The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-02

Just to indicate the success of the firB
performance. The Biblical narrative a
Joseph is full of incidents susceptible Il
fine emotional music, and DR.. E. j.
Monk, of York Minister, who arranged
the text, knew well the highly sesitiu
mind and heart of the c0mposer-his
brother-in-law. Tie first part of tAs
oratorio in laid in Canaan, and Tho
second in Egypt. The chief char.
acters are Jacob, Reuben, Joseph, Ben
jamin and Pharaoh. Then there is
semi-chorus of the Nine Brethren, and
choruses Of Shepherds, Ishmaelites, Egypt
ians and Wise Men. The orchestratioa
is more elaborate and effective than csa
be found in almost any previous work,
whether sacred or secular. In its gear
eral effect the music is pastoral, remind
ing one of the tent life of the Patriarck
The choruses are all grand and highly d.
scriptive, whether they are sung
by Shepherds, Ishmaelites or EgypE
ians, and they are all associated
with characteristic instrumental
music suggestive of antiquity. As -
instance Of fine melody we may mentica
Jacobs opening song, Il dwell in tho
land wherein my father was stranger
By faith he sojourned in the land Of pro-
mise as in strange country" etc. Mos
inspiring melody can scarcely be ima-
gined. And then the melody becomes
duet, or dialogue between Jacob and
Joseph. Jacob rejoicing In his song,
declares that he loves Joseph mom
than all his children, because b
was the son of his old age, hence b
had made him a coat of many cOlom
Joseph responds, rejoicing in such loving
favor. These are the first vocal numbem
of the oratorio, and they bespeak for tn
whole work an interest which does nce
flag in single note. Chorus, song, and
dialogue follow for a couple of houn
with undated interest, and that intereat
is bound up with delightful Instruments
ton. At times it is bold and martial3
at other times it is soft and diffusive.
Many novel effects are of course in
ported into Ishmaelitish and Egyptim
music by the aid of instruments which
are not found in common use. The harA
too, is employed with remarkable effect,
and chiefly in the melodies. At to
close of the oratorio the. audience gan
way to their pent-up feelings of admira-
ton in an ovation, which increased as tn
Professor was led to the fruul
of the orchestra by hi
brother, Mr.. Walter Macfarre4
who conducted the performance. Th
Professor, it will be remembered, b
blind; and the scene which now prs.
sented itself was one that can never b
forgotten by those who had the privS.
lege of participating therein. The an.
dience included men eminent in scienD
and art, and as the fair sex graced tn
palace when Haydn bade adieu b
the world, so did it constitute nearly
half the audience in the magnif-
cent town hall at Leeds, and sham
in the emotion of the hour. They san
before them the composer of wori
which appealed to their sympathies and
evoked the highest feelings Of their m
ture-a work rendered as nearly a. poo
sible perfect, by the artists engaged ID
its delivery, and notably by the exquisitl
voices Of Santley and Foil.
| An elevating tendency is thus the mis
sion of oratorio music and a. such il Z
species of public recreation which \
would be well to promote. =.