Yorkshire Herald , 4th May, 1904.
The problem as to whether the masses can be atracted by what is generally known
as "classical" music has been solved by Mr. T. Tertius Noble. The
solution is that they can be, as evidenced by the large attendance in the penny
seats at the concerts given by the York Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Noble is a
musical enthusiast, and his love for his art is as unselfish as his enthusiasm
is ardent. This induced him to provide high-class concerts for the pleasure and
culture of the moilers and toilers of the city, and his reward is in seeing how
thoroughly his efforts have been appreciated. Unfortunately the humble penny
per seat which is paid by the occupants of the back of the hall does not find
the wherewithal to carry out the scheme free from loss, and reliance has been
placed upon the more cultured classes to provide it. That reliance has been
somewhat misplaced, as was apparent last night, when the concluding concert for
the season was held in the large hall of the Exhibition. The cheap seats were
well filled, but "a beggarly array of empty" chairs in the higher
priced portion of the hall showed what a lack of interest there is amongst the
more wealthy citizens in the promotion of these educational and elevating
musical reunions. Mr. Noble and the members of his orchestra cannot command
success, but they do more - they deserve it, and if they do not get their
desserts the reflection rests upon the citizens who refuse to rally to their
support.
The Symphony Orchestra, since its last concert, has been strengthened
numerically, and a vast improvement is manifest in their performances. To say
that they were absolutely perfect would be fulsome flattery, repudiated alike
by conductor and performers. Seeing, however, that the vast proportion of the
members is drawn from amateur ranks it is not too much to say that there are
very few, if any, communities in the kingdom who could produce a more able band
of musicians.
Last night the chief item on the programme was Mozart's "Prague
Symphony," which is a composition of an exacting nature. The performance
of it was notable for the admirable tone production, and the almost total
absence of any raggedness in attack or phrasing. It was a highly cultured
performance. The exquisite andante was a delightful piece of orchestration. The
overture to "Der Freischütz" (Weber) was played with
considerable power, none of the weird or dramatic effects being lost. Villiers
Stanford's "Irish Rhapsody" (No. 1) is wonderfully descriptive of the
Irish character. Boisterous in hilarity, perfervid in expression of patriotism
and denunciation of what is deemed oppression, picturesquely eloquent when with
euphonious brogue the lover pours his tale into the ear of some blue-eyed
colleen, and pathetic in lament, these peculiarities are graphically brought
before the listener by the genius of the composer. The orchestra last night
gave a highly finished interpretation of the work, and so delighted the
audience that they would fain have had some portion, if not the whole,
repeated. The concert opened with the first two movements of Moskowski's
orchestral suite "From foreign parts" (Russia and Spain) and closed
with the last two (Germany and Hungary), and the performance was in no whit
inferior to those which had preceded it.
Mr. Francis Harford was the vocalist, and he is no stranger to the York concert
stage. He has a baritone voice of good quality, and evidences considerable
culture. His style, however, is slightly marred by a mannerism which leads him
to somewhat jump at the upper notes instead of taking them smoothly and without
apparent effort. He sang the old English song "The Three Ravens,"
with orchestrated accompaniment by Coleridge Taylor. It was given with
considerable expression. His second song was Sterndale Bennett's "'Tis
jolly to Hunt," and in the second part he sang a setting to Longfellow's
poem "Winter," by Mr. Tertius Noble. This was the second time the
song had been heard in York, and so impressed was the audience with its beauty
that it had to be repeated. The music is a majestic treatment of the solemnity
of the words, and displays Mr. Noble's complete mastery of the harmony, and at
once stamps him as a composer worthy to take an honourable position in the
ranks of his profession. In concluding this notice we must pay a tribute also
to his ability as a conductor. True it is that he has under his command a
highly capable corps of musicians who are loyal in their obedience to his beat,
but he has a wonderful facility for drawing out the finest qualities of the
material at his disposal. He has a virility of style which is fruitful of the
best results.
Yorkshire Post , May 4th, 1904.
It was an interesting subject for reflection last night to see the occupants of
the thousand seats in the Exhibition at York, which had been reserved at the
popular price of one penny, devoting an attention, which at times reached great
enthusiasm, to a by no means popular or meretricious programme. The chief item
presented by Mr. T. Tertius Noble's very competent orchestra was Mozart's
"Prague" Symphony. The band has been augmented in numbers since the
last concert, and now totals over 70 performers, while it has been strengthened
in quality, and the performance of the "Prague" Symphony was a highly
artistic piece of work. The symphony is not without its difficulties, but the
robust gracefulness and fluency were admirably sustained, the tonal colouring
and expression being cleverly displayed. The difficult andante movement, with
its great demands on the orchestra, was splendidly rendered, and both the band
and its conductor are to be congratulated on the result.
Next in interest was the rendering of Villiers Stanford's Irish Rhapsody No. 1,
a really vitalising effort, which was warmly acknowledged. Other orchestral
items were Weber's "Der Freischütz," and a Suite "From
Foreign Parts," by Moskowski, with which the concert was opened and closed.
The vocalist was Mr. Francis Harford, who sang an old English air, "The
Three Ravens," orchestrated by Coleridge Taylor, and Sterndale Bennett's
"'tis Jolly to Hunt," in the first half of the programme. His best
effort, however, was in Mr. Noble's setting of Longfellow's little morceau
"Winter," in which both vocal score and orchestration successfully
reproduce the atmospheric colour and tone of the poem. The audience insisted on
an encore, a compliment richly deserved. The concert was an unqualified
success, and the work of the evening will enhance the Society's already high
reputation.
YORK. - The second concert of the season was given by the York Symphony Orchestra on May 3rd, in the Exhibition Building with an orchestra of 75 performers. The chief items in the first part of the programme were Moszkowski's "Scenes from Foreign Parts" (Russia and Spain), and Mozart's "Prague Symphony." The rendering of the last two movements of the latter was creditable to a high degree. The second half of the programme comprised Stanford's "Irish" Rhapsody (No. 1), introducing and elaborating in a most Skilful manner a most charming Irish air - in every way a work of masterly conception - the Overture to the "Freischütz," rendered with considerable éclat, Mr. T. Tertius Noble's song, "Winter," Sung by Mr. Francis Harford, and two more of Moszkowski's "Scenes," Germany and Hungary. "Winter" was composed about 12 year's ago, but orchestrated only quite recently. In the orchestration, which is most dramatic, the composer displays great resource, and a very intimate acquaintance with his instruments. The gong is introduced with telling effect. The song was vociferously encored. The attack and phrasing of the orchestra are excellent, and the general style wonderfully crisp and free. In the trying Mozart Symphony these qualities were displayed to a marked degree. Mr. Noble is heartily to be congratulated on the brilliant success of his amateur band. Over 800 penny seats at the back of the hall were occupied. It seems, indeed, strange that the so-called uneducated classes can enjoy good music of this type and support the efforts of their fellow citizens, whilst a large number of those who might be expected to appreciate such efforts are generally conspicuous by their absence.
J. W.