New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-17
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
BACH's PASSION MUSIC.

BACH'S PASSION MUSIC.
The significance of a performance OF bach
xusic 10 The Passion According 10 ST. Matthew as an
evidence in choral culture so great ~
10 call for extended consideration than IL mas So
seved. II is to be down to the credit OF the n"
taste and intelligence OF the city that the WORK
aevout performance at the hands OF the Oi. -,
riey and that 90 patient and hardly less devout near
ing from on audience that crowded the Academy Vi ~
Simple curiosity might have attrac'eu SUI"
audience but Il something pe'oi "'
held If almost sne-bound for three hours. and which
stirred ND an enthusiasm that repeatedly p'oAo o' III
apnlause in spite of the printed admonition to refrain
from all demonstration out Difference TO the religious
character Of the music.
17,ore arr communities that would scarcely look upon
it AZ a conpmentff they were commented Tor listening
,atientI, and even devOuty a work which musicians
Ian shades of opinion agree considering the pro
duct OF one of oftiest flight ever made by human
genius the province OF ar but II would be foolish
aHeetation 20 classify with those communities
They few in number and confined to the centres OF
musical activity in GERMANY coUatrv which has cul'i
waited that phase practice upon when Suc IN
opinon rests so assiduousy that can now boast three
hundred cities and towns with singing societies and
orchestras engaged every M the production oil te
masterpiece, OF choral composition There TOO the ANA
OF religion, feeling which prompted such compositions a.
the Passion Music Is st Alive, while here 10 htS never
been known Musical culture is widely disseminated in
~
est capitals OF the Old world. our orchestral
concerts are confesscdlv the peer OF any. But the
healthest oppression Of deep anI intelligent mns ih-
terest found attention bestowed on choral soce
ties Concerning these have local records reaching
hack over ar century hat their bright pages are com
parafively few and Of all proportion meaGre IN com
parson with the achievements instrumental music and
even opera They show tbat the city has had periods
when it has been without choir capable OF giving an
adequate performance OF the great oratOrloS anu Iha
some " TIE best societies which we have mad nave not
been animated by those lofty ideals which alone make
possible production OF the monumental COMPOSITIONS
Of Bach. Handel and Beethoven
These thing, Justify words Of hearty commentator Tor
The work OF the Oratouo Society which early in It's ca
reer the performance of the Passion Music as one
Of the goals for which to strive, and which put to lis
credit the first performance OF inc work in New ork
civ four wears ago That of Thursday the second
counting the preparatory concert Of the previous after
noon M a rehearsal II 10 be hoped that the
spirit which prompted these performances may burn
brightly and continuously III the tuture ana
persuade the society incorporate the work permanent
" its nst of regularly recurring oratouos &c VIII
surely and win popularity. Is impossible that
any really musical people should remain inSensoe To s
surprising beauties 1t is the most comprehensive music
ever written; IN it, though it was composed more
Than $50 Years ago can De found all The
elements which make up the most complex muscai
art forms Of to-day. Il is besides the most
perfect hvnmIng which simple, tender. persoral
religious faith received The manifestation ls
character sticay German; wonderfully tender ana n-
cenuous yet re from an weak cuumen-a.ity Tie pas
$50, .t.s S,.-i.. .-. ,,,-+. ,f . --,,- r-l-.4- a.-
SION ANA ".t'' w N'--'-. '- 7'
oepted in their fullest Biblical meaning without dream
O. doubt ard with most poignant sense of individual
sympathy. Few musician. have been able 90 withstand
tlc temptation 10 rhIp70Aze when trying 90 seq
-.1 .r 4.,u,..s - ifs ..rt-u.tIe .. o- tho t-,flfI-
-''" | .-
ry OF iHe science U'p'Nt' 'u --' ''tii'''''.'I'
Yet 70 rrt..l. itself s0uode7tv ana haac- tHe -l-
e,t ve.Ices o musical eA precision .h -"'H unconscious
ease. l. .'le are -rW oI i.- '' a- '.i,'i .".-' .
flI.l 10 I tic most iii-- A'i'- I'D, -.4.'' 90 i' '-
winch. ll sl.lc OF JUS dItAl' l'li t-H never ''
L0uu,Jl.u~, u.s. 4.lini. O expression +~-' I.o-. t.c
unaffected 1uru.atou or The women 'u The SEIZURE Nl
CHRIST. u. iJ tLc cLlGQ idhr W-cL i'u".p ID, r--c-
nVOu.
-uor,couil are easily parloncd u The performance
s. SUCH H.rc when 10 Us remembers L.N -r.e.