New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-28
MUSIO AND The DRAAU

IL.
DR.. Ritters new book on emusic in America"
the impression that the custom Of annually
forming Handes Messiah during the Cbrstmastide s
Of recent date In this city, 1t originated, he says with
the NewYork Harmonic Society, which founded in
September 1s49 and had the usual checkered existence
Of choral societies until II succumbed early In the sixties
The statement may be correct; Dr. Ritter con-
ductor OF the Harmonic Society," and he to have
looked with considerable into the history Of Mes
slab" performances in NewYoTk He has discovered that
the Oratorio given with organ accompaniment in
Trinity Church far back January 1870, and that
1t repeated October g. l77l, and again in April
1772. The first performance with orchestral aecompan
ment OF which he has been able to discover record
that of the NewYork Sacred Music Society, in st. PaupA
Chapel on November IS, 1881; when it given with
a chorus OF seventy-four voices and band OF thirty
eight instruments under the direction Of U. Hill, who
live in the memory of NewYork music lovers
the founder OF our noble Philharmonic Society. The
chapel filed with listeners the receipts amounted TO
5000, and the 0raoriO was repeated twice within tho
next two months
These facts enable us to make comparisons which
show that NewYOrk by behind the rest OF
the world in approaching the great Christian OratOro.
The first performance I'm Trinity Church took place little
less than twentyegh years after the original production
OF the OratOrO under Handles direction in the New Music
Hail. in Fishamblest Dublin april 49, 1929 IL was only
eleven years after Handc's death april 10, 1850; the
first London performance was eleven months later.
IL was more than fourteen years De1Ofe the krea
Handel CommemoratiOn" in Westminster Abey, on
which occasion King George ILL.,. by of his land
commanded repetition OF the Hallelsh" and amen"
choruses (May 20 and June g. 17s 1t twenty years
before Mozart wrote the additional accomplishments at
the request OF Baron Swcen, for the performance Of
the Oratoro In the hall Of the HofbbliOthek in Vienna.
March 1880; IL nearly forty-nine years earlier
than the first performance of the OatoO by the Handel
Haydn Society in Boston christmas, 1913, whenthe
English singers, Incledon and Phillips then musical
tour in America, took parp 1t was eleven
years before tho Cecan Society Of London began the
custom Of annual Christmas eve performances 79l tue
Society continued the custom until 1sGl. The Trinity
Church performance Is the properly date the Han
del cutus FRONT this city, for from that date down to tho
introduction Of the mehonOred Christmas custom; cho-
and airs from The Messiah figured on the pro-
grammes OF nearly ali the concerts given for the
tanment OF the New-YOrkpublic
Since early in the century the OrdtOriO has been the
starting point OF all singing societies. and the OratOo
Society the linea ola dozen predecessors in
reveiently preserving beautiful traditions of the pasis
acting that Is not at all inconsistent with tic
progressive spirit Of the society and its leader FOru-
naely for the of choral music the custom profit
able one since the annual performance while it less
than the other concerts is always sure to draw crowded
house; and thus the money secured which makes tho
bringing out OF new works possible Last nights per-
and the public rehearsal Wednesday after
noon not exceptions to the rule They were at
tended by and brilliant audiences The per-
formances worthy OF the audiences, though
generally admirable rs sohe OF their predecessors Tbs
membership Of all choral societies In Is OF such
transient character that each Messiah" performance
Is practically the result OF fresh study and hence little Is
gained by the work OF early years The fact Is un:
fortunate, but yet unavoidable The singing or
the chorus, however showed those traits III which the in
structon OF Dr. Damr0sch is most notceablethe most
striking Of which being peculiarly rich and wellba-
tnCed volume OF tone in the soft passages The altos
and are by far the best voices in the choir; tho
BASES come next; the sopranos third and
Of the majority OF large singing societies IN this country
The most marked triumph was scored IN the For Unto
rasting soft and loud had the usual electrical effect upon
the Listeners The most luminous chorus Cso In ., The work
yeness by the absurd reading which Dr. Damroseh mas
ment for five years 1t manifesy idle 10 waste woris
In further argument to show that IN giving this chorus
"a turkish patrOl Dr DrOs,n II sqy Oh exiiee
about the composer of The Messiah" Rocksro's Lilo
TnE TRIBUNE expressed three years ago Dr. Danrosch
thinks that the words: From afar, and little softly"
written in Italian in the autograph OF the Oraorio in
front of the containing the parts for the two
umpets omited by Mozart), are equivalent TO drcc-
was started at None of the conducting
used by Handel contains the phrase and since Han.
of sound ar Rockstro is comparing me autograph and
cOntempOraneOus manuscripts OF the OraOrio When hs
reaches this chorus he says
Glory 10 God Written for strngcd Instruments and
Trumpets, without Drums Mozart has added Horns and
makes them leave Off Handel in the Autograph, hyst
marked the Trumpet parts In dsparte" e. - asldel bit
aferward crossed the words substituting for them,
''Da lontano POGO piano" In the Dublin Ms. this
direction omitted; but provision is made for striking
effect by the use Of the words Con Rpicn per tuto nc
the beginning, and at bar 43, where the nnucndO be-
gins Senza Rjpeni."
EThe Dublin Ms. NOW owned by the Rev. Sir, Fred
erick Onseley), used ut the first performance OK
THE Messiah" Ii DR.. Damrosch chooses 10 apply tho
unmlstaabe directions which 1t contains about the use
OF the rpien, and will construct his orchestra TO meet
Handels wishes In Ihs regard VIC will not quarrel with
hun.
The solo parts were in the hands Of Mrs. T. J. Grant
Nine Trcbclll &. H. Thompson and Max Heinrich.
Curiosity greatest OF course, In the case OF Nine
Trcbe whose reputation OraoriD singer Il great
The loss OF freshness voice and habit OF forcing
her notes occasionally detracted somewhat from the pure
pleasure which the cOntraltO songs give; but tho
straightforward In which she sang the smooth
voice and its fine musical quality caused Keen
delight Mr. Heinrich gave admirable Interpretation
the bass songs, singing the divisions" with when
they abound, most artsticay. Mrs. Grants voice 10
clear penetrating and or good quality but she was over
weighted in "RejOicc Greatly and Il know that my
RedCemer Iiycthh Mr.. ThOmpsOn's musical intelligence
a. ~ ~, 49, - ,.ttar tb,n Eis voice