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PERFORMANCE OF DVORAK’S NEW AMERICAN WORK FROM THE NEW WORLD.” A SymPHONy BASED ON PLANTA TION THEMES—PIANIST’S CLUB CONCERT. Dr. Dvorak’s much-talked-of symphony, “From the New World,” was heard for the first time in San Francisco yesterday even ing at the Metropolitan Musical Society’s concert at the Auditorium. Everyone has heard of this work, which was composed over a year ago, and has al ready met with success in all the large cities of the East, as well as in Europe. Dr. Dvorak is one of the most distinguished living composers, and like Tschaikowsky, Grieg and others who write music stamped with national characteristics, it has been his habit to base his symphonies and chamber music upon the folk-songs of his native land. . When Dr. Dvorak came to America to direct the National Conservatory of Music he determined to compose something that should be distinguishingly characteristic of the new world, and he looked around for some simple songs of the people to give him inspiration for his themes. Unlike his native Bohemia, however, America, having no peasantry of her own, had no folk-songs except among the negro race. In the plantation melodies Dr. Dvorak found the only distinctly original musical utterances that exist in the new world, and now them he based his American sym phony, which was played in San Francisco for the first time last night. It must not be imagined, however, that Dr. Dvorak has merely taken a number of familiar plantation themes and worked them up into a symphony. He has simply preserved the characteristics of plantation airs in his themes, but none are really familiar. The opening ‘‘adagio” has the plantation-sounding themes that are particularly full of melody and vivacity, but the plaintive ‘‘largo’’ savors most, per haps, of the plantations. The composer has made very sparing use of the brass in this movement and has developed his themes in a manner that strongly recalls the soft, plaintive negro way of singing. The scherzo is full of vivacity, of laughter almost, and the allegro con fuoco, which makes more use of the full power of the instruments than the other movements, is very melodious. Some Eastern critics have declared that the rincipal theme in this allegro is ‘Yankee oodle” disguised; but if so, it is so well disguised that it would deceive the average hearer into searching his memory to recall what familiar plantation melody it re sembled. The graceful, melodious Ameri can symphony was warmly applauded, although only a small audience had shown enough interest in Dr. Dvorak’s work to be present. . _ EFC. Nicode’s ‘Symphonic Variations in C minor,” also given in San Francisco for the first time, was another work that found favor. Part of Rubinstein’s ‘Bat Costume”’ suite and Liszt’s rhapsodies concluded one of the most interesting pro grammes that have been given at the Audi torium The Pianists’ Club gave its second con cert last night in the Maple Hall of the Palace Hotel. There was a good attend ance, and the performance of the pro gramme was listened to with interest. Mrs. W. Dean, Miss A. McColgan, Miss K. White and Miss E. Bien played the overture to “Der Freischuetz.’’ Miss K. White and Miss Ida Cohen played Saint- Saens’ ‘‘Phaeton” as a piano-forte duet. Beethoven’s fifth symphony was well ren dered by Miss Prager, Miss Cohen, Mrs. H. Ehrman and Miss Schuecking, and Mrs. G. Beatty played a couple of solos. Miss Elsa von Manderscheid showed consider able ability as a pianist for her years in works by Bach and Schubert.
Newspaper Details
San Francisco Morning Call
San Francisco, California, US
Fri, Mar 01, 1895
Page 7
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USA 03 Feb 2026
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