San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-05
/, Paris Music Public Small
Only Great Artists Can Hope to Give 'Rectals
Proftably.

. rect, it indicates the growth of the
music appreciation in the United
States winch is, from such observa-
ton as we are able to make, COM
parable with the best anywhere.
Concerts SymphOniques.
Two concerts Symphoniques-di.
rected by the Russian composer,
Laraze Saminsky-attracted more
than passing notice from Parisians.
Both took place at Sale Gaveau,
and while the audiences were of mod
est numerical dimensions there was
deep interest in the programs, be.
cause of the novelty Of the compost
tons offered.
Mr.. Saminsky. it may be recalled,
has resided in New York for two
years. His activity as a member. of
the American Music Guild has done
much for modern music, and ne is
engaged in a campaign of promoting
in foreign countries the works of his
associates in the aforesaid guild.
Ernest Bloch's Hebrew Poems q
uGnatine for violin (d'apres Ariesti)
which was played by Helen Te:chncr
Tas, and Emerson Whithorne's SYM
phonic suite, Les Jours ct les Nuts dc
New York. were presented IS
was Mr.. Sdminsky's Lamentatio1 Of
Rachel. sung. with n group of other
songs by Nine. Raymonde DelaanG,s,
Of the Metropolitan Opera Co hpnry
rf New York.
Nine. Delaunois and Nine. Tas are
agreeable artistes. They performed
their respective tasks creditably. The
new music was not epoch making, but
it had its interesting moments, and
there was bestowed on it generous
applause by the persons who heard it.
A Stravinsky Ballet.
Noces. the latest ballet for which
Igor Stravinsky has written the
music, had its world premiere recently
at the Paris Theatre Gazette. Given
by the Diaghileff Ballet, the attend
ance was both large and smart.
Noces is in several scenes, and rep
resents scenes leading up to, and the
culminqtion of, peasant Russian
wedding. The whole idea is quaint
enough to command attention and the
pantomime offered many opportuni-
ties which were turned to reasonably
effective account.
The Diaghileff Ballet of today, how
ever, is far inferior to the organiza-
ton which captivated Paris dozen
years ago; and it is inferior to the
one which visited the United States
for the first time, nearly ten years
ago.
Stravinsky is a great musician. He
thinks in an idiom which makes Sc
we're demands upon any musical ear
which cannot readily grasp the adj
vanced music composer of today. His
Noces music is weird. 1t is music of
present-day Russia, and almost, if not
completely, Bolshevistic. He delights
in a thin harmonic background. and
in painting against that canvas har-
monies of strangest intervals.
Most of this music is highly de-
scriptive. The ultra-modernist music
patron will undoubtedly like it. The
one who is less susceptible to strange
music may balk at Noces. We did
=. - save during parts of the closing
portion of the composition, which is
highly colorful.
When Petroushka was first heard
America thought it very modern; but
compared with Noces it is melodious
and orchestrally satisfying.
L'Arlisienne Suite.
Few Americans who have heard
I Bizet's beautiful LArlisienne Suite
are aware that in Paris it is per-
| formed in n most unique fashion. The
orchestras which perform it in New
work of several sections. But at the
present it as a composition to be
played through without pauses other
than fall naturally in an orchestral
work of several sections. But at the
Paris Odeon. which ranks next to the
national playhouse. it is utilized ms in
cidential music in the giving of the
French play. EArlisienne. which is
one of the most popular in. the stand
ard repertoire of the French theater.
We heard it. led by the composer
| Gabriel Pierne. one evening when not
a seat in the Odeon was unoccupied.
The drama is gripping. The story
centers about characters living in the
south of France. where the sun beats
hot and where the people love with
an intensity which only the most emo
tional Know.
Copyright 1923 bv P. V. Il. Key
4 nrtf,