, 1880-07-04
MUSIC
a Notable Event in Our Musical His
tory-Two Cantatas by Local
Composers,
The One Hundred and Twen-
ty-frst Psalm by Mr..
p. a. Otis.

"Dornroeschen" by John A. Wes
! Their Performance a
Great Success.
seFatinitza - at McVicker's,
The Commencement concert Of the Hershey
School of Musical Art, which took place on Fri
| day evening last, WAS an event of unusual int
portance, and mnrlted an cru in the progress o.
musical education in this city, inasmuch as twe
| original compositions were brought out by grad.
uates Of this institution. The first was a
sacred cantata, written on the verses
| OF tho 12lst Psalm, for chorus and four
| SOLO voices, with organ accompaniment, By
| Phi'o 4. OTIS who has been for the past -four
| years pupil of Mr.. H. Clarence Eddy. The Soc
| ond work is a secular cantata, entitled "Dot1l-
| roschen." or Little Rosebud" adapted from
! the German legend Of the Sleeping Beauty
| This is scored for solo voices and chorus with
orchestral accompaniment, by John \. West,
who has studied with Mr. Frederic Grant Gleason
| FOR about three years. Each work was conducted
by its own composer.
Mr.. Otis cantata opens with chorus Of lades'
Voices which is preceded by. IN introduction of
twcnty-four measures in rhree-quarter rhythm.
This is followed, after short jnterlude and q
changc Of rhythm, by positive and character
'st'e tncme given OUT by the hassos' lh's IS
worked out In initiative style, and q climax Is
reached by full. massive chords, which is re-
markabiy effective By a clever management
of the movement, the thrce-quarter rhythm is
again taken up without disturbing the melodic
form, and the theme Of the first part is treated
Tor mixed voices In a most pleasing manner.
The second number, contralto solo, was sung
at,,a ,,s ,',t ~ 49, ~ VI
s'sie anu beauty OF expression. 1t begins quasi
hts Of ena sra octa s
nrfncfna, the,no or thia n,,,n1,nr ;s r,von
~ - t,,a ,ronds :. na,o',, ~ % tpat Ioenath e"th
thee shall neither slumbcr nor Sleep 1t is
high type of melody, aud the accompaniment is
admirably adapted. The design ia orchestr,l.
80, Ao oeo'e" - ~ ."''
ano Tue oenu'ug vi tne uu1e' reed, ana string
qualities was successfully given by the organ.
Taken altogether, this ls one OF the most beauti-
fri ,,r,,ars ~ r.o ..,tn+o T,a +h,ra ,,,,hor
a''.aoe, y. 14o ean.a 1hao "uaoei
eo'l'oaences ~ Il aF'sofous ana ofinan1 manner
thy keeper, the Lord is thy shade at thy right
hana i1e ,.; mt .,,fr,r th,- f,or to he .,,o,e,
,rh;s .ras t,u.,.a,t aot .,.e.. ~ ~.
lhfs was Drought out with great animatton' hut
the splendid climax which was reached on the
words The sim shafl mt sn,fto thee hy t7ny"
wos fbr;ing and showed tf,a+ tho c,,n, ,,osor ,vaa
,,,as.a. 49, - .t e. ,.t vas
master ol MS suo1ect ana or tne menus OF e1-
preston. fine contrast was given on the
words, :" Nor the moon by night" where every
Thing was subdued ana peaceful. Tho
tfute obliyato iii the accompaniment at this
placc is exceedingly beautiful, the movement
given out i'll this passage is taken up by the
other parts and second climax is brought out
with telling effect From this point there is q
gradual dimfnuc,itio, and the movement dies
away to the faintest sounds of the organ. No.
Is quartet written in canon form, which is
technically of the greatest difficulty Mr.. Otis
has not only succeeded in adherng to the strict
form Of writing, but has produced a musical
composition Of rare beauty and interest 1t WAS
delightfully."- SUNG by Mrs J. A. Farwell, Mrs. Q.
i. johnson, Messrs. c. 4. knorr, and J. 81 Hub
bard. The last chorus, witt its Amen" served ]
to display the general musical ability Of the COM
poser in the broadest sense In this he has en-
played free four part writing the choral, simple
easi- t'',u.,tu-- --gouutcrp,."t we'll n= ss.R1,r
lorM. II may PC pronounced success not only !
from g techtnai standpoint. but from an object !
1Ee po'h1 81 vleW The style Is grand and mas |
~ s1sc. and the variety always well co!!trAsted. !
Inc themc 81 tne fukue which ts introduced by |
the altos IS CHARACTERISTIC, and never fails to |
4sscft itself during the development OF the same.
:Ihe counterpolnt IS suooth and flowing, and |
the 1noduianons well defined. The ehcct Of the |
choral, which appears ns an episode, is peculiarly |