The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-05-30
The Musical Festival &c.
BesToN, May % 1865.

Houston, GoodDow, and Mr.. HazelMcod tooN
,arts. The singing was excellent, and Oh
course, the Performance of the orchestra was
Isnear perfection as anything earrniy can
we'll be. The Hall was quite full and the IN
crest seems to increase as the res'lssf Ply
crosses. Saturday noon Mr. Lang gave an
eaneert to a very respectable audience.
The exaibitlon was Interesting 80 far as an or
n, eoacayt can be- This organ ID q magpih-
cent instrument, and Mr. Lang knows how 70 I
make IL discourse its best music. i am not so |
much of an admirer of organ or piano forte
music as am oforchestral or vocal. Music
nom such mechanical instruments soon tires
one when played alone. and net accompanied
by the human yoice divine.g Saturday after
noon another orchestral and vocal concert
came off which was we'll attended. Like all
tile other concerts this was highly artistic ahd
interesting.
Saturday evening Mendelssohn's aElijah,"
was performed before very crowded house.
Every ticket was sold, and notwithstanding
the rain storm, every seat was occupied and
many were compelled to listen to this music
standing. This oreterio in magnificent COM
osition. Ine vocal artists were Miss Houston,
Mrs. Cary, Miss Phillips, sister or Asslaide,
Mr.. Farley, Herr Hermanns, Master Coker, as
the Youth, and Mr.. Rudolphsen. Their roles
were rendered In admirable style. This ora
tario is more dramatic than some Of Handles,
and the subject Of it calls for the representa-
ton Of much intense feeling. The choruses are
grand and the music Of an extraordinary char
acter as it must be to represent such dearth
of water and bread for the people as Elijah
prophesied, when "the sucking tongue cleav-
cd for thirst to his mouth, and infant children
asked for bread" Miss Houston, as the Widoso
was quite up to her role and interpretated it,
in fine style. Master Cocker, as the Youth
had but little to do, but be did that admirably.
The people cried, "Open the heavens and send
us relief; help, help. thy servant now, Q Godp'
And Elijah said, SEQ up now, child, and look
toward the sea- Hath my prayer been heard
by the Lord?, Master Coker, as the Youth,
replies in his clear voice and animated man
ner, There is nothing. The heavens are as
brass above mew I'd a
The people in chorus prayed again for help,
and Elijah said to the Youth, $50 up again,
aud still look toward the sea-" The Youth
again replied, '"rnere IS nothing. The earth
Is as iron under mel" e5
\ Nearest thou no sound Of rain p asks Eli
jah. l"Seest thou nothing arise from the
dsep?" The Youth answers, mo; there is
thingp' Elijah then prays. and the Youth
cries, Behold littIe cloud ariseth now from
|. the waters; IL is like mans hand The
heavens are black with clouds and with wind (;
the storm rushes louder and louder l"
The above comprises Master Coker's role in
the oratorio, and most nobly did he sustain it ;
especially did he exhibit: much power of voice
and musical life when he announced to the
good old prophet and the people the ap-
pearauce of the small cloud rising from the
sea, SO well charged with rain. e rf4ga.
The above will give the reader faint idea
of the music of this grand oratorio. There
are some good melodies in it, and excellent
Duets and quartetts, and the Instrumentation
is exceedingly appropriate to the subject. It
| more pleasing oratorio than Handles Israel
in Egypt but not SO interesting nor dramatic
as Rosini's @Moses in Egypt" The latter ora
torio is full Of highly pleasing vocal music,
and the Instrumentation is forid and spark
ling with life.
Handel's " MESSIAH is a very appropriate f.
male to this great Festival. This great work
was performed Sunday evening before an i'm
mense audience. For grandeur and sublimity,
shis oratorio has no equal. The subject called
possessed, and those wen5eal powers Handel
MUS was well suited to the great theme he hac
chosen for his master piece of composition
and his power mounted with the occasion. A
worlds redemption would inspire Handel's ge.
MUS, If any thing could. It did inspire 1t, and
the great author brought forth work which
will always hold high position as long as the
lovesof music remains in the human heart, OF
religion animates the soul 1t was admirably
performed perhaps never so we'll in this coun-
try The orchestra was in fine tune, and the
vocaists we're In excellent voice. .sI know
that my Redeemer Iiveth, !" the gem Of the ora
torio, was rendered magnihcently by Miss Ma
ria Brainard. Mrs. Kempton and Farley and
Rudolphsen, sustained their notes remarkably
well. The whole was great performance. !.
Sunday morning / attended Park Street
Church, DR.. Stones. The church is still heav-
lily draped in mourning for the death OF the
lamented lincoln. hAlarge Bible, the first ev-
or used in this church, is hung up over the
pulpit, being placed in that position when the
church was draped In mourning. DR.. Stone
took for bis text the following passage: "Who-
SO sheddeth mans blood, by man shall his
blood be she'd" The preacher gave power
full and eloquent discourse in favor of capital
punishment He did not say, in 30 many
words, that JEFF. Davis ought to be hung, but
he meant it all the way through his sermon.
DIR. Stone is a forcible speaker, and fills his
great church every Sabbath. He is a great
pet Of his parish, and gives them meat such
as the strong alone can bear. 1 conclude.
{ from this sermon, that he is very bold and out
spoken, and does not hesitate to sspreach poli-
itics, (which kind Of preaching goes against
SO many weak stomachs; but his society are
SO entirely destitute OF copper in the elements
of their composition that they can bear such
doses, and even like them, ct least, so Judge
from the attention they gave this sermon.
In coming from church, l took stroll about
the State House grounds, which command a
fne view of the Common and the compact
city Of notions. Here stands colossal statue
OF Daniel Webster. Everybody would know
wham Il was intended to represent, but con-
Tess the coat, pants and vest In which the stat
ue drsped did not strike me very favorably
especially the pants, which the Boston tai
flors say do not set verywell. They insist up
on Il they did not furnish the pattern They
can't be blamed for that denial But to be se-
rious, Il not critical, I think 1t was great
blunderto dress the Gseat Expoundar's statue
in such garb. True, he used 10 wear clothes
Of such a fashion, only cut with more taste