Boston Symphony Orchestra Concert Programs, Season 34,1914
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CITY HALL AUDITORIUM . PORTLAND Under the Auspices of the Music Commission Thirty-fourth Season, 1914-1915 Dr. KARL MUCK, Conductor WITH HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTES BY PHILIP HALE TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 19 AT 8.15 COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY C. A. ELLIS PUBLISHED BY C. A. ELLIS, MANAGER A voice that quickens the musical ear of childhood, a voice that stirs the musician to his most inspired moments, and yet a voice that is as human and intimate as the voice of a life-long friend—this is the voice of the Chickering. Chickering & Sons, Boston, Mass. Division of American Piano Co. For Sale by Cressey & Allen, Congress Street, Portland, Maine CITY HALL AUDITORIUM PORTLAND Under the Auspices of the Music Commission Thirty-fourth Season, 19)4—1915 Dr. KARL MUCK, Conductor TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 19 AT 8.15 PROGRAMME Guilmant " March Fantasy" for Organ and Orchestra Organist, Mr. Walter Macfarlane Wagner . "A Siegfried Idyl" Wagner . A Faust Overture Brahms Symphony No. 2, in D major, Op. 73 I. Allegro non troppo. II. Adagio non troppo. III. Allegretto grazioso, quasi andantino. IV. Allegro con spin' to. There will be an intermission of ten minutes before the symphony 3 From New England's Largest and Most Com- prehensive Collection of Fine Pianos. To all intending piano buyers, Steinert's offers unequalled advantages. Our stocks of pianos are not only the largest—they are the best in New England. You can make comparison here of a great variety of models and an amazing number of really famous makes of pianos. You can suit your preference as to what you will invest, for the range of prices is complete—from the highest which works of art command to the lowest you can safely pay and expect satisfaction. We offer complete stocks of these instruments: The world-famous Steinway — The superb Hume — The favorite Jewett, used by hundreds of music teachers — The popular Wood- bury, a magnificent piano at a moderate price. From $275 up. Steinway, Weber, Steck—all international pianos with factories in Europe as well as in America — and the well-known Wheelock, Stuyvesant and Stroud. From $550 up. Other Player- Pianos only $395. COMPLETE STOCKS OF VICTOR VICTROLAS AND RECORDS 517 CONGRESS STREET, PORTLAND Marche Fantaisie on Two Church Themes, for Organ, Harps, and Orchestra, Op. 44 .... Fislix Alexandre Guilmant (Born at Boulogue-sur-Mer, March 12, 1837; died at Meudon, March 30, 191 1.) . This processional march was composed at vSevres in July, 1875. It was published in 1886. Hie score, dedicated to Eugene Henry, orga- nist of the Metropole, Rennes, calls for these instruments : two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, kettledrums, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, first harp (at least four), second harp (at least four), strings, and the organ. The first theme, the plainsong "Iste Confessor," is given immedi- ately to bassoons and violoncellos, Allegro, F major, 4-4. This is treated until the entrance of the second theme "Ecce Sacerdos Mag- nus," played at first by the organ, D-flat major, 4-4. The first theme returns in F major. The Finale is a fugato, Allegro moderate, F major, 4-4, ending with the "Iste Confessor," Maestoso. This composition is also for the organ alone, and is published in the eleventh book of Guilmant's "Pieces d'Orgue dans differents styles." "A Siegfried Idyl" Richard Wagner (Born at Iyeipsic, May 22, 1813; died at Venice, February 13, 1883.) Cosima Liszt, daughter of Franz Liszt and the Comtesse d'Agoult, was born at Bellagio, Italy, on Christmas Day, 1837. She was married to Hans von Biilow at Berlin, August 18, 1857. They were divorced in the fall of 1869. Richard Wagner married Minna Planer, November 24, 1836, at Konigsberg. They separated in August, 1861, and she died at Dresden, January 25, 1866. FOR THE SALON AND RECITAL PROGRAMS THE HOUR GLASS 60c. Words by A. Gkoves. Music by H. T. Burleigh. TWO POEMS—By W. E. Henley 60c. Set to Music by H. T. Burleigh, i. Bring Her Again to Me. 2. The Spring My Dear. KANDAHAR .... 60c. Words by A. Groves. Music by I. Berg£. HER SONGS—MY TEARS . ... 60c. Words by Christina Rossetti. Music by H. Clough-Leighter. SHADOWED IN YOUR HAND 60c. Words by Dante G. Rossetti. Music by H. Clough-Leighter. 1CORDI & CO., 14 East 43rd Street, NEW YORK TO Messrs. MASON & HAMLIN, Dear Sirs:—It is a pleasure to me to tell you that one of the real musical delights of my stay in America has been the intimate acquaintance I have made with your pianos. My visit to your factory and the demonstration there given me of your unique system of pianoforte construction have con- vinced me of the ideally high standard you have set before you, while my experience with your pianos at my home as well as on the concert stage has proved to me how completely you have attained that artistic ideal. Their beautiful tone, which no adjective can adequately describe, and their inspiring perfection of mechanism render them noble instruments worthy of the highest place in my esteem. (Signed) Dr. KARL MUCK BOSTON NEW YORK Wagner and Cosima Liszt, divorced wife of von Biilow, were married at Lucerne, August 25, 1870. Siegfried Wagner, their son, was born at Triebschen, near Lucerne, June 6, 1869. Wagner wrote, November n, 1870, to Ferdinand Prager: "My house, too, is full of children, the children of my wife, but besides there blooms for me a splendid son, strong and beautiful, whom I dare call Siegfried Richard Wagner. Now think what I must feel, that this at last has fallen to my share. I am fifty-seven years old." On the 25th of the month he wrote to Prager: "My son is Heiferich Siegfried Richard. My son! Oh, what that says to me!" But these were not the first references to the son. In a letter written to Mrs. Wille, June 25, 1870, Wagner wrote: "Certainly we shall come, for you are to be the first to whom we shall present ourselves as man and wife. She has defied all disapprobation and taken upon herself every condemnation. She has borne to me a wonderfully beautiful and vigorous boy, whom I could boldly call 'Siegfried': he is now growing, together with my work, and gives me a new, long life, which at last has attained a meaning. Thus we get along without the world, from which we have retired entirely. But now listen; you will, I trust, approve of the sentiment which leads us to postpone our visit until I can introduce to you the mother of my son as my wedded wife." (Finck's Wagner, vol. ii. p. 246.) The "Siegfried Idyl" was a birthday gift to the composer's wife. It was composed in November, 1870, at Triebschen, near Lucerne. According to Hans Richter's story, he received the manuscript score on December 4, 1870. Wagner gave a remarkably fine copy to his wife. Richter wrote out immediately the parts, and then went to Zurich, where, with the help of Oskar Kahl, concert-master of the City Orchestra, he engaged musicians. The first rehearsal was on December 21, 1870, in the foyer of the old theatre in Zurich. The Wesendoncks were present. "The musicians were excellent," says Richter, "and the music sounded magnificently." The musicians arrived at Lucerne, December 24. Wagner conducted the rehearsal that afternoon in the hall of the Hotel du Lac. Christmas in 1870 fell on a Sunday, and early in the morning the musicians arrived at Wagner's villa in Triebschen. In order that the performance might be a complete surprise to Cosima, the desks were put quietly in posi- tion on the stairs, and the tuning was in the large kitchen. The little orchestra took its place on the stairs, Wagner, who conducted, at the WuhlITzeR The Wurlitzer Harp is used in the world's great musical centers by the most famous harpists of Europe and America. Complete line may be seen at my studio. 236 Bay State Road :: :: :: Boston — ' top, then the violins, violas, wood-wind instruments, horns, and at the bottom the violoncello and double-bass. The conductor could not see the 'cello and bass, but the performance was faultless. The or- chestra was thus composed: two first violins, two second violins, two violas (one played by Hans Richter, who also played the trumpet), one violoncello, one double-bass, one flute, one oboe, two clarinets, one bassoon, two horns. Richter says he borrowed a trumpet for the few measures given it from a bandsman. In order not to excite the suspicion of Cosima, he went daily to practise the trumpet in the bar- racks, which were then empty. "These daily excursions and several trips to Zurich awakened the attention of Mme. Wagner, who thought I was not so industrious as formerly. The highly successful perfor- mance of the Idyl put an end to this misunderstanding." The performance began punctually at 7.30 a.m. The children called the Idyl "the stairs music." The Idyl was repeated several times in the course of the day, and in the afternoon the musicians played Beethoven's Sextet without the Variations. The Idyl was performed at Mannheim, December 20, 187 1, in private under the direction of Wagner. It was performed March 10, 1877, in the Ducal Palace at Meiningen by the Ducal Court Orchestra, and Wagner conducted. The score and parts were published in February, 1878. Siegfried was born while the composition of the music-drama "Sieg- fried" was in progress. The themes in the Idyl were taken from the music-drama, all save one, —a folk-song, "Schlaf ', mein Kind, schlaf ein"; but the development of the themes was new.