, 1863-04-13

eorrow. There la strong t"nch Of despair
in the rcclfHti.c chorus, MS each part takes up
its burden OF bitter complaint aione. The
thoFt. broken phrases Of melody are full Of
Jr.:tE dcsnla'lon. Then follows the beautI-
.ul t!ue:, Zion spreadcth her hands for aid"
The hopc!crsnrss Of sorrow seems to strng-
Elc wilh the calm resignation Of faith, aud the
low. m.rmured refrain Of tue people, "Lord,
NOW thine car to out prayer. returns 81 aoi-
tnn intervals with thu sIling effects.
Tic Part of Obadiah Is arranged forS, tenor
voice, and Is mostly expressive of hope and
consolation. Much Ut 1t Is highly devotional,
but the vim 0f snbduel tenderness running
Through it contrasts finely with the greater
Elijab. The double qunrte te Of angels is
happily introduced after the sorrowful scenes
thus far represented, and grcatly relieves the
preceding chorus, which portrays with in.
tcnte yiyidncss the mingled passions and ftars
Of despairlng people. 1t Is musically very
effective. The angel solos are assigned to a
contralto.
The restoration Of the Widows son Is n fine
piece Of musical coloring. The first words Of
The widow arc in tone Of Querulous CON-
p}aint Then, rs II q new thonght had occur
i'd to her, she breaks forth into cry for
earnest. SO thrilling. that the very music
seems to. rush and throb with the trembling
love and agony Of q mothers heart. The
doubtful eagerness with which she greets the
first daTning Of hope, the trcmulous assur-
ance, and the jos. that ovcrlows In glad
sons Of thanksgiving and praise when the
bli.sfnl reality bursts fully upon her, con-
passion expressed in the tones Of Elijah, fine
y illustrate tho power Of music in the por-
trayal Of delicate shades of feeling,
Some Of tue most characteristic music Of
the Oratorio is introduced in the next scene.
The pricsts Of Baal arc assembled to prove the
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Of fire upon the sacrifice. The cnorusses of
'he priests are totally unlike any E1usic We
should dignity MS religious. They arc Wild
and noisy, but without either the strength or
solemnity Of devotion. The strains are those
reyclr5, rather than Of Prayer: Asain' and
repealed with increasing fury, but still IN
vain. Then follow with adinirabIe effect,
the eloquent prayer OF Elijah, and tho
beautiful quartette of angels, IN those soothing
words OF peace and consolation, "Cast thy
burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain
thee'' There is something gfanaly Impress
i've In the simple Invocation here introduced,
and the sudden descent Of the fire upon the
altar The prophet stands alone in the midst
Of his enemies, the sole representative Of
truth. With fearless trust he calls upon God
in q single brief sentence Of prayer. No more
is needed, and thus he is Tindleated 10 the
presence Of the people, who cry out first in
accents Of wonder and surprise, that deepen
gradually into awe and reverence, rs they re-
cognize more fully the power which has
wrough. this mighty miracle before them.
The closing scene Of the 9rst part il the
prophets prayerfor rain. The picture is call
cd up with wonderful viEidness by the music
the feryent prayer Of Elijah, the earnest
eupplication Of the people, and tic faithles5
indifference If the youth who looks out upon
the sea and answers, "Thcrc is nothing. The
heavens are Us brass above me-" No depth,
no fullness, no feeling in those brief words,
but cold hard fact, announced in equally
cold hard tones. Again, and yet more sar-
nestly, are represented the prayer and tho re-
fponse Of the people, and again the high un-
sympathetic voice answers, "There is moth
ing. The earth is as iron under me-" 4
third time with renewed fervor Is the prayer
offered, and "Behold, little cloud ariseth
now FROM the wasers.'' The gradual coming
Of the storm is wildly represented bJ the
orchestra.
The closing chorus is one of tue finest In
the whole work, and is wrought out with
wonderful power. The loud voice Of the
storm is lost In the glad praises Of . great
people. Never before did the sublime poetry
Of those words find such glorious expression.
"Tha1lks be to God! He laveth the thirsty
land! The waters gather; they rush along
they are lifting tAeiT yoiees!
1.-THE stormy billows are high; their fury
is mighty but the Lord is above them, and
A1uliphtYeH