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THE
MUSIC
TRADI
REVIEW
TIMELY TALKS ON TIMELY TOPICS.
The announcements for the musical season,
which are now practically all in, reveal a state of
things which make one marvel where the audi-
ences will come from to support the bounteous
offerings of the season. Of course we must not
forget that several sources have been opened up
by such men as Frank Damrosch, F. X. Arens,
Sam Franko and David Mannes which did not
exist some years ago. The concerts given to the
people by Mr. Arens and his People's Symphony
Orchestra, the choral classes .and concerts con-
ducted by Frank Damrosch, the orchestral classes
instructed and conducted down on the East Side
by Sam Franko and David Mannes all are work-
ing toward furnishing audiences for the Boston
Symphony and the Philharmonic concerts. The
love for music has not been created exactly, it
exists in most of those we denominate "the peo-
ple." Most people respond to music in much the
same way that they love to hear the wind rustle
through tne trees or the ocean's rhythmic roar;
they do not know why, they do not question why,
but we who think we know more about it believe
it due to the affinity of pulse-beat or rhythm
which is the strongest tie between life, nature
and music. But to such men as above mentioned
is due appreciation for what they have done to
make these people conscious of their love for
music; they have led them from primitive condi-
tions to the point where they can appreciate a
Beethoven sonata or symphony by the side of the
most cultured, and of their own desire they seek
the pleasure to say naught of education afforded
by the large concerts of the season.
To return, however, to the season just ahead—
there is no chance that every enterprise will be
a success. This would not be any more possible
in the world of music than out of it, but under-
proper conditions there will be a great many suc-
cesses this year.
The principal question which seems to agitate
some of those interested is whether the opera will
take from the concert rooms. In all probability
it will. One company did, let alone two or more,
but on the whole those who want music in form
of concert will not be satisfied with opera, and
vice-versa.
One suggestion coming from one who has just
returned from London is worth presenting. The
difference between conditions in America and
London were noted, and strange to say, the state-
ment was made that Londoners always know
when and where to find concerts, since the set-
ting of the advertisements in the daily papers is
so very much better. It is actually hard work to
find the concert advertisements in New York,
while if they were properly displayed instead of
cramped down in a little corner of the papers
people would be attracted to go by seeing them
attractively presented. Concert advertisements
are smothered by those of the theatre, and when
they are seen it is only by those who are going
and are merely in search of details, but to at-
tract the passer-by who had not thought much
about it except as aroused to it by the advertise-
ment, it is very certain that concert advertising
as done in this city could not bring one person
to a concert room, for that reason they are losing
ventures instead of being the very opposite.
A distinct lack in the summer season in New
York this year was the absolute absence of any-
thing at all that approached good music, with
the possible exception of the bands in the Park
or elsewhere, which, however, does not represent
good educational artistic value. New York has
become a center for summer education beyond
the conception of those not especially interested
in such statistics, and if only for the benefit of
the music students, it would have seemed a pay-
ing enterprise. The music students who come to
New York in the summer are totally different
from those of the winter season, and are perhaps
not so dependent in money matters as are the
latter. They represent teachers from all parts
of the country, who come for the purpose of
"brushing up" and learning the latest methods
in teaching. To such, the summer night orches-
tral concert would have been the acme of their
desires and the lack of it is a distinct hardship
and disappointment. The body of students alone
would be able to support such an enterprise even
forgetting that many of the music lovers find
themselves stalled in New York for the summer,
and for these the roof garden attractions offer
little inducement to leave a rather cool apart-
ment to struggle for a seat in a downtown car.
gala event financially as well as socially is
equally sure. All communications concerning the
MacDowel] fund should be addressed to Allan
Robinson, secretary Mendelssohn Glee Club, 60
Wall street.
In addition to the orchestras now announced
of our own, we may have the visit of the Lon-
don Symphony Orchestra, which is planning to
make a tour of Canada in the spring, in which
case it will appear in some of the American
cities. If this means a reappearance in New
York of Henry J. Wood, there will be every rea-
son to rejoice even in a crowded season. There
have been few conductors who succeeded in im-
pressing themselves so firmly and so agreeably
upon the music lovers of this city as did the
talented and cultured Englishman whose charm-
July 29 was the 50th anniversary of the death ing wife insisted that he was "Russian on his
of Robert Schumann, removed so tragically from wife's side." Both Arthur Nikisch and Wassili
his sphere of action at the age of 46. How per- Safonoff will appear with that orchestra during
fectly alive are the works of this great master the season, Safonoff probably not before May,
every concert programme will tell. His superior however, as he will have his hands full in
in many respects has not been born; indeed, it America.
would be difficult to name any one that even sug-
gests the scope and quality of Schumann's crea-
Russia will be well represented on the con-
tions. Chopin, in a certain sense, has moved cert stage of New York, to say nothing of the
along certain lines of similarity and gone further Russian Symphony Orchestra under Modest Alt-
into the exotic, but Chopin was weak with the shuler. We shall, of course, have Safonoff,
orchestra; in fact, with everything but with the Lhevinne and Mrs. Lhevinne as well, Gabrilow-
piano, in which realm he stands by himself. It itsch, Petschnikoff, violinist, and Mrs. Petschnik-
was Henry T. Finck who has likened the fate of off, an American, however, also violinist. Pade-
our own Edward A. MacDowell unto that of rewski, a Pole, is also a Slav if not a Russian, as
Schumann, and no one is closer to the real state are Mme. Szumowska and her husband, Josef
of affairs than Mr. Finck, who is a warm personal Adamowski. Speaking of Russian music it is
friend of the afflicted composer and of his wife. interesting to note that the Warsaw Philhar-
Mr. MacDowell has been taken to his home in monic Orchestra will be the richest orchestra in
Peterboro, where so many flights of genius were the world, it just having received a legacy of
called into being through the inspiration of his $1,000,000, from a Polish lover of music. What
surroundings at this point. Mr. and Mrs. Mac- chance there will be, however, for musical de-
Dowell have given this beautiful spot to the stu- velopment with Russia in the present turmoil is
dents of art and music to pass into their use after a question, and one which only time can answer.
their death. It had been the desire of Mr. Mac-
Dowell long before he was seized with the fatal
To those who understand how to appreciate the
illness, and was carried formally into execution Statue of Liberty, which stands in our harbor,
by Mrs. MacDowell at the last meeting of the it will be interesting to know that Mme. Bar-
MacDowell Club.
tholdi has offered La Comedie-Francaise a group
During the life of Mr. and Mrs. MacDowell in terra cotta, representing the two novelists,
they are to occupy this quiet little spot in the Erckman and Chatrian, embracing one another,
woods, and afterward it is to be available for the former holding a pen in his right hand and
those who need the fresh air and who need to get twining the left arm around the shoulders of
close to nature as was the wont of the great his collaborator. This work of the sculptor
Bartholdi is extremely elegant, and admirably
composer, who is dead while living.
The Mendelssohn Glee Club is undertaking an wrought, but one would hardly understand how
active campaign to establish a permanent fund it could be symbolical. No one who knows the
for the support of MacDowell, who is not only in conditions surrounding these two writers will
a helpless but also in a hopeless condition, but forget that, notwithstanding the great number of
one which may keep him living for years. It works signed with their coupled names, they
confronts those who appreciate what MacDowell broke with one another at the moment of that ca-
has done for music and indeed for the American, reer when they had gained universal celebrity,
to place a monument to him while he lives and and they died without reconciliation. Mme. Bar-
needs it rather than to immortalize him in mar- tholdi desired this piece to go to the Comedie-
ble after his death. Outside of what the com- Francaise because among the first productions of
positions of MacDowell stand for he has done this theatre were three by the joint authors.
still more for the American composer. He has, These were "L'ami Fritz," "Les Rantzau" and
by his own position and aggressiveness, forced "Le Juif Polenais."
the American to be classed with and judged by
the side of the composers of the world, and not
There does not seem to be a serious falling
in a class by themselves. For this, if for this off in the attendance at Beyreuth on account of
only, every composer and the followers of every the American production of "Parsifal." On tV:
American composer owes MacDowell a debt which contrary, there has been a greater attendance
it is now in a certain sense in their power to than ever before, and it would seem as thougn
repay. The Mendelssohn Club has issued a call F?au Cosima owed Mr. Conried a vote of thanks
and there is little doubt but that it will meet and a debt of gratitude. There is no doubt that
with hearty response. MacDowell's connection this increase is due to the interest which the
with the Mendelssohn Glee Club is too well American production aroused, not only in
known to need more than a passing reference, he America, tut all over the world. It is alro a
having been for many years conductor of this, pleasure to note that the bright particular star
one of the most exclusive musical clubs of the of the Festival was Mme. Schumann-Heink, who
country. This very exclusiveness might be used is more glorious in her art than ever. She in as
to some advantage, if it so appealed to the club doubtless forgotten "Love's Lottery." Let us for-
itself, as there is no doubt that one public con- get it, too.
cert at Carnegie Hall, with seats set at any price,
EMILTE FRANCES BAUEII.
would bring in a large fund which could be con-
tributed to the matter in question. Mendelssohn
ELGAR AND STRAUSS COMPARED.
Glee Club never gives a public concert, and one
departure from its custom would bring a house
The clever Ernest Newman, in his new book
of enormous size. Of that there can be no doubt. on Elgar, says that Elgar "treats the orchestra as
That it would receive patronage from curiosity one who loves and respects it, while Strauss, no
is certain, and that all friends of the unfortunate less ardent, sometimes dissembles his love by
composer would lend assistance to make this a kicking the object of his affection downstairs."