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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
from the three accused; that the applause was
resumed, answered by the hisses; that even men-
aces were proffered against the hissers, who
should have been protected by the police; that if
the accused had applauded instead of hissing
It is safe to say that for many years past take his organization to Carnegie Hall, as has there would have been no reproach, because
there was some definite idea in the minds ot been suggested, even if he could fill every seat praise, even the most noisy, is far from offensive,
those who interest themselves in musical mat- in that immense auditorium. There are a few while hissing, even lightly, that is to say, to criti-
ters around this time, as to plans for the com- people who understand the fitness of things, and cize, seems intolerable; granted that if the public
ing season; but this year things seem to be as far Mr. Kneisel is one of them.
has the right to approve, it has the right to ex-
Nor is Carnegie Hall a fit place for a piano re- press its dissatisfaction; that in manifesting
from tangible shape as is possible to conceive.
The announcements have been general rather cital, whether the artist be Pugno, Paderewski, their disapproval in a light form during the
than specific, and while we realize that the sea- Busoni or anyone else. It does not rest with the pause between the two movements of the con-
son will be a brilliant one, it is only because we artist, it is a matter of both acoustics and fitness. certo, the accused only made use of the legitimate
know the tremendous drawing power of the at- A piano recital is essentially music in its most privilege of criticizing a work, in so far as the
tractions promised. The orchestral situation con- intimate sense and much is lost, both to the ar- hearing was finished of at least one of its parts."
tinues to grow, and more than growing merely in tist and to the audience, through the vast space
We must admit that it is difficult to realize
the large cities, this season promises more travel- which cannot be filled with tone at its right qual- these conditions at all, and yet Parisians never
ing orchestras than we have had in the past. One ity, no matter what we have become educated to lose an opportunity to fling sneers at the "bi-
of the most notable of these will be a tour of the through necessity.
zarre" Americans in everything that pertains to
Philharmonic Society under the baton of Wein-
It may be startling, but we are forced to real- art. However, if these are their standards, thank
gartner. This will not only be the first ize that those who study these things do not ask heaven we are "bizarre"!
opportunity for those outside of New York whether a house is acoustically or artistically
BMII.IE FRANCES BACEK.
to hear Weingartner, but it will also be fitted for an attraction, but whether it will hold
the first time that the Philharmonic So- the amount of money necessary to permit the
ciety has played outside of New York. The show to go on. This is not a very elevated spirit CLEVER YOUNQ PIANIST IS FRIML
Russian Symphony Society will take its con- to be sure, but when individual artists are asking
certs to Carnegie Hall this year, which all the way from $1,500 up, particularly up, it Who Will Be Heard in Recital and With Or-
will do two things for that organization. The behooves the manager to get a place large enough
chestra the Coming Season.
first and most important thing is that it will obvi- to hold the people, even if he had to play his
ate a clashing of dates with older and larger or- attraction in the New York Central Station. How-
Friml, the young pianist, who will certainly
chestras, and coming uptown it is but natural ever, we will take these "high price" stories with be remembered by everyone who heard him when
that a different class of people will be attracted.
a saline flavoring, as unfortunately the American be played with Kubelik two years ago, will be
public has been educated into (I would rather one of the season's pianists. Friml is a young
The Russian Symphony Society had made all say "into" than "up") judging the art of a musi- Bohemian, whose talent is unmistakable, and
its plans to go to Carnegie Hall already last sea- cian by the salary that he can draw from the who evoked great enthusiasm from his country-
son, and it was well for them that they did so, manager, therefore, the ever-alert press agent men, who perhaps better than anyone else could
as the edict has gone forth that no more concerts would rather inform us that Ysaye is getting appreciate the national traits which are so dis-
are to be given at Cooper Union Hall, on account $250,000 a performance than to let us believe that tinct in his playing. He will be heard in recitals
of the poor equipment in case of fire. This will he would do such a plebeian thing as to play for and orchestra, with the Steinway piano, as he is
strike a very heavy blow at the beautiful musical $1,400 or $1,500.
under the care of Charles F. Tretbar, of Stein-
work which was flourishing so splendidly all
way & Sons.
through the East Side. The people's Symphony
Friml was born in an old historical part of the
Speaking of Ysaye, it is interesting to note that
Orchestra, under direction of F. X. Arens, have in addition to his musical genius, he has what city of Prague, Bohemia, in 1881. As his father
built up a clientele of music lovers, to whom we may regard as genuine American spunk- was simply baker's assistant and earned just
the abolishing of concerts in Cooper Union will spunk indeed, which we may liken unto dignity. sufficient to provide for his family of four it was
be a very serious privation. It is very well to This he proved by the position which he took in a hard matter to get a piano for young Rudolf
speak of uptown concert halls, but no concert relation to appearing next year at the Lamour- who was always a very attentive listener and
hall in the city—and there is only one—could re- eux concerts of Paris. After having been asked showed a great interest in any kind of music.
place a hall down in the section where the pa- to appear, he wrote the following letter:
A neighbor by compulsion had to sell his piano
trons of these concerts live. In the first place, it
"Dear Sir:—Thanks for the amiable proposi- for 11 florins, and it really appears as irony of
takes too long to get uptown, and the car fare tion which you make me on Lhe part of the La- fate that this circumstance should lay the founda-
added to the- expense of the concerts makes a ma- moureux concerts, but I regret that I am not tion of Friml's fame and greatness. For hours
terial difference. The opportunity was never so able to accept. These last experiences of several the three-year-old Rudolf sat at the 11-florin pi-
great before as it is now for some one to immor- artists, notably Paderewski, in Paris, convinced ano and tried, to the delight of his mother, with
talize himself by giving the people of that section me that I must be prudent and not play in Paris, his small hands to draw forth some melodies,
of the city a very large and very safe building for except under special conditions, which offer less later on songs.
their amusements. Why not Carnegie, indeed? chance of abuse from 'the hissers.' I shall wait
At the age of ten he was one of the best schol-
This would seem just about' in his line, and it to play again with Colonne, or with Chevillard, ars in the Prague Conservatory of Music, and
would represent a great deal more than the hall until it will be at least permitted to us to throw was exempt from the entrance fee as well as the
that bears his name at present, for that means benches at the heads of the audience. Euo. YHAYK. fee for tuition. Under the direction of Prof. Tir-
nothing at all, and this would mean so very
If the great artists pursue this plan, it is not anek and Serik, piano teachers of world renown,
much.
difficult to see that the orchestral concerts will Rudolf made unusual progress. At the age of 14
he was absolved from the Conservatory, to the
F. X. Arens and those who have nobly worked degenerate very rapidly, and it could hardly be
great pride and honor of Prof. Tiranek. In the
otherwise
in
a
country
where
there
is
no
more
with him, have done too much pioneer work to
meantime, to provide for his livelihood, Friml
respect
for
art
than
to
have
acquitted
those
who
have it all go for naught; which one might al-
was compelled to accept a position in the Nation-
were
prosecuted
for
hissing
Paderewski.
Indeed
most fear would be the case even if they took the
al Theatre at 30 florins a month.
concerts now to Carnegie Hall, because those the judgment rendered does not sound quite sane
Later he undertook a concert tournee in his
to
those,
who
in
addition
to
a
little
common
for whom these concerts were intended would
native
country with great artistic success, and
sense,
have
a
tincture
of
that
rarest
of
rare
qual-
lose interest, notwithstanding the fact that a dif-
ferent element might become interested, attracted ities, a sense of the beautiful. It may be inter- all newspapers phophesied a great future for him
by the cheap prices. Of course, there is no objec- esting to present the verdict rendered by M. A brilliant offer was made him by one of hia
tion to enlisting the patronage of a new follow- Becker, judge of the tribunal, after the pleadings school fellows, Jean Kubelik, who took Friml
ing, but we cannot lose sight of the fact that of J. Bonzon: "Understanding that the objec- with him on a tournee through Vienna, Buda-
those who have learned to love and appreciate tion is founded on article 88 of the ordinance ot Pesth, London and to America where the critics
the best must be deprived of it because they can- September 1st, 1898, which states that it is for- welcomed him as the new Paderewski. Beside
not come uptown and there is no hall downtown bidden to prevent the representation, or to inter- being a great virtuoso he is a first-class composer,
fere with the theatres in any manner whatever. as two of his compositions have been accepted
which will accommodate the situation.
That this assures a quiet hearing of a work and by the Royal Court Opera in Dresden; these are
New York is singularly equipped on the sub- reserves the criticism until after the act or the the ballet: "Auf Japan" and the Christmas carol
ject of concert halls at best. It needs very much piece of music is finished; that the 20th of March "Heilfriedt." Besides these he has composed a
something between the size of Carnegie Hall and at the Colonne concert a concerto of Beethoven great number of popular songs, which gained
Mendelssohn Hall, the latter of which is very was played; that this concerto was divided into great recognition in Europe. But what stamps
appropriate for some things and entirely uncom- four movements. Between each movement there Friml as a genius of the first rank, so that he
fortable for others. For instance, as ideal as was a pause of two minutes, which made it pos- cannot be compared with anyone, is the art of
Mendelssohn Hall may be for chamber music, it sible for the artists to regain themselves, and improvising. This a-t has since Mozart's time
is too small to accommodate the audiences who for the public to manifest its sentiments; that been unattainable and the young master stands
patronize the Kneisel Quartette. Several times the first movement of the concerto finished, gen- alone. His improvisations are finished musical
erous applause broke forth, among which some works. An excellent portrait of Friml appears
last season people were turned away, and, of
hisses
could be distinguished, issuing notably on our cover page this week.
course, nothing could ever induce Mr. Kneisel to
TIMELY TALKS ON TIMELY TOPICS.