Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-06

NATIONAL ANTHEM
DIRECTED BY MUCK
But "Star Spangled Banner"
Boston Symphony Style
Lacks Heroic Quality

Nominated in the bond" verbally patched
up for the occasion between DR.. Karl Muck
and the Boston Symphony Orchestra was
performance OF the star spangled Ban
ner' at last evenings concert In the Acad-
emy of MusC. Evidently, however. as In
the case OF Snylock's famous contract, THE
quality OF mercy had not been specified.
That virtue was but meagerly apparent In
reading" of the national anthem, at
whose opening notes 1000 persons in the
audience rose to their feet with electrical
fervor.
Passlonateiy present in the minds Of the
auditors was the expectation Of being
thrilled. So far at least as any suggestion
OF musical eoquence was concerned, Doctor
Muck punctilliously refused to crafty that
hope. That he did direct the star Span
gled Banner" IL fact as incontestable as
column Of figures in the census---and just
about as uninspiring.
Void Of soul and overweighted with as
tonishing instrumental embroidery was the
national anthem az presented by the Prus.
sian artist Frivolous whirling figures on
the strings curiously reminiscent OF the
Teutonic "Bacchanaie" In "Tannnaeuser"
twisted the composition almost out OF all
semblance TO patriotic song. Perhaps Doc
tor Muck, In his zeal for art" sought to
treat the Star Spangled Banner" "symphon-
icnlly" In any event, the effect was ec-
centric, fnickly and with flavor OF the
perverse.
The superfiuous orchestral ornamentation
very successfully excised all herolsm from
the song. Imagine the American flag con-
verted into silk lace tidy" and some
notion Of last nights musical preface may
be CLEANED.
The audience which had so rapturously
applauded the first bars betrayed a shade
less emphasis at the conclusion. During the
entr'acte few musically sensitive persons
expressed Indignation at the performance.
Most of the resentment however was tact
fully suppressed On the part of the audi
tors not single untoward incident marked
the entire evening.
Boston Symphony concerts, tradltlonally
exalted in art, have their equally long
established elements of decorousness, con-
servatism and good breeding. Not even
performance under the rigid baton OF
Wilhelm Gercke had less external sensa-
tional aspects than last nights program.
once the national anthem incident had been
closed Immortal music was superbly
played The enduring qualities Of the
Star Spangled Banner" are awaiting n ver-
dict OF history--proudly and confidently, Il
Is true. but the decision is as yet delayed
Perhaps that was why Doctor Muck read
the piece so queerly, and in a sense, merci.
lessy. Moreover, mercy" says the poet
lis above sceptered sway" That
Doctor Muck is not is just now a much.
discussed actually.
The remainder OF the concert was Of the
familiar and mastery Boston Symphony
pattern. Beethovens Fifth Symphony
serenely transcends boundary lines and the
splendor of that work was never more i'm.
pressively set forth than II was last night
In the calm, poetic andante, the whole huge
orchestra seemed to play the role of q
single inspired virtuoso. Tribute to French
art was generously paid in a brilliant in.
depreciation of Berliozs king Lear" over.
ture and Hungary had its innings in a
| rather second-rate symphonic poem by
Liszt, the "Prometheus." Musical express
sion of this composition, however. was one
| of the first artistic order Wagner's Par.
sifal' prelude closed the program. Doctor
Muck has often led the piece at Bayreuth
| It's mystical loveliness is enough TO mel
| even Prussian and Doctor Muck missed
none Of this appealing quality. ......
He was applauded after each number
enthusiastically after the symphony, cor.
| daily after the other pieces and courteouslS
on his first appearance. He was recalled
| to the platform after the Beethoven mas.
| terpiece and the Wagner Offering
The ticket tax was not collected from
| season patrons! Their status under the
new law seems to be not yet fully deter.
mined. H. T. c.