New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-01-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

ELIJAH An Oxlrozic. Words from the Old T,s.sus ~
aasis rtLn MskosLssoas BAsrso-pN. Bee
In the full vigor Of manhood in the very
rpeness Of extraordinary genius cultivated TO is
highest development by the skilfsll nssracso-s
usr with learning and art both ancient and modern
in all their forms graduate Of the best Univers1es
and the beloved associate of the highest intellectual
and social circles FELIX MENpErssoHN composed d.
Grafton of Elijah" Having every advantage wh;,k
learning wealth and the most fascinating personal
qualities could afford, the grandson OF the Phlo-
losopher Mendessohn the fsyorte, from childhood IA
the artistic and literary saloons of Berlin every path VIZ
open to future eunence 70 him He devoted himself -
music attained the reputation Of the rs, OF living
composers.
His compositions in all forms Of the art were ranked
with those of the greatest masters The works of his
boyhood were recognized as classics His overture TO
the " Midsummer Nights Dream" stood with thoseot
Mozart Haydn and Beethoven in the estimation OF the
four great orchestras Of the world his Paul. had
been performed throughout Germany and England
with a success beyond that of any similar production
since the Creation" of Haydn.
What he had accomplished as q composer for the
stage the chamber the orchestra, the piano forte de-
handed the highest excellence in that which he wac al.
erward to produce and rendered the choice and treat
ment of subject matter of extraordinary diff
Guilty The orstorio of Elijah the result-the
greatest the most beautiful the most powerful sacred
vocal work OF the present century. Whether we look
the freshness and vigor of the the
novelty OF form. the wondrous skill with which the
orchestra is made to paint every scene the exquisite
treatment of the vocal parts, the perfect rounding OF
the whole of each part to the grand clmaxss OF the
fnales the same unmistsksble marks of the hand OF
the great master, the same sfliuent genius are ex
hbited.
The dramatic force Of the music throughout the
tire work is astonishing we know of no musical
painting which surpasses the picture OF The effects OF the
famine in the time of Ahsb the approach aud full
power ofthe storm which closes the Irt part Indeed
the entire scene between the Prophets OF Bsa and
Elijah the rival sacrifices and the change Of feeling on
the part of the people as exhibited in tie ehoruse a
master piece of musical genius The events upon
which the first part of the Oratoro founded are
those recorded In the 18th and 18th chapters of Frst
Book OF Kings.
The second part contains the persecution OF Elijah
by Jezebe his escape into the wilderness b despair
he lie strengthened by angels stands upon the mount OF
God and Behold God the Lord passed by and
mighty wind rent the mountains around, broke In
pieces the rocks &c" We could never hear the
mighty rush Of the Instrumentation In this passage
without shivering At times excitement has been
really painful We know nothing In any vocal compo
stion equal TO IT, But how TO let the auditor down from
this elevation Of feelings passage OF long drawn
notes. pianissmo, accompanied with harmony all the
more delicious after the mighty passages preceding
announces, "And In that still voice onward came the
Lord"
The delicious tones of an alto voice exclaim in reel
tatiye, SAbove him stood the seraPhirn, and one
cried to another" followed Immediately by quartette,
two sopranos and two altos. panissimo Holy, holy,
holy, Is God the Lord" which Is repeated with full
powers of chorus and orchestra. The concluding
chorus that test OF composers powers-the stumo'
ling stone of Rossni In ssbat Msteris for grandeur
of design and noble breadth of execution, tit crown
to the work
Like all works of art, worthy the name, Elijah re-
qures study be appreciated 80 docs master piece
of painting or sculpture. We have said thus much Of
this great oratorio In the hopo of calling the attention
of Musical Societies to it, Though written for full
orchestra and needing the various instruments to
bring out all its beauties it is nevertheless work
which any society perform with good effect with
the aid Of the piano-torte and organ
The efforts of our ss~red music societies have hth
erto been hindered by the difficulty Of obtaining good
music Elijah now Is purchaseablc in form and at
a price within the means OF every one. The Edition
before most beautifully printed on good paper In
clear and legble type and of size convenient for the
singer. We hope that the success Of this publication
will be such to induce the publication of other stand
ard works in similar STYLE The title page should have
had date.
" SCHUMASSs ALBUM FOR THE Piano
FORTE" Nos l and q One of the most promising
composers Of the present day Is Robert Schumann,
LEIPZIG. The work before Is set Of pieces for
young players, very simple, some of greater diff
6culty, with few pieces intended only for studies
The fact that schumanns wife and her sisterCera and
Mary wieck-sre two Of the most famous pisnsts In
Europe is sufficient guarantee that the work must be
one OF the highest excellence, did we not know ths
rank which the author himself holds in the musical
world These little pieces for children what the
exquisite Songs without Words are for more adj
vsnced panists. published by Geo. P. Reed)
Reply 10 KOssuth,s &" Secretary