Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-21
ZECkWER ILLUSTRATES
"DESCRIPTIVE music
Composer Gives Splendid Lecture
Recital Before Philadelphia
Music Teachers Association

Camille ". Zeckwer, Phlladolphla
composer. pianist and teacher, saNo one
of the finest lccture-recitals of the year
last night when he spoke on The Charm
and Significance Of Descriptive Music
at tile meeting of tho Philadelphia
Music Teachers Association. In tho
short space of littip moro than an hour
ho limited tho scope of so-called pro
gram music" to It's proper sphere, and
through judicious selection Of illustra-
tiuns cupha sized tho principal point
that descriptive music fulflls its func-
ton whcns 1t creates n proper aumo-
sphere. Mr.. Zeckwcr played the follow
ing program:
'CSi y prelude No. u, u nat Tain props).
IbD Nalso In - nat.
tc) Funeral March.
SChUmanII--
o. Tha Prophetic Bird vogel ais Prophet.
RublnsteinmKamen,os ,sI -ostrow, SI ,},.,,u,,.
Gj scottish Poem.
90 Tho Eagle.
zcc. .wcIr; PaT9phrasg on tho "nlorry Franks
OF TIL Eulcnspicgcl.' after Richard
Strauss.
There was no installing the insstcnCe
of Mr.. Zcckwer that to moro than cstab-
lsh an atmosphere is passing out Of the
realm of pure music. 1t Is tho COM
poser's province not to depict each hor-
riblo and every eNCruciating detail, hut
TO paint II picture I'm which tho emotional
concept permits the hearers Imagination
to wander freely within a certain cir
! cumscribed area.
Richard Strauss Is an example of the
| truly sublime and of the insane" in this
regard. Till Eulenspiegcr' represents
the former Tho pranls and practical
| jokes OF the Enayo of tho "hourglaSS'
are caught in tho spirit and admirably
transmitted into perfect music The
"Sinfonia Domestica," introduced by tho
| Philadelphia Orchestra last year, is
realism run riot, with tho result that
ones sensibilities and self-esteem arr
outraged and tho only atmosphere ere,
ated Is one OF disgust or, at tho best
/ doubt.
Tho Chopin group illustrated tho
atmosphere created by ~ highly I'M,
aginatiyo genius. Moro Of the intct
lectual was apparent in tho two Schu
mann numbers. Incidentally. tho close
kinship between tho "nuttering" motif
of the "Vogel ais Prophet" and the more
| irregularly rhythmic opening strai ins u
| "LApres-midl dun Fauno' is gtrikinls
Rubinstein and Grieg frankly portraNNt
| local atmosphere, while Mr.. MaCDoHel
combined this with his keen Imagination
in the Scottish Poem" Mr. Zeckwei
retained the charm and fasclnatinl
spirit Of the Strauss overture II
his splendid transcription, which ha.
been heard hero on many previou,
occasions This is SO much finer com
position In every way than tn,
Schulz-Evler transcription of the BLU,
Danube" and gives the virtuoso al
equal opportunity to display his prowess
that 1t is to be hoped pianists general,
will make the substitution
Before Mr.. Zeckwer's recital Georg,
f. Emes. a baritone of undoubted abil
ity. sang a group of three songs Mr.
Emess pre-enlinent qualifications are ;
beautiful diction and u most pleasin,
voice. He sang Hear Me, Yo Wind
and Yo Waves" from Haenders "Julit
Caesar" with fno dramatic effect. Al
Indian lyric by Lieurence was admir-
ably done at the opposite end of tn
musical gamut. while an old Englisl
Sailing Song" was given with gust
and good humor. Failure TO place tn
tones Of the upper register high enoug
In the head created a tendency TO flat
the only mar on an otherwise splendi
performance. Mr.. Emes bids fair I
; take his place along with tho best.
V. III. L.