused ex-
cruciating torture 70 me and 10 my
orchestra at the first rehearsal, but
human ears are Ike the back OF
mule-if you beat them enough they
become insensible TO pain! | present
this work. not as a judge, but SIMPLY
for YOU 20 like II or not. Who OF us
can say what limits can be set TO DIS
cord?" -
This very frank apologize disarmed all
cavillcrs. and when the symphony came
n did not seem so awful. after all. In
il there is much melodic fancy, and
when such fancy flows the symphony
Il spontaneous and even delightful.
Then. AGAIN. there are pages Of purely
mechanical artifce. and these. aston
ishing as they may be in their clever
ness. are really so much dust thrown
into the ears of the crcdulous. 10 be
uglv as portrait of Rembrandt IS
ugly does not exclude even the most ex-
cuisite bequtv-but Schoenburg's ugli-
moss is rot The holiness Of Rembrandt
it is the mere cleverness OF y some
what cynical vfrtuOSO.
Verv different was the quiet, re
strained beauty Of Chausson's "Poeme
for Violip and Orchestra played eX-
ceedingiy wei by Mr. Saslavsky, with
most admirable accompaniment by Ar'
Damroech and his orchestra. Chaus-
sons Potme is sincere in every bar. end
IS upliftei upon the wings Of poetic
fancy The other numbers were sthe
Boallmann Symphonic Variations for
VioloDcello." with orchestra. played by
Lucien Schmit: the Brahms Serenade
in = major, Opus Is. for small orches,
ira. and the Saint-Saens "Serenade,
for violin. cello, piano and organ
plavei by Nessrs Saslavsky, Schmlt,
Maier ard Damrosch.
The Philharmonic concert IN Car
negic Hall was also well attended. The
novelties on the programme We're two
modest compositions by a. Walter
Kramer-a Chant Negri" and "Nalse
Triste." The titles adequately explain
the works. They were Straightforward,
melodious little pieces, well orches-
trated and altogether pleasing. me
solo artist Of the afternoon was Pablo
Casals. who played with his accustomed
mastery the Saint-Sa6ns Concerto IN
4 minor. for yioloncellO and orchestra
Mr.. Stransky's purely orchestral mum
bcrs were the CharDentler Suite. I'M
pressions Of Italy," Rogers Variations
and Fugue for Orchestra on ineme
by Mozart, and the "Fledermaus' over
ture
The Italo-American Relief Committee
benefit in the evening at the Biltmore
drew large and brilliant aud ence
and netted the fund more than $4,000
The benefit was held under the patron
age Of the Queen Of Italy and under
the auspices Of the Italian Ambassador
and Countess Dolores Macchi di Allere
The artists taking rart were Enrlco Ca
ruto, Victor Naurcl. Pasquale Amato
Nine. Louisa VILLAIN, Nine. Valentino
Cresni. Paolo Martucci, Enrico Scog-
ramillo. Romualdo Sapio ard Salvatore
Fuc'to. Mr.. Caruso sang Tost 5 Ca
relo." Bi1ot's "Agnus Del" Gabrieie
Sibel'a's "Carto de Bersaglieri" and
Leopoldo Mu-grove's "Canto Patriot
tico." The last two songs were given
by Mr.. Caruso for the first time in
America. An interesting feature was
tho singing by Mr. Amato Of an Italian
patriotic song written by an American
NEGRO. 80,
This was Harry 7. Burleigh's "u
Giovinc Guerrero" and il proved 20 be
the sensation Of the evening. Il was q
splondidly spirited martial song. and
ought TO thrill many an Italian crowd
in after years. That an American Nc
gro could write such a song seems
strange indeed. l. is one OF the +"
really admirable songs America he's
produced IN recent years. All honor TO
Harrv r. Burleioh
Victor MaurePs art was never more
srio~d dly evident than IN his singing
Of "P atronille." Mr. Naz2o de Sciuro'
and "Ia Guorre." Despite his seventy
Years Mr. Maurel rave every singer n
the aud ence lesson in the art Of song
and In the art of dramatic interpreta'
ton. lie received q warm and long
continued greeting.
.