New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-31
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE CENTENNIAL CANTATA.

THE CENTENNIAL CANIAIA.
Mr.. Schirmer has just published the Cantata
written by appointment of the United States Centennial
Commission for the opening OF the great Exhibition in
Philadelphia on the 10th of May The poem is by Sidney
Lanier OF Georgia the music BY Dudley Buck OF Con-
neccut The title of tho work is Tie Centennial Ned
taton " Columbia" II is TO be performed under tho
direction OF Theodore Thomas by an orchestra OF lou
instruments and ooi of about 500 singers III is quito
short the time required for its execution being not more
than twelve minutes.
The plan Of the poem is simple Columbia from ths
"hu .rcl tcrraccd hight" Of the anniversary survey,
the trials aud dangers OF her lOnglgo," watches the
May1ower butTetng the adverse the early settlers
lighting with frost and fever and star ation the coloniss
in tie agonies OF A hymn Of praise then cello
blates tie triumphant cstabls hment OF the To
public; the Good Angel OF Columbia Utters
prophecy; AMI the poem closes with n quatrain
Of welcome TO tho world. Tie music is Ike
wise laid ont upon very simple plan. and IL
at the same time simple and clear in expression, wAe
Mr. Lsr's language is sometimes obscure There is 10
oycS merely pref instrumental Introduction 81
oghlSV measures. Allegro Sprito ma M2cs.OsOi in
the bright key of major. IL is in common time, as
the entire work except the last movement fortissms
opening full harmony leads to ingenious passage
in which the flutes, hautboys, caTines and first horn
hold series OF soft chord, against sustained bass hy
the c0ntrabass and the other horns while nOrd middle
part supplied by the yiolas cell, and ba5,oOns. The
chorus begins softly. on the words;
From this hundred-teTaccd h.ht,
Sight more large with uOO,cr licit
Ranges down yOn towering years.;
still Allegro con SpiritO, but with somewhat stately
movement and the steady rise and fall of those simple
choral harmOnies which peculiarly grateful when
they issue from large body Of well trained singers lhe
accompaniment for tie first few bars is furnished merely
by the strings p:-eao with the first crescendo grows
richer and moro independent then elective hgu;e
work given 20 the Encisl horn, with yoioncelo ac1
compartments at the second cresccndo the Instrumental
o1rts are treated with increasing yi5Or and freedom
and after an excellent caience on the words
Far below NY resting place"
where Mr. Buck has been peculiarly fortunate
in fitting his music TO the text, tie soft reed
harmones are heard again. This may be called the eni
OF the first movement, but there no formal d'So no
numbers the canata going on without pause TO emo
lorid ascending passage now leads TO semi-chorus
feyrae voices four parts answered by male voices IN
four parts and alternating with full chorus In eght
parts. Mr. Buck encountered variety OF pitfalls
in the poem which deals with tue voyage OF the May
flower and then presents the composer with tie follow
ing tough morsel:
Jamestown. out Of thee
Plymouth, thce-thee, Albany
Ahter cries, ic fretze. array!
Fever cries, Ys burn : array!
Hunger cries. le Stare: dlrdyi -
Vengeance cries. Your GrdrcS shall stan" 1
But he has escaped them all with great skin. rns
chorus is varied by unison passages and elaborate ahh
INGENIOUS harmon.es; tho accompaniment becomes |
highly important; and the general character OF tho
music is distinctly dramatic The next chorus,
Then old shapcs and Masks OF Things
Framed Ike Faiths or clothed like Kings"
ia in G. minor The soce parts decamatory and gen
orally in unison The accompaniment is In trip etss
brief mandatory passage brings back TO the original
kcy OF ID major aud then we have the hymn,
Now Praise to Gods oft granted grace"
bec,nnnc in solemn choral strain. but soon changing
IN a free and more dramatic style, and ending WIN
trumnst and trombone passage. short solo for ule
English horn serves prelude 20 the only vocal 500
,r ,bs work This is the Coed Angels message W
Columbia:
Long as thine Art shall love true love,
Lang as thy Scencr truth shall know,
Long as thine Eagle harms no Dove,
Long as thy Law by law shall grow,
Long as thy God Is God above.
Thy brother every man below,
so long dear Land OF all my love. |
THY name shall shine, thy fame shan glow |
Given TO bass voice with English horn obbligto u
the kew OF major II is manly and stirring song vines
~ properly delivered ought TO have admirable elect
The chorus reGnters forssimo (aa breYe) IN d. Win
bref Allegro maestoso and then comes the Finale an
mirable four-part fuguc, with good SUBJECT "''I
handled short. clear, aud energetic.
.Md-heavrn unrol thy chords as friendly naes
And wave the worlds best lovers welcome 10 tue wa"
Mr. Buck seems TO have kept in mind the pecuh'' oVi'
dltions under which his work is 70 bo peEioimeu-''
lar 20 body OF singers, In tho open air ana Oeioo
cellaneous and not distinctly musical aua'eice hNn
met these oond lions nor by mssins his mus!s ehohP
snowy, but by makiuS IL clear and siroIS' ins''
...''. Il