, 1863-04-14
lMcndeIAs0hn9s EiIiuIs-Nn. z

|
the second part Of the Oratorio are: Jezebe1'
attempt to destroy the life Of Elijah; God re
Tealing himself in the mountains; and tn
tnal ascension Of the prophet. The music il
to much greater extent, expressive Of tn
gentler emotions, than that Of the tirst part
although varied by some of the most stirrin.
choruses in the entire work,
The second part opens with the celebrates
aria, "Hcar sc, Israel.'t The transition from
the preceding chorus, in which cul nit,ates tl,,
dramatic interest Of the first part, is remark
ably line. The character Of the music is en-
tl'cly changed without any diuiuution o
strength or dignity. The subject rises iron
the glad praises Of a great people, to the com
tortirg promises Of God, and there is some
thing singularly impressive in the majesty
with WHICH single voice gives utterance t.
these sublime words. The same erand and
lofty tone is continued in the following cho.
rus, which adds depth and strength to ihc In.
epiied sentiments already EXPRESSED.
atfer the powerful rccitativc, in which Ell.
Jah fearicsely denounces the sins Of Ahab. the
Queen is introduced, who artfuIy works upon
The passions Of tic people to compass his do.
struction. The gradual unfolding Of the dc.
sign OF Jczcbel is represented with great yiy.
I'm nnness; Her rage gathers new strength as
cue enumeratts one BY one the prophets Of
fences. carrying with her tlle sympathjcs Of
The multitude by the very violence Of her dc.
nunciations, until their gathered hate and re-
veage burst forth with uncomfortable fur7 in
the ehorns, "Woe to him, lie shall perish"
The music that follows is Of solemn, tender,
al 1ehglous nature, The prophet is warned
sentleness atd love, that his life is in dan~eT' ~
ano, leaving lbs blessing with the good old
man, be goes into the wilderness, Hitherto.
E!gah mas been representative Of power. III
~ tie exciting scenes Of his life Lie has been
.te VISIBLE master.spirit, swaying multitudcs
a. ms Will by the divine streng eth of faith,
And now, The great design Of lie work Is
admirably carried out by the portrayal Of his
utter helplessuess in the hands Of God. Hu-
man 1nsignifcanee could hardly have found A
peter illustration. This man, exercising l,v
o1Vlne Permission, powers so far aboye tile
r. Mash a Of ordinary morta1s,. is as feather in
me wind, very nothing in the presence of
the Infinite. Driven to seek safety in solitude
rom unmerited persecution, be lies down in
eorIow and pra5s for death. III desire to live
bnt raility.n ' 0A' "ts
.,7[ There is M touching and suggestive be.ntyin
solitary man sleeps nnlcr Juniper tree in tEn
"llderness- The passions and circum stances
oi III 1ade IN the distance. and only ,nvris
%aleh over his lonely retreat. Here is intro
aueea 9ne OF the most exquikitcly hea,.1ifuI
coneeptlons ~ the whole work. It is the an.
most most thrilling and impressive uttera1cc to
those soothing words Lift thine eyes to tic
mountains, whence cometh help, As If tn
p1olong this scene Of marvellous beauty. the
same idea Is taken up in slightly different
1otn, md repeated in n chorus which il uu-
surpassed In delscacy, and that peculiar depth
and sweetness Of n1odulation So characters.
tic of Mcndelssohn. 1t is verify song Of the
angels. - Wv
:, After this, Elijah is commanded to 20 into
the mountains. His reply is still in Il fonc nf
weary sadness. Alter a1luding to the sins aud
lhgIa itndc Of the people, and his own una.
.:amlnE laoqfs It closes with the earnest prayer,
~ that | now might de- But the anEel
speaks comfort In tl,oce beautiful words
whicl, have given consolation to the weary so
nsany times since, 20 rest in the Lord: wait
patiently for Him" The same soothing strain
II promise Is continued in the solemn and de.
yotiona1 music Of. tho next chorus. Il He that
sha'l : T; endure to the end shall be saved" Then
follows the eorrowful p1uint, @Nirht fllfeth
round me, :. and the prophet is commanded
to stand yelled on the mount, and await The
coming OF the Lord. @A~
The next chorus is one Of great power and
dramatic effect. The subdued character Of
the preceding music Is 1nastcrIy strokr n
artistic SKILL Us it brings out in the stroncest
coloring the sublimely Impressive scene Rers
The tempest passes by, aud th,.
the wond1ous music. Then comes the low.
rcrerential response, But yet the Lord was
net in the tempestn Again the fouudstions
Of the Garth arc shaken, and with vet more |
thrilling intensity the scene of wild and aw- |
tul grandeur Is presented to the imagination, |
ANA again, like far of murmured chant,
comes the solemn response, but yet tho |
Lord WIS rnf in the a1rt {0uaEnH ~
And after the earthquake there came 4 |
Ere. Here the music reaches grand climax. |
Ind the whole furce Of the orchestra and cho- |
rus r = brought out with terrific power" But |
sel the Loid was not in the 1re.''
and after the fire there came still small
voice.; This rises from the so1cmnity of the
10y, l1W ehant Ike vision OF celestial beauty. |
&c resources OF musical art seem to be ex-
nausteo IN the transparent depth and match
ets T, sweetness ems Of the inspired strains.
w.. sung oy aquartette and chorus Of angels.
Never before did they seem clothed with Such
angular purity and power. Bnt fanrnars
lltoEether fails in giving any adequate iiea of
~ enecI tnat comes entirely within the moro
spiritual province Of music.
1he dramatic Interest of the work ter,,n,
tts in tho ascension Of Elijah, which Is renre,
entcd By Il chorus OF great majesty ~ t
ireDgth. The remaining music Of the Oratorio
s Of . triumphant, religious character. fore.
hadoWlnE the ui"lnc mission OF One who
hould come afterwards, aud bring greater
lcliycrance to Zion. The last chorus is
dnirnbly prepared by the beautiful quartette
It. The sweet words Of promise,
o! come every one that thirstcth, D! come
0 the waters,' find q joyous fnlfllmcnt in
be heavenly glories predgurcd in the closing
lords. This Ia the only chorus in the entire
Fork which Is written in the form Of strict |
cEre. and is a very powerful and effective
male.