MUSIC
"Afro-American Symphony "
T last Sunday's concert in the Albert Hall the London Philhar- le Orchestra was conducted by Mr. Rudolph Dunbar, a native British Guiana, who took the opportunity of introducing us to symphony by the American negro composer, William Grant Still. symphony is hardly " symphonic " in the accepted sense of word ; it is, rather, a suite of not very highly organised, though lently contrasted pieces. The quiet movements were of a sweet- - that reminded one of Mendelssohn, whose Violin Concerto s played with impeccable virtuosity by Miss Ida Haendel later in e afternoon, without attaining to the true taste of honey ; the fast ssages were a noisy clatter in the monotonous rhythms of early . I wish it were possible to discover greater merit in this un- phisticated music ; but it is as little sensible to be biassed in our of a composer because he happens to be a negro, as it is to prejudiced against him on the same account. Mr. Dunbar oved himself a thoroughly efficient conductor ; a better acquaint- s with the• vagaries of the Hall will no doubt check his present ndency to take fast movements too quickly for a setting in which
paciousness is the prime requirement. DYNELEY HUSSEY.
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