The New York herald., 1871-08-10

10 over nIty cCuy OF numDer, Lralne0 tnat
the b0wing ana lingering OF the string
instruments Is in perfect unison, together with the
uniform phrasng OF the wind Instruments has the
same strength and power at least another orches
ira OF double the number. In consequence the re.
pertoiTe has also been enlarged and includes the
principal works Of the entire eld OF musical htcra.
ture The proportions OF the orchestra are as fol.
| lows:-SiXteen v0lins led by Bernhard Listemann:
i've voas, four violonceos four double basses. one
harp one piccolo, two flutes, two obOis one corno
anglois, two carionets two bassoons, four French
horns, two trumpets, three trombones. one cuba,
addition to the orchestra several celebrated soOsts
have been engaged and negotiations are pending
with others. Mlle Marie Krebs the distinguished
pianist Will exclusively perform at these concerts
during the fall and winter season.
The Thomas Concert organization viii, after the
close or the siXtn and most unsuccessful OF
summer night concerts leave ior the West early In
October, and after visiting BufYalo Cleveland, &C.,
house has been entirely renovated and redecorated
From there the company goes to ST. Louis, Louis
vile, Cincinnati, Columbus, Pittsburg, Baltimore
and Philadelphia; afterwards to Boston, Providence
and the other Eastern cities. In January some
concerts WIN be given In new York by this com
pany. and afterwards they viii visit tie principal
Southern cities and return through the West IN time
Tor the summer season. The summer season at
brittany. The elite OF the metropolis may be found
there every evening. After the season Of concerts
den designs fitting it up in spien did style for grand
pas. sOlrees and other festivals. The concert hall
OF the Kind in M the United states XreadV many Of
the Leading musical societies have sgnided their in
tenon OF holding foirees during the winter at this
garden.
Mr.. George Dolby and his ballad troupe have
nothing to do with opera but VIII appeal 10 larger
class or the community Than that which ls Interested
In the lyric stage Ais list OF singers is excellent,
and have all been heard to advantage at various
concerts Of late In London. Regarding the baritone,
Santley he Is bound to create Juror. In voice and
cultivation he Is the star OF the present day. MIR.
Cummings, the tenor, sang the other night at the
Royal Albert Hall, before an immense audience,
which included the Prince Imperial OF Germany and
hi ifn fhn Drin nnual ncL rtanh IIo
ders both Italian and English music with fine taste,
and his large repertoire is especially rich in old Eng
llSn songs. He Will revive in New YORK the taste for
the best works OF Dibdin Bishop aud otner COM
posers OF their schools, while In oratorO his
services must be invaluable Edith Wynne, the
young Welsh prima donna, stands high In artistic
ESTIMATION IN England. Mrs. Patey, the contralto,
Is superb singer, who now takes the place once
held bv AbOni in the affections VI the British public.
She Is an artist who viii please the more she is
heard. With the exception OF Santley and Cum
unknown in the United States, and must work tner
way on their own merits. 1t is exDected that they
VIA give oratorlo performances IN New York with
certs w be the peculiar feature OF their American
engagement
For years and years our city church societies have
been III state OF almost hopeless decentralization.
various coterles OF VocallstS-and their name ia
Legion in this city-have been devotlng themselves
to the formation OF small knots OF singers, each one
possessing strong desire to be more Individual in
character than great and noble In connection with
large combination. Their design has appeared to he
the cultivation OF separate interests anu personal
rreludces, the institution and promotion OF petty
officers and Offices. 1t has not been much their
oh ect study the great masters compositions 1t
has been their desire each one, to iand alone and
10 iooK down with contempt upon its neighoor, aud
possible 10 paralyZe by various MEANS the Efforts
OF the one or the other In any temporary success.
The Oratorio then, one Of the highest Intellectual
and artistic efforts TO which the minds OF some OF
our greatest composers have been addressed, has
not as yet received the Interpretation, by means
Of numbers in orchestra and chorus 1t deserves,
nor have the people been taught TO appreciate
such works as the '.uessiah," Israel in Egypt"
Samson, n'Judas Maccapeus, by Handel; "Ebah''
and seasons by Haydn, is without parable,
in the wide domain or music, not TO mention other
oratorios as yet untouched here, such as 'Ine
making In all list of works the study and perform
ance OF which might, with advantage TO the CON.
munity for the next ten years, occupy the time and
attention OF all petty societies. not individually,
but as one concentrated body, by which power and
with the dignity and grandeur OF thought contained
in such glorious works.
In the midst then, OF all this unfortunate diver.
sIty OF thought and action II is not surprising that
sooner or later some powerful ana wealthy organi-
zation should arse. Such bodv has ap-
traordinary success. In the past two seasons
the Cnurch Music ASSOCIATION, with the elite
OF singers and audiences 70 be foand IN this
city, has pursued Its course regardless of trouble
expense. the orchestra has been the largest
direction OF a reliable and talented musician, DIR.
James Pech, have given performances IN this city
completeness eJtsefib.G and detall
ping any previous attempt lnthls city.
II was not however, to he expected that all the
choral bodies would tamely rest as mere spectators
OF The progress OF young rival society drawing
every inch OF vitality out OF their dis0rdered ranks
The first. then, to show renewed vlgor was the New
York Harmonic Society. This, the Oldest ch oral
cety the city, and the oldest but in the
try. gathered up It's strength, and at the recent
annu election of officers for the nineteenth season
made determined effort to enlist within its ranks
new blood, money, ability and energy. In all this
they have 80 far succeeded. There has been no
tpf 1sanIh HtfrvA and
new President, Mr. Tnomas j. Han tOf the nrm OF
William Hall sons, We may safely state, viii not
allow the grass TO grow under his feet. He IL
thorough man OF business, snrewd energetic and
determined IN character, while the election OF Mr.
James Pech as muslcai DIRECTOR ana conductor mas
the future welfare aud usefulness OF the society,"
1t Is impossible, in our limited space, to point out
July we desire the perlinence or the orat0rlo
as a social question or in musical point or Vew or
10 dwell sufficiently long Oh the true place which
should be assigned to the greatest productions ol
the human intellect; but rs a sign of the times, the
influence when music, and especially sacred music
Is exercising on the present generation IS not to be
mistaken Fast men and fast people, almost always
unIniormed aud contumaclous, are disposed 10
regard serious thought in any branch OF study with
snyness and indiiierence. Oratorios, as wei as
other sacred compositions and tndeed,ev operatic
works. when out OF the region of simple anu
"Guillaume Ter,n "Fideiio," Sc--have been sIig.
mazed 10y silly revllers with the title OF Slow
ald thyse who love and admire them considered
"pretendersn 1t is gratifying. however, to know
that art IN Its grandest manifestation IL making
RAPID progress, ana tnaL laSUlOn ana prejudice,
formerly twin antagonists TO all advancement, are
no longer to he feared The people are
gradually growing more general In feeling, and 1t
will not be long before they will learn to listen with
equal pleasure to an opera by Verdi, Gounod and
Meyerbeer and an orat0rio by Handel, Haydn and
Mendelssohn; can be amused with one Of Wallace's
melodeous operas at the Academy OF Music or en-
tertalned with miscellaneous concert Ia Stcinway
Hail. IL is not TO be denIed that oratorio must
always reign triumphant as motive power TO the
highest intellectual feast. II granl musical fesii
val Is be given here or in the country the oratoro
is Indispensable. lt is only with the breath OF life,
In the native tongue or our common land, that We
can completely address our praise and accamations
to an all peneicent God. Wood and brass instru-
mems may assist, but cannot lead The way; II IL by
large mass rs Of human voices that music becomes
that Kind or pleasure on earth We know We shall
hereafter enjoy IN heaven. These are facts not to
be disputed, and are worth cargo or theories. The
study and cultivation OF oratorios tnen, must,
eventually, become necessity In the recreation OF
our people.
OLE BULL
Will start on concert tour this season, under the
experienced management OF Mr.. Thomas TurDbuu,
q well.known musical entreprsneT. Mr.. l.. +.
"a pxt-in asf afly