Venue(s):
Irving Hall
Price: $.50
Event Type:
Orchestral
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
16 July 2014
“Thence to Irving Hall. Philharmonic rehearsal of Mozart's grand and lovely C major symphony (‘Jupiter’). Hard to say which of its first three movements is the noblest. I exclude the 4th, not as denying its merits, but only because of my own ignorance of counterpoint. I can appreciate its opening, however, down to where that cantankerous fugue sets in, and if Mozart ever wrote anything more free, bold and energetic, I am not aware of the fact. It always suggests to me the rush of some tremendous, roaring whistling cold N. W. gale; now its phrases remind me of Handel rather than Mozart. They seem to be of the same order with the simple, massive, wrought-iron themes (is that the right word?) of the Messiah. Well, one should thank God for the gist of these various revelations of the highest & most intense beauty and not be content with merely criticising or comparing them. Man's faculty of enjoyment was more than supplied by the art of old Handel, but we have in addition the inspiration of Haydn and Mozart and Beethoven, Weber, & Mendelssohn--and the product of an innumerable host besides of perished or perishing names, each of whom has given us some one or some half-dozen priceless gems of musical thought which we overlook in the abundance of our treasures.”
“Phrases of melodies from that . . . splendid C major symphony of Mozart's keep following me about with a pertinacity almost unpleasant because I cannot recollect them quite accurately. I am haunted, dogged, sprighted?--by the lovely trio (?) in the 3rd movement, a most exquisite, delicate creation, that is not to be appreciated [2 words illegible—ed.] on slight acquaintance.”