The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-03-13

while on visit to London in the
year l796," says an interesting writer,
Haydn heard Handels Messiah
splendidly rendered by an orchestra of
oyer a thousand performers at West
Minister Abbey; and the effect of this
sent him back to Germany with his
mind stirred with the impulse to COM
pose an oratorio.
"The result was that great and glori-
Gus corception-"The Creation No
sooner was he settled in the quiet DOM
icile at Gunpendorff, than he fell to
work upon this masterpiece. This was
late in 1896, and in the beginning Of
the year 1898 the oratorio was COM
pleted. Two years the old man took to
rear this colossal musical structure !;
for, he said, i spent much time over
1T because 1 intend it to last long
time
Haydn always led very religious
life. All his scores were Inscribed at
the commencement with the words, In
nomine Domini, or 'Soli Dec gloria ;
while at the conclusion of them is
written his 'Laus Deo;' but i was, he
says, never SO pious as when engaged
upon the Creation" / fell on my
knees daily, and prayed earnestly to
God that He would grant me strength
to carry out the work, and to praise
Him worthily.' 1t is said. too, that in
composing, whenever he felt the ardor
of his imagination decline, or was stop
ped by some insurmountable difficulty,
he rose from his work and resorted to
ow,aI.an< ruh,oh hn aai1
never failed to revive him.
"A few weeks after its completion,
the Creation was first performed In
the rooms of the SchwartZenburg Pal
ace. Who can describe the applause p
wrote an eyewitness. The flower Of
the literary and musical society of
Vienna were assembled in the room,
which was well adapted to the purpose,
and Haydn himself directed the or
chestra. The most profound silence,
the most scrupulous attention. sent
iment, might almost say, of religious
respect-were the dispositions when the
first stroke of the bow was given.
The general expectation was not
disappointed. A long train of beauties,
till that moment unknown, unfolded
themselves before us; our minds, over
come with pleasure and admiration, ex-
perienced during two successive hours
what they had rarely felt-a happy ex-
istence, produced by desires, ever
likely, ever renewed, and never disap-
pointed The work very soon found
its way round Germany, and Europe,
too.
Paris strove to surpass all other
cities in doing homage to Haydn's
masterpiece, and m the year 1900 a per-
Torrance of it took place there. On
this occasion the applause was deafen-
ing; and the virtuosi engaged in it, in
their enthusiasm, and to show their
veneration for Haydn, resolved to pre-
sent him with large gold medal, which
was adorned on one side with "a likeness
of Haydn, and on the other side with
an upright Tyre, over which was burn
ing flame in the midst of circle of
stars. On the medal was this inscrip-
ton:
Homage Haydn, par les Mus
iciens gui ont execute POratorio de la
Creation du Monde" an Theatre des
Arts, Fan TX, de la Republique Fran
caise. MDCCC.'
I'm England the Creation is, and
probably ever will be, the most pop
ular of all Haydn's works. For depth
of feeling, solemnity, and suitability OF
character; for its powerful and COM
plete grasp of the subject-in fact, for
its whole bearing as an oratorio-the
Creation holds place among the
finest examples which have ever been
written in this form of composition.