New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-21
ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
oRATORrO OF THE CREATION.

The OIs.orio is universally and enormously said 10
he the Foundation CT the modern drama and opera. Il
was. We are informed, originated by the Churcs
see Ies taken from the Sculptures, being presented
thea.ricsly. Adam and Eve, the Old Serpent; Daniel
ard hi. friends, the lions and all the most striking
scenes Of the Bible up to the Cruchxon Included were
used TO convey religious instruction TO the rude pso-
pes But this did not engerder the drama and opera
Of modern days. simply because the hester never died
out Il existed before and daring the middle ages II:
vas sustained n some crude vagsbcpd form BY the
troubadours and uius.rel', and the Church simply
took thejr thunder" o. thi. there is ample proof
Tie modern Oraoro is bastard of the old Oratono.
The dramatic interes. Is utterly destroyed. 1t
has ceesed to convey sny religious instruction
through the splendid viyidness Of drsmaic cha
racterizaticn. II claims, however to have
9rarai, persone, while drGmatis persona there are
none. The Elijshs, ard Paas, and Peters Of o,a,o-
nos nov are simply poor farce. Tas Prophets and
Apostles are gentlemen citizens dresses, With music
books in IL cir hands. Angels end Prophetesses ere
dore by yorpg ladies' in white crnolnes, bus sssnes
likewise with music books. Adam even, the prime
val hero figures in q black coat and Trousers snd
white crayst ard Eve in russet toned silks. Adam
with music book in his hand sings bis loves to Eve
under such circumstances reminds Us OF two owls
IL an ivy bush. The constitution Of the modern ora
,orio is simply Illogical. When the people grew too
big for the raw objsctivity of the original dramatic
orncro, then the atemp. to keep up the who' action
Of p.triarchs, angels, saints ard devils in drawing.
room costume, was The result of irsris,ic perception
,birc is or i. is not the oratorio is pow dead and
this eayaDzstion Of it is preposterous The proper
node Of writing religious composition OF Two nouns
or more long, to take religious subject OF varied
temper and TINS, srd compose indVidua ana c'o'a,
pieces ,hereupon This msy be suug effectively ard
ersndly a, concert without the fa'cs OF pretenAou'
chsrscerzst or in the face Of yeTsmh.ade and COM
mon seIse.
TIE mu.ic Of HaJdns Creation IL so pure alu
beautiful that il seems sp:y it s mixed up VILE 'ns
dead AID 6er srted Or storio Of the middle ages 7n
The plastic arts and tte drama taught oooF' ano oa'
bsri.ps religious ideas. Haydn was oesuturui Hsio
dist, AID in TIA. he was more than century ps!oua
he clum y income rentisl msodc PHRASES OF haha'
Hs mu.e sweat, gsrtle, noble. Inc !oVsuIs'' u CD
awakening creation was a d. ertJsc' Io' MS 'enP~
The sweet ss'i.faotoEs of PaTedise were 7JnDohI7
in the sseehsrine huenoy OF hs pnrases' inefe aS'
been 80 much said in favor Of Hsydn . CreG0a lna'
10 repes. spy mere of sudstion 10 IKE Prsisns inc
rail- bow. Haydn did well TO compose hui, aPsf'
from the hes,er. His gsriua seemed capable Of every
thing except when be undertook the uips-cohcenia-
tons reouIed to construct scene for the opera and
lien be failed.
On the performance Of Satur isy night ,t'ons Word'
cf,eoune1d.tion msy be Borrowed. The orchestra
WA composed Of the best musicians IN the city led oy
Mr. Ap.chu,z. The horal department was the entire
Harmonic Society. choice youg voices, some 300 10
rumber. carefully disciplined BY Mr. Bristow The
ssdipe psr, were sung by the ro'sbies OFT opera
.rdccpe.rt room: Msdsue Is Grsrge, Miss Mlaer,
Mr.. Cul Fo,ue. ard M. Psnirg. Very rarely does
,ucb BODY of artists appear to sing in Esglsh. MI
Formes hsd not quite recovered rom hs ihu'pos ''o
n, p,,,irp !, Y. usb;s ADDITION " or Ensisa coz