The Portland daily press., 1869-03-20

1t has been well said that there are always
strings which pull the mind Alright if the hand
that moves them knows its own cunning We
are rejoiced to know that this grand Oratorio
is one-and an important one-of those strings
and that the musicians of our city have taken
hold of it in good earnest. And we feel safe
in assuring them that the public is. always
willing to pay for frstrate article The mu-
sic of this Oratorio was inspired by genius of
a high order, and it will never wear out SO
long as human nature remains the same it is
now and the same it always has been.
great revolution in the structure of our being
must take place before this music will cease to
move the heart Alright and give it impulses
that cannot fail to lead on to better life
The vocalists of Portland have the power to
render the music of this Oratorio in excellent
style, and our instrumentalists can form an
orchestra, with the aid of very few instru-
ments from abroad, which will prove entirely
satisfactory to the public.
We can tell those who have enlisted in this
musical enterprise, that it is their peculiar
province to elevate the public taste by exhibit
tions of such music as this Oratorio contains,
We know that the most popular is the highest
style of musical entertainment And yet
some may have doubts of the truth of this
statement because SO many run after the
Grand Duchess, and crowd our halls to hear
negro minstrelsy. But such demonstrations,
when properly estimated, do not disprove our
assertion. 1t is but small portion of society,
after all, that patronize such entertainments.
Large masses stay away and wait for higher
oxzI, Of ont Il.
as Offenbach's does not last long. Before this
generation is half gone his music will be en-
tirely forgotten. And why? Because it is of
such light and triding character that it
makes no deep impression on the public heart
In fact there is nothing of it to remember 1t
strikes no chord in the human heart that vi
brates long at its touch.
Some one haas said that mankind is never
wholly bad, and public rendering of such
music as Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Mendels
sohnn and other masters have produced al
ways proves the truth OF the saying. Such
music will always have earnest and intense
listeners while the world lasts; and so we say
to our musicians go ahead and persevere in
the work you have so we'll begun. You have
an intelligent public that will always back
YOU up heniSinuer, tuo, tnaJ YOUR pleasure
is even greater than that of those who hear
you, no matter how excellent your perform
ance may be. You are twice blessed-blessed
in making music in your own hearts, and
blessed in giving pleasure to those who hear.
The music of the "Creation" satisfies the Sc
verest and most exacting taste, and it pleases
as well the simplest
You can do more good by giving the public
such music than those who make laws. We
trust and believe the public performance of
this Oratorio will prove an entering wedge TO
the formation of a musical association which
will live one generation at least The hands
that have taken hold of this string we trust,
know their own cunning, and if they do, sure
we are the public mind will be pulled
in the right direction, and much good
will be done in the cause of music,