New-York tribune., 1868-06-29
NETWORK, MONDAY, JUNE 90, 1865.

are all against 1t. An attempt has been laue aU i-
provement, this year, by partially lncoslng IL WIN
thick canvas screens; but, in spite of all that mas
been written to the contrary, am bound TO say that
this expedent is failure. The sound Is; certainly,
TO some extent compressed; but it is also woinly
deadened and deprived of resonance. But ihat
is not the chief objection. SuPPosng nan TO
acoustic qualities are concerned, there would
still be a stronger and more 1atal
one, The truth is, that IN spite of Hector Berlioz
and Others who speak upon theory alone, and have
never witnessed the fullest practical experiments,
there is limit to the effect to be produced by num-
bers Granted the most complete eXactitudc on the
part of mass of $500 singers and 500 Orchestra-and
if il be attained by any body of performers
il certainly can be under Mr.. COsta's marvellous
guidance granted perfection if you like-the result
must still be unsatisfactory and false The sound
produced by multitude of persons occupying SO eX-
tensiye space cannot travel simultaneously to any
one listeners ear A very commonplace Mus
tration will prove the truth of this. Watch the
last company of any marching regiment
of soldiers, and you, VIII see that they, keep
by the eye to the movements of those who precede
them. The sound cannot reach them at the same
moment as it reaches the first company AT the
Crystal Palace on Monday last while standing on
that side of the chorus where the tenOTs were placed,
found that the basses always appeared to be behind
time. Standing the bass side the reverse was of
course perceptible. Listening, moreover, from the
center the chorscs Of which the movements were at
all rapid, seemed blurred and confused. / imagine
that to Mr.. Costa himself whose position was natu-
rally the most advantageous in this respect, tho
effect of unanimity was wanting, even when
his army followed his movements with the
greatest precision When this admirable con-
ductor is at the desk, it usually re-
quiTes a very keen ear 10 discover the errors OF
III required still keener ear at times, 10 discover
mat the singers were really right Notwithstanding
thc apparent absence Of strict accord. All things
taKen INTO consideration, can recall performance
OF the Mcssiah, gyen nearly ten years ago, at n
Handel Festival in f5osto~. winch was far more sat
isactOry and noble with one or wv, ~triLiug almost
startling eXceptOns than this of 1868 at the CrystoI
Palace The number of performers was. on that oc-
casion, If | remember rightly, about one-iiith the
number here employed.
But admitting all artistic objections TO entertain
ments of this character, should be very so1Y, for
the present at least 10 see them discouraged. III
must give rise TO a great deal of new thought upOn
grand subject when twenty thousand people are IRE
slstibly led 10 listen TO a series of compositions,
familiarity with which Is a benefit 10 any community,
or any nation And nope N VIII DC long before the
Sacred Harmonic Society viii abandon the course
they bave so energeticay pursued for the last ten
years For there Is, am persuaded. ample reason to
doubt that the enthusiasm with which Handcls
works are spoken of IN this country Is based upon
any accurate knowledge IrlcIi real worth. Up 10
this time, II is the name ol the mastert n". KS
writings, upon which the public chiefly fix
their faith. l am led TO this conviction by the
indscrlmnatc nature OF the applause which,
as have had opportunity OF observing lor many
years always follows the performance OF any OF his
compositions ] suppose IL may be SAID, mildly, ana
not too prolanely that even Handel did not VINE rs
wcllat some times as he dd ~ Others Bul no Ehgsh
audiences appear TO entertain n suspicion OF this
fact Handel 10 them is always Handel and always
to be erucorcd if possible To he sure there are GER
tain thOruses. like the "Halclulah,' ana FOr unto
ms a child is born and certain airs like 81 know
that my Rcdcemcr liyeth' which they have been SO
long trained tO recognize MS superior to others that
miratiOn. But | have not yet discovered that
their judgment is 10 be particularly trusted IN more
general way. | do not indeed, think that 1t would
be fair To expect So much; but the English public
pcrpctually reminding You that their preense IL
little above their uud rsaudlng on tins point, by as
s,rting their nrrfect a.l intimate comprehension of
.tr,lsV a
profuudty has never been surpassed. IL Is indeed,
a most amiablc weakness Of theirs and nothing can
be more agreeable than 10 witness the gradual prac-
teal realization of 80 oambltlous IA conviction wish
there more Of the same splIlt exhibited az
home; but excepting IN one city, which ~ matters
OF musical at Is rs far IN advance OF the rest OF
America ms New York is in advance of II in wealth
and commercial power. little disposition has yet been
Shown 10 inspire an honorable sentiment in this di-
rccton. cHiy trust that when the time does come
for MS TO make our start we shall not conlnc our
selves rigdy 10 the glory Of one object alone, but
may distribute our devotion win more generous
equality among the lyuc heroes of the ages.
lOu would hardly care 10 hear Il close, critical re-
port of the entire performance OF the Messiah on
Monday. Two or three details however, may not be
uuwclcomc. The solos might almost be dismissed
without a word With the exception of one sung by
Madame Rudcndorl-"l How beautiful are the feet of
them they were all Ineffective; and II was Won
der that even her powerful voice could penc rate
that vast, unsynpalhcllc space. Madame lltlenS
was uuspariug IN her efforts, as was also Madame
Sluton- Dolby, but TO say that they were barrel v
diblc is To finish the subject as far rs they
cened Mr. Sims Reeves was IN his confidential
mood, and brcathed his syllabcs soft and low into
Mr.. COsta's private ear When Mr.. Reeves Is
not in his state of mysterious secrecy. he prove
himself of the finest tcnOrs living; and
in music of this class It IS not too much TO say that
he is the very finest. Once and once only, aB II to
show that he could do IL If he chose. he rang forth
splendid note at the end of the air Thou shalt break
thcmp Ii is great pity for the English public that
il has no tenor who can approach Mr.. Reeves. lie
is 30 utterly beyond rivalry that he feels quite safe,
no matter how he may abuse his power. Mr. SAINT,
ley who is thousand times more conscientious, and
is not particle less perfect as an artist, was most
unfortunately placed. Tho beautiful and tender
quality of his voice was wholly lost and although he
spared no oXertion, he could not meet the full
the inevitable defects Of the choruses, |
have before spoken. Whenever the movement was
at all rapid, the sound blurred and ndcciSive
To the audience; There were, nevertheless, one or
two effects the like of which could never before have
been heard at any lace in any time. One of these
was the thrilling Outburst upon the words, Won
deriul Counselor. the Mighty God" in the chorus,
For unto us II Child is born.' And the 'llaclujah'
chorus, from beginning to end, was given with
power stupendOus and majestic that any effort OF
mine TO justly describe 1t would be worse than vain.
| should say that the time of the " llalleluIaT was
taken considerably slower than is common III
the United States and this slownesS relieved IL in
great degree from the dangers To which the other
| choruses subject. need not add that II was
somewhat injured, as II always IL, by the tumutuOus
rising of the entire assembage ! wish that some
conductor would appear with sufficient spirit to
print upon his programmes, The audience Is re-
anested not To stand during the performance of the
| HaHelujah Chorus" If the habit is persisted in
because a ricketty monarch set the fashion hundred
years ago, it is SIMPLY ridiculous. II 1t s continued
ont of respect TO the music. the public
should be instructed that the respect would
be better shown by sitting in silence than by jump
ing TO their feet, aud, with their uneasy movements,
sending forth from time to time a small tornado of
rustlng silk and ereakng leather. At the first per-
formance given of the " Messiah in Dublin,
l742-adies were requested TO come without hoops
and gentlemen To come without swords. At the
present day, if they must stand up and wrigge nc
Tho nomcnt when they shOuld be most uOiscleSS.