New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-29
NEW MUSIC.
~ s,vcrp.s CENTENNIAL cAYTATA.

Mr. Otto Singer has composed Cantata 1or
sao SOLO chorus and orchestra, entitled V"e
P,Lgrin Fathers The weEkuown verses by MIS-. heahS
have been taken text. The work Is dedica'eu u
the composers hOnOred master ana irlchu frahE
Iiszt and it has Just been published, in pianoforte
score by John Church Co.. Cincinnati, with tasteful
decorated titlepage Those who know Mr.. Singers
standing as musician will hardly need TO be old that
has pr,uced composition Of very high merit vigorous
both IN thought and expression. simple ana impress
sve theme pervades the entire work 1t appears at the
beginning Of the orchestral introduction as stately
Adagio melody in the key Of major and In 81 ume'
Written in the strict SCALE with conspicuous use
OF the common chod of the medan its character is de-
cdeily antique and churchke After mcdulating inoE
fat ON q pedal OF the dominant OF the original Key, IL
varies little in form, the second violtns, accompanied
BY the bassoOns taking the melody in somewhat quicker
time (but sill Audante) with the frequent Introduction
OF triplets which produce an excellent effect. Ih'
orchestral treatment gradually becomes richer ana
fuller until the male chorus enters with spirited
Allegro. The ascending passage on the opening words
"The breaking waves dashed high,' is renarKaDS
and impressive and all the rest OF this portion
of the work here Is no formal division into independent
numbers) including the double male chorus, Not as the
conqueror comes" and the passage,
"Not with the roll of stirring drums,
Aud the trumpet tnat sings OF iane'
calls for the same hearty praise. The whole OF this
spirited music is founded ON the original churchike
theme aud tue ingenuity which has enabled Mr. Singer
to transfre without Disgusting it Will command ger
eral admiration. The organ alone now gives out the
fundamental melody in the key Of q major; the
alto solo takes it up hymn, and the fuu
orchestra and chorus in five parts JON H.
the second BASES and bass instruments sustaining
pedal of the tonic. horn solo, with an effective peda
in triplcts next introduces charming Instrumental
passage new variation o: the principal theme; the
alto solo is heard repeating the first choral phrase
in alienation with this orchestral Device and passing
into martial strain the words ITO the anthem OF
the free" with trumpets answering There fine for
issimo chorus for the "Thc ocean eagle roared
and voice, th chorus and the orchestra IN turn
then carry the poem to the words, They sought
faiths pare shrine" The rSt modification of the theme
1.-THE Andane of the introductory is repeated by the
instrumental BASES, while tho chorus beginning with
orescendo Aye, call It holy ground, goes on gather
ing force for the finale. BY keeping close to MS
theme slr Singer has given his cant1ta remarkable
conpactness and highly artistic simplicity, and at the
same time no has varied the original motive with SO
much skill AID sach nice sense OF dramat proprle'y
that we do not imagine the work can sound at al
monOtonous in performance. The harmonz,ton Is ad-
mirabe and has all the freedom OF the modern SCHOOL