New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-11-15
HAYDNS SEASONS BY THE HARMONIC
SOCIETY.

The existence in this city of choral music, such as
has required the genius Of the great masters to pro-
duce may be said to spring from, and endure with.
that of the Harmonic Society. This body composed
of some three hundred members, without parade pay.
or the national appreciation which is their due, com
posed too of Americans, who have learned all they
know in this country, enabled by assiduous prsc
tice to render the most elaborate works with decoa
and truth satisfactory to the cxigent connoisscar.
Last pight according to notice, they gave, at the
Church of the Divine Unity, Broadway, Hsydas
Cantats of The SEASONS. This composition is in
parts too old fashioned in ideas aud Instrumentation
and too didactic in the sentiment to meet the musical
wants Of the age; but these bleaishes on u
splendors. When the subject of the poet rises. the
mu stefan rises with him, and ii contains great and
immortal thoughts. The subject may be understood
by imagining musical drama without the aid Of tbs
stsge where however, the narrative form otop takes
the place of the dramatic. The introduction 10 the
words of the Cantsta contains this explanation:
"In order to connect the various paris Of the Poem
for the purpose OF forming continuous story or plot
il was deemed advisable 10 dramafise in measure,
Tbomsons purely descriptive language To accom-
plish this end, characters have been introduced, who
made to say simply what the author says to the
reader; they are pastoral characters, farmers, VII
resentatives of what the poet has described Tho
adapter OF the poem 10 the present pupo has been
compelled to make considerable alterations in tho
measure, and TO effect certain transpostoas; but he
has not presumed to add, Save when compelled by
the action of the storyD that indeed to gid
refined gold, TO paint the lily and throw perfume %
the violet. The poem, as 1t U.s. Is a lovely aud IN
equsled landscape the adspter has only added life TO
the scene"
The characters and voices of the quasi-drsma are
f. L.. Ia
daughter treble Mrs. Stewart Lucas, ayoung coun
tyman, tenor, (Mr. Johnson; and chorus Of court
people, hunters, &c. There are four divisions or
Parts to the work expressive OF the four Seasons ssd
the emotional feelings excited by the characteristics
of each season rendered by the composer togeh-
en- with certain allowable limitations which, 10
musc-not plastic art-are admissible In regard
to the sole parts, it may be remarked that they wsr
performed so wen throughout in manner thst~
cured several encores-the best compliment vocal
list could ask. Mr.. Camoens rendered the bass par
with much effect Mr. Johnson sang dramatically,
ard might well be on the stage again; he has mach
facility in upper notes. Mrs. Stewart rendered ha
part with grace, delcacy and feeling; Miss Con
stock, without yet making claims TO be solo singer
and taking at few hours notice the part OF Mo
Brainard, acquitted herself honorebly. The yoics
, are all frosh-they belong TO young people. Nevs
have choruses been rendered by any society in this C
with the spomb, and eyincing under the direo
ton of Mr. Bristow, aborious study. The love dis
in Part Ill may be particularly characterized for n
effect it produced. The hunting chorus was splenda
and encored, doubly delighted the audience. Ihs
work has been literally plundered by every writer
hunting music since. The finale TO the whole Is 90
of the finest things Of the great mans pen. hbnS
gious and sublime in lie character.
This canteta is much more popular in its ertun.
than an oratorio can be. II seems II may DO enphst
ically remarked crushing process to the enthus"
tic labors Of some three hundred American amseun
and professors, to have them 90 through the dridge
OF practice to the extent Of producing the effect they
did last night, and all tor single time. Thh being
the state Of the Gaze, the musical public may pleas
remeu Der that this cantata will be given for the see
ond time in the Church cf the Divine Unity, Brost
way on the evening of Thanksgiving Day, the an
Of this month, and il there be any desire to encog
age native talent, let the public attend. Atiend v
the Harmonic Society, and it viii ripen into an sen
envy Of music, and supply national opera Bal
must be encouraged. We cannot live by inPSS
tons IN Art; we must produce ourselves in al 10
quhemen,s. Encouragement in Italy built up iiass.
music 80 Of German and the experiment ma!
tried here.