New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-12

manifested in the execution Of al the choruses the
voices were bright and telling. every point was taken
up promptly and the ensemble Of the excellent voices
was both rich and effective. Formerly some over am
bilious chorsters srove to derive prominence at the
expense Of harmony by shouting out their parts mostly
out Of tune. as though they were solos, but on this
occasion all toned down to well-balanced pr.
formance. The accompanist. too stuck more to his
text and saving tendency to drag the tune conducted
very well.
Miss Sims as usual was excellent in all she under
took. She has charming voice, sings in good STYLE
and altogether gives good promise for the future Miss
Smith somewhat disappointed the expectations Of her
friends but on the repetition of Gratias Agnus which,
bythe.by, was taken one-hslftoo SLOW she exhibited
greater degree Of power and fairly won the very warm
ernl,use she received Miss Mayer. excellent
,r,lto pleased yeIy much in Lift thine eyes" and
Heaven and earth display Her style and method
are uncommony good, and she sings expressively.
OF the male scloists oue we trust for his own sake
and for the sake Of the Society will retire into private
life and the other Mr. Lewis did himself but httle
credit He has fallen into the error OF forcing ana
pumping ont his notes. and has consequently re'ro'
graded from his promise of last season.
CONCERT OF THE HARMONIC SOCIETY.
An OVERLOOKING audience attended the per-
formauce of Hsndes Oraorio Of Samson. by the New
York Harmonic Society The attempt to perform sucn
work with about hundred in the chorus, small or
chestra and a piano. is Quixotic in the hisnes' de.
gree and is Notifying comment upon the 'as'e anu
love in York in the line of sacred music.
The characters of the Oratorio were sustained by
Miss Brainerd. Nine Ritter Mr.. George Simpson ana
Mr.. j. r. Thomas; Pianist, Mr.. 4. D. Commonly; 'oh
ductor Mr.. +. l.. Ritter.
The chorus was i'll balanced and rarely blended ana
tbe;r e,ecnton of the cboruses with slight exception
at tie very close was very coarse, irresoiute ano
scramby. The points were not promptly or clearl,
taken I'D. and the answers were terribly confused
Considered en- masse, without going into particulars
for which disagreeable task we nave no heai' ""'
performance creditable to none
We entertained serious doubts before hearing tho
performance whether the Harmonic Society could make
even toerabe show in the execution Of such WORK.
Those apprehensons were grounded upon the manfoid
defects in their execution Of HGDdes Messiah, oD-
SERVED year after year and the conclusion was IRE
sstible that if work familiar all and practced Tor
years received such marrng treatment from their
chorsters the result Of their attempt upon Samson
could not be otherwise than disastrous And so 1t
proved. Attempts have been made by iDjndicious
friends bolster up this performance and puff up as
success This is all wrong. for music can never be
us ~ honored art it, through cqueism and paiti-
sanship positive failure be recognized as real sue
cess.
! This last performance proves more than tie TWO
previous performances, that Mr.. Ritter is not cacu-
lated. physically mentally to WELD the baton lie
has neither the GOODNESS the rmness requisite for
conductor Both chorus and orchestra lead him. or
leave him ahead and he has neither the nerve nor the
manner to old them in hand, so that his position on
the orchestra is that of superfiuity rather than
necessity and could have been dispensed with to the
advantage of the performance When the Harmonic
Society shall put themselves under the close training Oh
conductor who thoroughly understands his business
and come before the public in proper shape. well
informed Of their duty and fully prepared to challenge
fair criticism they will undoubtedly obtain that reeog
milton as worthy interpreters Of grand oratoro music
to which their recent performances give them no claim
We shall not partcularze the merits of the solo per-
formers We have heard them aequt themselves to
better advantage; but. they suffered much from
very bad accompaniment We refrain from individual
i criticism.