Evening star., 1936-03-21

program lot 1HuISudy CUnCcAI.
"Passacaslia and Fugus- Bach
Symphony No. in B Minor Schubert
(The "Unfinished.'D
Two Ancient Greek Dances satie-Debussy
From "Schwanda"------ -Weinberger
Polka and Fugue.
~ URING the season, besides the
"official" votes for the an
nual request programs, re-
49, ceive, both by word Of mouth
and in writing, number OF requests
for performances Of different works,
These are at any time most well
come. There is nothing which Is as
stimulating for an artist as the real
ization of the active participation
on the part of a listener. A per-
formance depends after all not only
on what the artist has to give, but
also on the readiness to receive on
the part of the listener. II this read
iness becomes an activity, the artists
gratitude Is quite unbounded. 1t
is a pleasant spur for him to try to
make even greater efforts. The aver
age Of the requests for the final pro-
gram on April is of the most marked
importance.
1t looks now as though the Brahms
&C Minor Symphony" will be the ia
vorite, with the "Pathetique" a very
close second. Other votes are nu-
merous for the Cesar Franck, the
Unfinished" of Schubert, the Brahms
Second Symphony" the Beethoven
"Eroica" and even the Shostakovich.
The votes also are more widely dis
tributed than they were in previous
years.
For this reason, as we'll as for those
mentioned, I plan to play for the COM
ing Thursday concert a number of
the works which probably will not
be the ones chosen for April S, but
will be among the higher number of
vot"5, as well as few of the "sug-
gestions" made verbally during the
season.
THE first number will be the Bach
"Passacaglia." This master work
of the Leipzig cantor was the climax
of q previous program. Its cathedral
like proportions, its mighty climax, the
fervor of its utterance, are so stirring
that the desire to hear this work again
Is readily understood by any one who
has once heard 1t.
That the next number-the "Kleine
Nachtmusik'' of Mozart-should have
been redemanded is source of grati-
fication. 1t is music which can be un-
derstood by any one, but which at the
same time holds the most subtle per-
fection for those who can venture into
the difficulties of his scoring, and who,
I would say. nearly visually under
stand Mozart's perfection. as well as
the enchanting tenderness of his grave
and gay moods.
A genius similar to Mozart, in talent
If not in development, was Schubert.
As far as purely melodic talent is con-
cerned, I do not think that the world
even younger than Mozart when he
died. In fact, his death came at the
age of 81, and the output which he
left seems scarcely humanity possible.
He covered every form of music, from
the simple lied and elementary piano
pieces to the complex symphony form
with all its intervening stages, includ-
ing over 600 songs, several operas, bal
lets, symphonies and countless cham
ber music works.
His output is remarkably uneven.
Next to such gems as the "Erl King,
Margaret at the Spinning Wheel,
The Raven" the A minor and the D
minor ION the song Death and the
Msiden") quartets, the overtures, some
of the symphonies and many other
works, there are those Of uncouth
formlessness, as well as of an inferior
rush-quality of workmanship. But his
best has never been outdone, and
among his best belongs the symphony
known as the Unfinished"
DOOR Schubert, never a favored son
of fortune, left this symphony
without ever having heard it per-
formed. In fact, it was not until 80
years after his death that it was re-
discovered and its first performance
took place. Today, if for no other
work, this composition would assure