New-York tribune., 1921-12-30
Coates Offers
Hoist New
Plailets'' Suite
Guest Conductor With New
York Orchestra Brings
His Best 10 Bear in Piece
of S ven Movements
War Music Best of All
Part Devoted TO Mars Over
shadows Others Audience
Shows Moderate Rapture

Albert Coates, who appeared as guest
conductor of the New York Symphony
Orchestra last season. made his first
appearance this year in a similar ca
racity at the concert yesterday after
noon N Carnegie Hail 1t was pleas
are to welcome him, and il was OBJ
yiois shat, as in his appearances last
year, the vigor of his personality, the
authority of his beat and the breadth
Of his interpretative vision infused new
IFS into the playing of the orchestra
aud achieved admirable results.
Mr.. Coates began his program with
a sturdy reading Of the overture to
Wagner's "The Mastersingers," ever
happy choice for an opening number.
This was followed by Tschaikowsky's
fantasy "Romeo and Juliet"
in which the conductor recreated with
romantic fervor the tragedy of the i'm
mortal lovers.
Seven Movements in Piece
Last year Mr.. Coates made known to
don" symphony, a musical portrayal
Of varied scenes in the life of that
city. Yesterday, not wishing to be
backward in the matter of novelties, he
presented for the first time in America
Gustav Holst's symphonic suite, "The
Planets" The work is ir seven move
ments, respectively entitled MARS, the
Bringcr OF War; Venus, the Bringer
of Peace; Mercury. the Winged Mes
senger"; Jupiter, the Bringer of Jolli-
ty"; Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age;
Uranus. the Magician" and "Neptune,
the Mystic
The astrological associations of the
planets provide the clews to Mr..
Holst's music and Immediately permit
the audience to become attuned to the
moods Of the seven contrasted move
ments, which in stature exceed the
usual dimensions of suite and sug
gest rather series of symphonic
poems Some OF these associations are
trife difficult to grasp. Venus, for
example, is seldom looked upon by or
dinary mortals as harbinger of peace,
but rather as disturbing influence
NEPTUNE, the sea god as a mystic and
Uranus as magician also are unfa-
mlllar conceptions but, once granted
the astrological significance. Mr.
Holst's intentions as musical por-
trait painter are made plain.
ne hrSt movement. devoted to Mars,
Is the best OF the seven; in fact, from
every point of view it is worth all of
the following movements put together.
a slngularly dramatic and narrowing
picture OF bloodshed, brutality and din,
it is akin in spirit to the grim can
vases Of the battlefield painted by
the Russian, Nerestchagin. The fury
and ruth,essness Of mighty conflict are
wildly depicted in full-blooded, power
1ui rhytnmed music, with drum rolls
and pers;stently reiterated trumpet
blasts.
Work Deteriorates Toward End
The Venus music is suavelv radiant:
Mercury IS light footed and there is a
pleasing heartiness about the Jovian
Joihty. but except for certain musical
suggestions of wailing and the inevi-
table Saturn's music has little pro-
nounced character. Here, too, the de-
terioration OF the work begins. There
y more magic in one bar of Dukass
"L'Apprent Sorcier" than in Mr..
Holsts lengthy attempts at wizardy,
and Neptune's mysticism is feebiy
portrayed. Perhaps the final move
ment, with its languid close, appeared
more than unusually anti-climactic be-
cause OF the omission of the female
chorus. This was due to the fact that
the chorus parts failed to arrive in
time for sufficient study. A much
more felictous ending would have been
achieved had the composers scheme
permitted Jupiter to have the final
word still happier plan would be to
retain Mars, the Brnger of War" as
permanent example Of Mr.. Hoist at
his best. and consign the other planets
TO oblivion.
1t is said that when Mr.. Coates first
gave the work in London the audience
stopped the performance in the middle
OF the suite to call the composer to
the program. Yesterdays throng re-
ceived the musical planets with mod
crate rapture, but to MIR. Coates $
nono1 be it said that he brought his
best to bear on the music of his
countryman.