New-York tribune., 1920-12-09
GabrilowifscE}
Leads Orchestra
And Plays Solo
Portrays Delicious Art as
a Performer, Bu, His
Detroit Orchestra Fai's
Below New York Standard
Music All Well Known
Concert Under Auspices of
the Society of Friends
of Music Only Ordinary
By II. E. Krehb;el

Processing to pursue the purpose Of
promoting the cultivation "of forms
which do not enter into the ordinary
musical activities Of New York, the So
ciety Of the Friends Of Music gave q
concert by the Detroit Symphony Or
chestra in Carnegie Hall last night.
Mr.. Gabrilowitsch, the conductor Of
the orchestra, is 3 very familiar figure
as q pianist and not entirely un-
familiar figure as 4 conductor.
The music played was the overture to
""Obcron.' Brahms's first Symphony,
Nozarts Planoforte Concerto in d
minor and Richard Strausss tonc-Doom
Don Juan" There being NOTHING in
this scheme unknown TO the lists whicn
are being drawn on for the nearly two
hundred symphony concerts which
nave been projected by local orchestras
Tor the season and which are beng
ree!ed off a the rate Of from five to ten
week, the only elements INVITING
curiosity or interest in last nights con-
cert were the visiting hand and its
conductors Interpretation os we'll
known works
Bands TOO Numerous
The extent to which the curiosity or
interest was gratitied is Of larger CON
Germ to Detroit than to New York. .f
course. which fact we suppose. must
enter into the consideration OF the re-
corder Of the incident. A comparison
Of the orchestra with local organixa-
tlons of its kind would not Weld re-
suits hatterng to the wonderful cisy
OF the Middle West, nor ought it TO
add 10 the complsccncy Of the metrop-
oils.
Orchestral musicians OF the first
e!ass are not plentiful enough TO sup
ply all the bands Which prosperous
urban communities arc supporting
either from civic pride or love of art.
Few Of them are developed in this
country, and the obstacles placed by
trade unions TO the Importation %
attlst-musiciars are many and great.
Inc problem Will rot be solved until
the study OF Instrumental music. nov
so general, is directed into channels
which are little s,ught, # sought at
gil. As yet we have seen only feeble
Deginninga.
Out Of the material which Mr.
Gabrllowi tsch fas succe -aed in gather
ing together he has, obviously by din
Of patience and hard labor, formed q
contribute vital factor . thc sum OF
musical culture in Detroit
Tribute TO the Music
AS ye. u can bring 10 e1ucat;ona,
message so this city or Boston OF
Philadelphia. The enthusiastic plaudits
which LAST nights performances re.
celved were no douhG stlmU aring anC
/ cncour9 ging.
II was 10 doubt 70 intended b. tn,
audience. \ tribute, too t. The music
more TO II, We hope, than t. the read
irgs Of the scores or tho technical pc
1ormance Of the band. We fancy tha'
with more plastic material. With plav
ers Of more finished skill ana cornmant
of better tone-Qua.ity, finer result,
would have been attained in the svm
phony; that the voice oc the mass. a.
we'll as the individual choirs, wouio
AVE been more honosensons, more
4 euohonious. Sorority thecc was II
/ plcnty, bur of scnsuous beauty there
"as little.
In the conductors reading Of the
overture there seemed an excess ot
striving for effects which when a.
taincd were abnormal.
To make every repetition OF u phrage
an echo OF tho original uttoranc5, is t.
rob ie Of its health and v;gor-to ornas.
cEl2te il. But there Was delicious arr
IN Ar. Gahrilowltscils performance Of
the solo part Of the pianOforte concerto
true musicianship in spirit and mat
ter. Mr.. N.tor holar conducted tho
orchestra il this number with an aA-
lairahlc hand.