The Portland daily press., 1873-05-17
paine,s OratOrfO.

Paine,s OratOrfO.
Among the various brilliant musical events
of the present year in our city, that winch is TO
cl,sa the musical season is the most important.
We refer to toe performance on June Sd, by
the HAYDN Association, of the oratorio of st.
| Peter. composed by our fellow townsman, Mr..
John K Paine. From its earliest days when
Leonardo Leo aud Carssimi wrote, to the pres
ent time whose elaborate harmonic sy8-
tens and rich resources of Instrumentation
afford so wide scope for the composer-oratorlo
has been the embodiment of much of the high
est musical thought and attainment. Han
ders fifty operas are nearly forgotten, except
for few detached morcedur, while his ora
toros stand like eternal pyramids, built Oh
solid and massive harmones, piled up by giant
strength; Haydn's "Creation'' is immortal III
its fresh life, new every year as the world; ana
Sebastian Bach's passion Music" Is the sin
cerc, fervid and devoted expression of mighty
genius penetrat d with the wonderful theme,
and subduing to its sacred intention its per-
fected technical knowledge. Oratorio compo-
sition demands, in some respects, more than
any other, of musician. Beside the necessa-
nv acquaintance with music as science and as
an art, the composer of oratorios must possess
that true feeling that shall guard him on the
one side from cold, inadequate and formal
treatment of his subject; and on the other
from the sensational bizarre and artificial.
And it must be with sense of all this, with
certain distrust, and yet with courageous re-
lance upon his own good intentions and power
of execution that the conscientious musician
begins his work.
An oratoro, upon the important theme of
"St. Peter by an American composer, is an
epoch in the art-history of our country; and the
Haydn Association, with characteristic enter
prise and enthusiasm, determined that its first
representation should be in the native city of
its composer. Accordingly the first edition Of
the work was secured by the Haydns, and un-
der the admirable conductorship of Herman
Kotzschmar. it has been carefully and under
standingly studied. As composition, "St Pc
ter" is worthy of great respect and praise
The full, elaborate and effective Scoring the
vigorous, well-defned and expressive themes.
prove it to be the work of a thoughtful, sincere
and learned musician. The chorale, a form of
composition adapted from popular musical
worship by Bach in his oratorios, and initiated
Nv MeHuelSSOuu. is dISO an dltldCtiNe AcdtulC Vi
Mr. Paines work; and the grand simplicity of
these melodies is finely and appropriately har-
monized The chorus I'VE hid our faces from
him" is admirable, and seems written upon
Handelian models in its harmonic treatment
and introduction of the contrasting theme with
its fine accompaniment she was brought as a
lamb ''The Son of Man. is profoundly
pathetic chorus The plaintive theme is sung
air unisono by the four parts, and after sus-
tanned pianissimo chord, vague, sad and awe
struck, to finely managed succession of disson-
ances are set the words she was crucifed;' un
til in the clear radiant, natural key of major
enters the rejoicing chorus "And on the third
day." The choruses, "The voice of the Lord"
'"The time is fulfilled" awake" etc., are
characteristic and, powerful, at times recalling
security and cver-elaboration of writing
are noticeable in the working out of some
of the themes, and at times the har-
monte sequences seem to US rather unnatur
al and abrupt. The chorus of angels for select
voices of soprani and contralti-without accom-
paniment except the notes of harp occurring
between the phrases-with its succeeding tutti,
and the music allotted to the disciples, tenori
and bdSsi, with chorus, is beautiful and original.
The concluding chorus is powerful, and is fit
ting close to the oratorio, in its large proper
tons and fine treatment. Of the solo music
and of the orchestration we cannot, as yet,
speak; but we do not doubt that it will be
found correspondingly excellent; and with such
interpreters as our own Mrs. Wetherbee, Miss
Adelaide Phillips, Messfs. Osgaod and Ru-
dolphsen and others and the Harvard orches-
ira, the oratorio cannot fail of fine rendition.
| Of course the different numbers of the work va
| ny somewhat in merit; and so important
| composition will receive much criticism, more
or less favorable; but we think that musicians
will agree that Mr.. Paine's oratorio is an earn.
est dgniied and scholarly work, and one that
will take high position among the sacred
music of the present time As the rehearsals
| go on, we hope to be able, from time to time, to
speak further of ''St. Peter And in conclu-
sion, it is not Inappropriate to suggest that the
Haydn Association, which is doing so much
for the musical advancement of Portland,
receive cordial and substantial support. All
] who have at heart the interests of our city, as
well as those who care especially for music,
should at once secure tickets for the perform
ance Of June Sd; thus assuring the Haydns of
the sympathy and appreciation of their fellow
citizens, and relieving them from any appre-
hension of pecuniary non-success And we
cannot refrain from expressing here our best
wishes for the Haydn Association and their en-
terprse, and congratulations to Mr.. Paine