Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1859-01-30
The omcial Journal of the City.
TIE oRArORIO OF THE CREATION


THE oRATORIOO OF THE CREATION.
As the performance Of IN oratorio is an IN
usual thing in Memphis, and as the oratsriooi
the Creation viii be given tomorrow, at Odd
Bellows Han, BY the Cooper Troupe, assist
ed BY amateurs, we propose to furnish a
few words Of explanation upons subject that Is
not without considerable interest An Ora
torio, in italian music, is a sacred drama Of d.
sloguss. nis dramatic, inasmuch as persons
are introduced who are the interloeutors eN-
pressing the sentiments or n~srrating the occur
neness, with which The piece is concerned y
is sacred, inasmuch as besides its narrative o.
sacred event, it contains devotional pieces Oh
prayer and praise. Many Of our PoPuiai
hymns partake Of the dramatic character OF me
Oratorio he twentv-fomth psalm may be
mentioned as a fne instance Of a devotional
poem Of this species. On reading Il, We IND
where one voice. or set Of voices, asks a ques-
ton, and another replies, while he chorus ~
turn adds some striking declaratory strains
those who are acquainted with the manner Of
singing in the ancient temple, willreadily under
stand this Who is the King Of Glory p de-
mands one portion Of the choir. The Lesp,
strong and mighty, the LoKp mighty In hat.ls
replies another. The chorus, in majestic alslc
thsnproelaims "Liftu up your heads, oyegalss
even lift them up, ye everlasting doeEs aRa
the King Of Glory shah come in" Who 5
the King Of Glory p is again demanded and
the response Is sung Tie Loan Of hoss
be is the King Of Glory The Oratorio bons
thus stdely devotional IS frequently performed
in churches, both snong the Protestant and
Catholic denominations Two OratoriQs have
gained especial fame: the Messiah Of Han
DEL, and the Crsahon, Of HAYBS, whichs tobs
performed Tomorrow.
HAYES was born IL Austria, IN 1872 HIS
fathsT was a poor w~heslwright. who added %
his ltds means BY performing the duties q a
parish sexton. HIS father and mo.her had
both a taste for music, and be, when a little
child, showed q capacity for the art His me
voice attracted attention, and be was placed
IN the village choir. Music became his pas
SION poor and fusndlsss, be studied IN a
wrstchsd Earrst, being often in want Of the
common necssssues Of life. But the FIRE Of
his genius was uRquenchsble be fought diff
culhes and conquered them, until princes ex-
tended their f~avors, and invited Inn to their
courts He took the idea Of composing the
"Crezdon- fromhearing HANDEL's Messiah
He was sixty-three ysars Of age when be con-
msHcedit, sndwas constantly employed uponit
for mere than two years. He said " / spend a
long time upon it, because / intend 1t 10 last a
lo8g time
Al analysis Of the Creation" that lies
before Us, states that II is divided into three
parts.
"Ths frs part opens with an instrumental
symphony descriptive Of the primeval eonfu-
SION Of the elements, when the earth was
without form, and void, and darkness was up
on the face Of the deep. Angels are then IL
trodrcsd, describing the creation Of light, and
tie terror Of the evl spirits, who fy from the
holy beams into the regions Of endless night:
tie creation Of the ornament, and Of the thun-
der and lightning, rain, hal and snow the
gathering together Of the waters, and the ap-
p~earsBce Of the DIV land. clothed with trees
and plants; and lastly, the appearance Of the
celestial lumInaries. The second part con
-slns he creation Of animated nature. terni-
mating with man and the third part represents
the felicity Of our first parents in Paradise.
10 he first and second parts, the persons Of
the drama are three angels, who sing alter
1ately the wonder Of creation. while their
songs are combined with ehoruses Of the
heavenly hosts praising the Almighty. In the
par, the persons are ADAM and Eve. who
ningle their expressions Of love and JOY with
rwUwH - thar T-r-A-- - Ill a. 49,
with the celestial choir.
The first part embraces those phensmena
Of nature which are not only the grandest ID
themselves, but the most suitable TO musical
iescrpton-he sudden burst Of neW-crested
light, the roaring If the sea, the rolling Of the
the splendor Of the rising sun, and the
noon gliding through the heavens and she'd
ling her silver beams over the face Of the 81
ent earth. Of all these objects, HATDs has
produced, through the medium Of the ear, pic
lures Of inimitable majesty, beauty and truth
and It seems to b. a consequence Of the great
ness Of The subjects Of these representations,
be has terminated them BY a chorus, which
IS not emily the most sublime in the work, but is
unrivaled, except BY the 'Haleluiah'
IF HAEDEL.
The second part commences with a beButi-
FOL air for a soprano voice, descriptive Of the
-reation Of the birds. The eagle, the lark, the
.utle-dove and the nightingale, are taken as
he types Of the feathered tribes, and the strain
# the melody, alternately bold, lively and ten
is finely adapted to their different charac-
ers while il il blended with charming instru-
mental passages initiative Of the rapid flight Of
be eagle, the lively notes Of the lark, the COO
ng Of the dove, and the sweet but cheerful song
Il the nightingale.
In the third part, the DUETS between ADAM
md Eve are full Of tenderness and passion.
can Be finer than the conception Of
he prisons Of the happy pair ascending to
and being Joined BY the choral hymns Of
he angels"
At the performance tomorrow afternoon,
be public Of Memphis VIII have an opportu-
lity Of judging for themselves the merits Of
his great work