Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-07-19
THE EVENING STAR.
GERMAN MUSICAL FESTIVAL IN NEW
YORK.

From the New York Tribune.l
The FESTIVAL has commenced. some 1900
''hes, The first concert was given at
sing - OF Music on Sunday evening.
dis - post nnptepiiious, the rain
fne weather WI. &c present on the occa-
coming down very L., ct half flied, the
for the very slim audieh ", Lne famAly
zion. The parquet was L. "a, and the
escond tier was literally emp. It il to
cirsle and gallery were partially fin ed
balcony alone was tolerably crowded.
he regretted that any thing should have occur.
10 th9og a damp upon the opening OF this great
musical gathering. The importance OF uis
festival, in a musical point OF view, cahno. Ds
onr citizens to the fact music is great element
IN aid of civilization, and that, at least among
one portion Of our population IT Is cnluVateo
generally as social en1eymvns' % effects
when the habitual conduct OF our "eii
low. citizens is duly consloeTeo. .,r, oro
Their social meetings every w. ercesses
married. nv musical exercises, anu eAeoseSs
rarely if ever occur. Music is peace. I'll, friend
Iy and genial in its influence, and the more us
cultivation is extended the more aacelua a,o
harmonious will be the amenities OF soclat III.
tercourse This Festival will also snow tn.,e
the practice of music is not incompetence WIN
business habits. Here are three thousano ousi-
ness men. and all hard workers, who Work
none the worse for being able to sing, but who,
when their labor is over, have solace and an
amusement which no change Of fortune can
rob them o. LIS 10 " poilis wen WV ~ "
The programme of the first grand concert
was as follows:
/. Les Preludes, (by the Orchestra FIR. List
q Psalm, ffor Chorus and OTches-
ira, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. ........C. KLEIN
3 Grand Chorus from the Opera s.
'.Der Templer and die Juedin,
f,'The United Singers" .......... Marchner
Z. Walpurgisnacht, flor full
Chorus and Orchestral Mennelss sld
Stems and frost,
The orchestra, which was directed.by Carl
Bergmann, performed LisZt's Preludes IN
manner worthy of all praise.
1t is pity that so much excellence IN eXecu-
ton was wasted upon work which is. men,
orable only as a masterly piece OF orchestra
ton.
The chorus, which numbered perhaps 600 or
eco, were behind the band, and filled the stage
up to the back wall. The greater portion of
the back of the heads of those who stood be-
fore them. Undoubtedly two-thlrds OF the
power was lost by this means. The impress
sion of all who heard the first chorus was that
of disappointment at the absence of the ex-
pected grandeur and sorority which so
large body of singers were expected to pro-
duce.
The Walpurgisnacht, by Mendelssohn, was
the crowning excellence of the performance.
The performance was loudly applauded
throughout, and most enthusiastically at the
close. 1t must be considered, both as to selec-
ton and execution. a decided success.
The second concert took place at the Acade-
my OF MUSIC aSIeSenlng, an winch OCCASION
1900 singers and performers were announced
But the multiplication of voices does not
bring corresponding increase of out-spoken
power. The sound emitted by 1900 voices,
although it is more massive is scarcely louder
than that TO be obtained from 500 voices Be-
sides, male voices are not penetrating in their
quality; one half the number of mixed voices,
male and female. would produce double the
tone As the concert proceeded, however, the
real power Of that mass Of voices was appre.
ciated, and the grandeur of the massive swell
harmony felt The yoooS
well trained, and are OF good quality; the gen.
eral information is good, and the promptitpde in
execution remarkably excellent. The light
served, and the crescendos were most effectively
executed.
The Psalm by Klein, and the grand chorus
from Marschur's Der Templer,' were admit
rably snng, and were received with loud and
most cordial aIrlanSe