San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-13
BY PIERRE v. r. KEY.

| 1ne Importance Ol DtiuB eurncst
seems to bear fruit in any number OF
ways. Oscar Wilde once wrote a plaJ
about it, but long before that the dis
covery had been made and capitalized
on, and was thereupon passed along
i to others who feel that life should not
be made up altogether of things which
merely entertain. A good many peo-
pie appear nowadays to hold q con-
trary opinion. Short hours of work,
an easy job and then--ho for a good
time. And the merrier the better.
Happily everyone is not saddled with
such tendencies, which is fortunate for
the world. Were it otherwise we never
would have such musical compositions
as Ildebrando Pizzctti's requiem mass
or the cantata The Daughter of Jeph-
tina by Giacomo Carissimi, both given
here few evenings ago by the Schola
Cantorum. The former work had new
err before been heard in this country !;
the latter was having its Introductory
New York performance.
We doubt if 10 per cent of the gen.
eral run of concert patrons would con-
fcss to liking for the. Pizzetti mass.
1t is necessarily sombre, as requiem
masses must be, and being sung by
mixed chorus alone there is no such
background of color such as an or
chestra can supply. Yet this work
made deep impression upon the mu-
sicians or highly musical. who listen
ed to it. This too, mind you, despite
its inadequate Interpretation. For to
be faithful. one must record that, the
intricacies of the music were not dealt
with by the Schola Cantorum singers
as they deserved tn be.
Part of this may have been due to
Conductor Kurt SCHNEIDER. He is a
thorough musician, n superior piano.
forte accompanist; but he docs not I'M
failingly make the best use of a stick
when he waves it before body Of
singers or an orchestra.
The countcrpoint was often blurred
and unsteady, with the added short
comings of uncertainty in the attack
and execution Of leading and subordi-
nate phrases. That degree OF color
which arises from varied qualities OF
tone and dynamics was not abundant
enough. So the outcome was disap-
pointing, and in the Carissimi Cantata
as well.
A Distinguished Work.
The mastery of Pizzetti nevertheless
shone. His multi-voiced mass moved
steadily EDWARDS in its Carnegie Hall
performance, shedding its beauties and
revealing the composer in light which
some of us doubted he could reflect.
1t is ecclesiastic music of the highest
order: conceived with large vision, rich
in dignity and fashioned with rare
craftsmanship.
Aided by an orchestra recruited from
the New York Philharmonic, The
Daughter Of Jephtha offered to the av-
erage auditor a reader appeal. But
even this advantage was insufficient
to make it quite comparable to the
Pizzetti composition. Solos for So
prano. contralto, tenor and baritone
helped little because they were not nj
ways vocally grateful. Considered
through ears attuned to the churchly
note, the Carissimi work gnined recog-
milton for excellences belonging to its
particular creative school.
Although less pretentious and per-
haps not so fine in downright musical
merit, the Charpentier impressionistic
Muleteer's Song-foc solo tenor and
women's chorus-and Sadero's Apu-
1 Ian Carriers Song-for solo tenor and
mems chorus-went better for the
| audience. The remainder of the pro-
gram consisted of three choral hymns
BIZ the Englishman Gustav Hoist, and
! Debussy's Danse Sacre, Danse Pro-
| fame.
Jose DelGquerriere. French tenor
from the Paris Gaite-Lyrique, sang
creditably with a moderately good
voice. Cobina Wright disclosed an
agreeable soprano which needs more
routine. Her contralto associate. Hell
en- Nixon. was still less satisfactory
because of her righteousness. while
Pavel Ludika was very sepulchral-
necdlessly so.
Credit for An American.
If Deems Taylor haa been born
abroad and his name were unpro-
rounceable we might be hearing about
his Through a Looking Glass suite
! with much beating of cymbals. But
Deems is only al American. and a
daily newspaper reviewer into the bar
gain. His descriptive composition on
parts Of Lewis Carr w. Alice in NSl-
derland is a delight.
There are indioa! ioTs that ibis "ay-
lor suite is 10 bI,"me popular. 1t de-
serves to be. The several sco;i "" are
enthusiastically coio:iul. and that
suggesting the JoSberNock is . gem.
Sterling craftsmanship a b our d
through the entire s,oIc.
WAT s6ould PLEASE most o. US is
the reception the sui;c received Tx
carpts from Stravias'Sy's Fi'e Bird bal
let music were played CT the same pro-
gram by the Philadelphia orchestra.
and Taylor's composition measured up
TO il yery nicely. Performances which,
Through Looking GLASS has received
by orchestras III iisi rent parts of TIE
country ince its premiere in this rtv.
and the coIsansUs &C opinion, nellie
in just me direction.
Wagner ais! Beyr.rili.
Siegfried Wagner conducted his H.
nal guest concert FEW evenings Ego |
IN the Manhattan Ope a Hour. TIE |
State Symphony was again "loaned"
TO the son of an iii is:-io is father. Tie |
following day Siegfria1 sl'i"d "a" ibis
German hime. Win sone compliment
ary tn:,gs about tlc Ii"i;'1 STATES.
dronoing ffom ths tn Of his tongue.
Wagner believes that this country |
is seno,l musica,iy rElv {, - own |
land. lie stated ;hat i,r was surprised
Mt his discoveries h. tL1 appartItly |
antis;. .dtCd 10 such Development over
here in the music arts. But is he
right? We question whether Germany
can measure with us in the quality of
musical performances given here.
The Beyreuth festival is announced