New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-04
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE REDEMPTION.

"Opus ,,ifeg meGn GOun0d wrote upon MS
MS OF the work around which, as its nISV
PRODUCTION in this country draws near tno ~
,orost 81 tho public ia now gathering. That IS
tho waterman COMPOSERS own judgment OF MS past
and presage Of his future effort ana the egoiu vi ~
os s,on,n of seriousness and dignity to the prouuC-
ton unon which IL ia imprinted. "WOrk OF his me- Us
he names it, It is moreover all his own, words anu i
nike: and IL IS the outcome OF Thought unrihs M"
Years the words and portions OF the music having pee
write en- at Rome during the winter OF ls6|-S fln'suo"
finally with a view to its performance at ,no
birmingham Festival OF 1882 1t recently theo JOE
tho first time produced, under the composers own y"
rection Shortly after it WAS given In the Albert ii"
London under Mr. Barnby Now 1t IS to De he"ru W.
while preparations making for ts perlo' -
several cities of country and the caii'"iS VI
mental Europe. ,,,oa q.
~, orotorio NJ Gounod prefers 10 entitle II 0"cI'u
Trlocy" II Is lyrical representation OIL ,uo ~
great facts upon which the existence Oh '"o .
church depends: the Passion anu D'"'"
tho savionr; IIs Resurrection ana A.
cors,on and the Descent OF the Hoy Gho't anu
- ood If Clrlstianity in the earth through the
Ion NJ rbe Apostles These three parts OF the IroSy
ara logically and almost necessarily pfece"e" py
nrooge on the Creation the FAN ana the promise vi
Redee1ner The three parts OF the prologue thefe'
fore answer mystic1lly TO the corrcSpohu'
inc divisions of the Triogy The Creation,
with tho Spirit OF God moving upon the face OF the wa
er answers to the mysterious generation Of he second
Adam when the Holy Ghost upon the Blessed VIZ
gin and the power of the Highest overshadowed her
the significance and value Of this new creation beng IN
the Passion and Death EMBODIED IN 1t from the
first The FAN answers to its great remedial
coIrelatiyes, the Resurrection and Ascension OF
mans nature into eternal glory. Aud the promise OF
the Rcdeemer answers the sacramento extension OF
the incarnation and gift of the Holy Ghost IN ana
through the Church
Tho Prologue ends with the Aununciaton, and the
action OF the first part bcglns directly. voice an
nounces the condemnation of Jesus and striking tune
of Six numbers, linked together, sets forth
yocaly ana instrumentally the OF the va Dr.
oroSa The second division OF the first part represents
the CrucfxioD the insults and mO, kings the Rpr0ach
es and the prayer FEATHER, forgive them" The tmrd
presents Mary at the foot OF the cross, the Word W0
man, behold thy son." and Sd5dt Mater Inc
fourth scene is OF tine two thieves
The fifth recouuts the last agonies and
DEATH the earthquake aud darkness In the sixth ana
last of first part the recital OF the centurions
confession "Truly this man the Son Of GOd' leads
Immediately to the Church's Apostrophe to Death as
conquered by dying. ana the Alteration of the Cross
In the first number Of the second part = Prophetic
choir announces the doctrine and the fact OF the
Resurrection. The second number recouns the expert
ence OF the holy women the Sepuchre and the Anglers
greeting "Wby seek We the living among the deadf
In the third number. the holy women departing with the
angels message 10 the disciples, Jesus appears 10 them
in the way, and addresses them. The fourth NUMBER
Is the confused scene in the Sanhedrim when the
watchers returning bring tdings Of the empty sepul-
cbra In the fifth the holy women TO the dis
cipes that they have the Lord The incredibly Of
tic disciples is rebuhed by hymn OF praise. In the
sixth and last scene OF the second part,
Jesus appears 10 the Apostles, 'Whilo they
were assembled, the Lord Himself came, and stood
in the midst" He gives them their mission, az
terward leading them forth 10 mountain. The Lords
Ascension takes place amid the music Of celestial and
OF The third bart, "Penteoost" the frat number Is
hymn to peace and in praise of the last age OF mankind
antepast OF eternity The second
number figures the Descent OF the Holy Ghost ana "a
voice from Heaven proc 10 the aP9sies haI tney
may now go forth to the conquest OF The world The
vclOped OF the Trogy contains several DIVISIONS Inc
Apostles first proclaim IN hymn OF NOPE S 'he
His eternal generation and OF His abiding presence in
the Church Various voices then ANNOUNCE salvation 10y
faith and by peace consolation" me chorus recalls ,d5
the Lords power rs manifested by HIS miracles aiter
which, in affecting contrast, single voices repeat the
DaG yaton cO nssvy Th'O GG SEMI
chorus recOunts the Beatitud6s and then inme1atey
with final coda in glorihcation OF the Aoiy TRINITY
Thus The redemption appears work of simply
enormous scope. What viii appear VIC believe
quite as clearly thoqsh only after some som,
which the various and truths to be directly illus
OF suggestion both muscay and 10y mental association.
~ Tie mass Of things which by the necessities Of The
case must remain otherwise untouched Probably Vi.
GounoIs early semnarst training has been OF service
III producing the certainty Of bis grasp OF the things
| vital To his purpose, and Of his sense or those
winch cond be left to inference, suggestion and the
processes OF logical thought. However this be- the
due subOrdinaOn Of parts has been effected and tie
conception OF the scheme is undeniably mastery and
the whole design integiDe and clear This Is the
| ton Of the case OF whole being creator than
| the sum OF all its par,s. For the separate
numbers, considered apart from the mere choice
of themes have little beauty, aud in tie close English
translation in many cases narsl unrhy thmlcal ana
cOmnUnplac
or the music IT remains TO speak IT later day AID
We only remark tho absence OF 0td strictly SPEAK
ing the severity OF the plan Of rectaye ana the very
lavish employment OF quartet Semi chOris and chorus
| the latter fulfilling at different times the thIec
| duties dramatic representation OF multitude,
abstract approximation Of single august person. ana
| of pure unconditional expression.
We mag add that in treatment Us ia conception, The
Redemption is deeply and SIMPLY religious and must
especially upon repeated hearing, profoundly affect the
religious Imagination and sentiment which arc so sure
| a property OF the Engtish-spcakiag race.