Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24


gram here by the Philadel
- phia Symphony Orchestra
In spite of the fact that Mr.. Sto
kowSki was still too i'll to conduc
more than the opening program
and neither M. Monteux nor ST
Thomas Beecham were able to pu
in their previously scheduled ap'
pearance as guest conductors, the
Philadelphia organization has Civ
en- very good programs in enter
tanning fashion in Washington
The National Capital has beer
able to withstand the strain Of
change in conductors and ever
seemed to thrive upon it. The
same ailment seems to have af-
f1icted the New York Philharmonic
Symphony Orchestra, which pro-
vided an unusually delightful pro-
gram under Fritz Reiner, SubSti-
tuting for Signor ToScanini. It is
to be hoped, however, that the
great Italian will be here for that
orcheStra'S final program, which is
scheduled to follow on the heels of
the uguration-March S.
Great Britain has provided her
substitute for the famous Sir
Thomas Tuesday afternoon, when
the youthful and enthusiastic
Eugene GooSSenS will conduct the
Philadelphia aggregation. Eugene
GooSSenS was born in London in
1898. He is descended from an old
Flemish family. Also, he is third
In a line Of noted conductors all
bearing the same name.
Mr. GooSSenS is a composer of
considerable and varied ability.
The latest work that he has adj
mitted is about to emerge from his
facile pen is a grand opera. Only
last Tuesday did this fact see the
light of printers ink. The state
ment suggested that Mr.. GooSSenS
has the rather logical desire to
write grand opera that will earn
a permanent place in the operate
repertoire" The work it seems is
to be called judith" and was in
spired by Arnold BENEFITS play
using the Biblical theme. Mr.. Ben
nett was asked to reduce this work
to one act, and now Mr.. GooSSenS
Is occupied between orchestral
concerts and rehearSalS in putting
the finishing touches to his score
and about to send the work to
London for production.
Eugene GooSSenS is not unknown
to Washington in the capacity of
operate conductor. It will be re-
r1embered that he conducted the
performance here almost exactly
a year ago of the British one-act
opera, Hugh, the Drover," which
was given its initial presentation
IN Washington by the local opera
company.
This young conductors name is
usually associated with modern
works, yet his program chosen for
Tuesday is discretion itself in the
counterbalancing of established
classics and newer works. The
feature will be Beethoven'
Eighth Symphony" - the one
which has been designated as hav-
ing "humor and fantasy" In it
the great master pleaSeS to use the
mechanical tic-toc of his friend,
MaelzePs device-somewhat of an
ancestor to the modern metronome
- and also he recalls childhood
games. The work has been called
Eeethoven'S little symphony" yet
no less a genius than Richard
Wagner recognized its real values
and placed it back alongside of the
more dignif1ed Seventh SYM
phcny." An interesting insight
into the human side of Beethov-
ems life is given in an anecdote
concerning his friend Maelzel and
the part the latter played in the
''little symphony" published in
Harvey Grace'S book, Ludwig van
Beethoven" It states:
'MaelZel was well trained and
capable musician who Succumbed
TO passion for mechanical in
vention. More of this side of him
later; first, let us see his alleged
connection with the allegretto of
the Eighth Symphony" The
popular story is that he had re-
Gently invented the ticking inStru-
ment which has frequently failed
to keep time with many of us, and
that, at a supper given to him by
Beethoven and others Just before
a projected visit to England, the
composer improvised a canon in
which the theme consisted of rap
Idly reiterated SemiquaverS to the
syllable 'ta," in burleSque of the
metronome'S ticking. Thayer elab-
orately disposeS of this story by a
series Of dates that seem unaSSail-
able. Moreover, the metronome
was not yet invented. So far, the
nearest approach was Maelzel'S
chronometer, an instrument con-
structed on another principle. The
farewell supper no doubt took
place, and probably the truth is
that the allegretto had already
been composed and Beethoven and
his companions, in convivial mood,
lifted up their voices canonwise,
fitting to it some such text as that
given in Groves Beethoven and
His Nine Symphonies - ia, ia
lieber Maelzel, heben sic wohl,
Sehr wohl.'"
1t was through this same Mael-
eel that Beethoven was inveigled
into writing his very popular piece,
"Wellington's Victory, or the Bat
tie Of Victoria" It was an ex-
tremely successful battle SYM
phony" and Beethoven is depicted
as having clearly enjoyed himself
in writing it. He is quoted as hav-
ing said, 1T is certain that one
writes most beautifully when one
writes for the public, also that one
writes rapidly"
The Eighth Symphony" had It's
first hearing February 81, 1914
just lacking one day of being lis
years old as performances go
when it is given Tuesday. There
were not a few comments to the
effect that it was faulty judgment
To hermit this work TO follow the