New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-05

which DR.. Damrosch has gathered together and
which Is composed OF all sorts OF materials,
though this chorus has at times given evidence OF
the possession OF these qualities hut one surely has
right 10 look for reasonable amonnt OF certainty,
promptitude and precision Units singing. Unhap-
PLY these were not always present last evening and
II was owing to the want Of them. and to some
shOckingly bad work on the part Of the orchestra
that several OF the most powerful paSsaee5
in the Requiem were rendered entirely Ineffective
Why this should have been so it is not easy to see
Everything went well enough al the last private
rehearsal which took place on Thursday evening
last, and none of the mishaps which marred iist
nights performance so seriously occurred on thAt
occasion. As a rule, works go very muoh
better in, public than at the private rehe ar
sails for when they come before an audience the
performers apt 20 be their mettle but IN the
case of the Requiem tho very opposite happened
Where the blame lay there Is no need TO inquire.
IL may have been the result Of nervousness on the
part Of the conductor of careleSsness and mat
tention on that of the performers; IN either
case the unfortunate consequences are
still the same. The most disastrous failure
was in the Resurrection Fanfare and the subsequent
chorus, which ought TO have been the most impos-
ing and effective passage in the whole work. Up
10 that time eyerythinghad gone smoothly enough
The Requiem and Dies lrB' chonses had
been sung very well, and the climax in the latter
had been successfully worked mp 70, when suddenly
IN the Fanfare tho auxiliary Orchestras got
altogether out Of time, and the BASES, dismayed IL
may be. 10y the disaster which had happened 10 the
band forgot entirely TO come IN on the phrase And
he shall come again with glory" which should have
been detained ortissimo, and though DR.. Dam
rosch aiterward collected his scattered forces, ana
the chorus was finished successfully enough, the
chance for the great effect gone, and was not 10
be- recovered. From this time on panic
seemed 10 have taken possession OF the BASES.
never too firm or certain, and the brass choir Inc
latter got out again in the LacrymOsa, and utterly
ruined the climax of that splendid movement and
the baSses only made matters worse. Even the
faithful pTauos los far the most reliable part OF
the chorus ialtered. That the panic did not take
possession Of the whole chorus wonder, ana
that the latter part Of the Mass went so well as IL
did was still more remarkable.
But IN considering these mishaps II should be re-
memhercd that the work is one of great diihc ATTY;
The chOusrs often intricate and involved, and
the orchestral forces employed are very large, wile
some Of the auxiliary bands arr placed by Bcrlioz
the conductor that he has he utmost difficulty
in controlling them. II Is not easy for them to oh
serve his hat exactly, and even the cXpcdlcnt of
electric bat0us worked from The conductors stand
winch Mr. Roosevelt has placed near hc outer rdg'
| OF the chorus. failed 10 answer. Moreover, Nmlt
some of thc most important number, failed of then
effect there were plenty OF others which went
Capitally. The Rex Ilcmcndr was cXccllcnt}
sung and the beautiful " Ourrtonum,' with DO,
| mrlodiOus accompaniment was given with plenty
! on thc part ul The chorus. Campanlni, too. sans
! the Sauctu-' mactiicrutly and De- was admirably
/ supported Uy the female chorus, which was almost
/ always pfuupt and reliable. while The vigorous
! fuqund movement. " ll0,anud 90 the highest, Wa
/ rendered with spirit aud precision. The per
! iouuauco had great hrni,hcs, 10 is tue. hu
u ALSO had dcoGtd beauties. and ON the whole. We
/ have abundant cause 90 Dee grateful To- Dr. Dam
Tosch for the pains he WAS at IN producing iOf 0u
benefit tins remarkable wnIh, which Is one oil thi
greatest monuments Of Bcrliol's genius.
The brilliant Kaiser March brought the concert &
% stirring Ch,-c. Ii performed by the band viii
! great fire aJd Nigor, and the chorus aid effective
/ work 10 Tie closing movement.