New-York tribune., 1870-11-05
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
MUSIC.
MUSICAL ASSOCIATIONS.


on Thursday night at the rooms Of the Young Mems
Christian Association evoked evidence Of great popu-
lar Interest In the severe class OF music TO which Mr.
John r. Morgan and his followers have devoted them
solves, 1t proved that there admirable company OF
singers In this rather unapprecatve cty who are cap
able OF worthy Interpreting the highest classical coin
postons, and from whose musical enthusiasm the true
lover OF art has TO expect many dainty feast
About 80 ladies and gentlemen with small but
thoroughly efficient orchestra have united In this
praiseworthy enterprise. They are not ordinary
amateur singers. All OF them, wc arc assured
yoeaists Of considerable culture, and from ther
performance at the first concert are quite ready
to believe IT, They fell to their work with hrmness ana
confidence gave out their voices beautifully. kept well
together, and produced in consequence superb volume
of sound which almost too strong for the size OF the
hall. The shading not perfect but for nrst con-
cert 1t was ghly ereditabe. With such choir good
leader In O short time do almost anything Mr. Nor
gans purpose in founding the Enterpe Is not to follow Ia
the footsteps other societies. but TO make us acquainted
with music Of kind which is rarely heard in the United
States the shorter Psalms Motes Canatas &c. OF the
great classical composers and similar works by modern
writer's, formed upon classical models or the nve sciec
ons chosen for Thursdays concert. three had never
been performed In America and one, the production o
New Yorker. had never been performed anywhere Inc
first the Pastoral symphony for orchestra) from
J. g. Bach's christmas Oratorio." The second was
the i25th Psalm by Ferdinand Hller. for tenor solo.
chorus and orchestra 1t not very fortunate IN the
gentleman who took the solo, for his voice, though
pleasant unequal TO the severe exacuons OF the
part but In other respects 1t was very well rendered IL
composition the graceful and refined style OF Men
dessohn whom the listener Is rresistiby reminded nc
every strikingly original in conception.
but the of OF clear ideas, delicate taste, ana
thorough scholarship. Mr.. Remmertz followed Win
Mendelssohn's well-known aria, " God have mercy
TO which with his beautiful voice and sdmi-
rable method he impaired the true reel
ing and dignity which 1t demands, ana
seldom gets. The American composition to when we
have alluded "Cantate Domino" psalm 98,, by
Mr.. Otis b. Boise, a gentleman OF this city who has
studied, we believe, for some years in Germany. Mr..
Boise has made ambitious attempt In this work. the
result OF which is In some passages striking II not really
impressive. dazzled by the false lights OF
the modern sensational school, and has yielded an exag
gerated ondness for bizarre effects sngary in contrast
with the ssern simplicity and elevation OF spirit
which the composers in whose company he
found himself this occasion The last piece on the
programme q "RssponsOrium ct Hynnus' OF MEN,
delssohns almost rugged in its severe smpcity-but
what devotion what profound religious sentiment what
exaltation Of soul it betrayed in every phrase! 1t is
male chorus and baritone solo with cello and contra
bass obbigato-no other accompaniment Initiated rom
the Gregorian pattern, 1t begins with the Response and
Verse, intOned by the single voice, and carried
on by the chorus. and changes finally
to the Hymn iiI beafa initas Mr.. Remmertz In this
was magnificent No Father Abbot leading his choir OF
monks in a medieval convent could have rendered moro
perfectly the religious spirit and sublime dignity OF this
noble work II has never been sung in this country be-
fore and been published In the course OF the
evening The little y9ns wine w Hes5 Pysu ayonsbn0 in in
one so young Children who have acquired consderaDie
technical proficiency on the violin arc not uncommon;
but the deicscy OF expression attained by this young
ster Is commonly thought to be the gift exclusively
OF mature years. On the whole we think Mr. Morgan
has some reDsou TO feel st the beginning OF