New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-17
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA
THE ROSE OF SHARON.

| singers were Miss Emna Juch Miss Emily Wiuau. NJ
| william J. Winch, Mr. Max Heinrich and NJ Iva,
Morawsk. The work had been studied under the A., !
recon OF Mr. c. Mortimer Wiske and was first set dow,
for performance February delay in this arrival
OF the orchestral parts compelled postponement from
that time until the third concert OF the society Iast
night SO much for the sake OF the record whchit,s
worth while to have correct.
The oratorio for and first produced az, tia
Norwich Festival OF 1884. held In october. Whether
the absolute artistic value so great "A Z,
Justify the amount OF attention which English critics si
musicians have given it, Is question would NOT
undertake 10 hastily So FAR nights yer
formance is concerned. IL was In all its departns s 40
admirable as To present excellent facilities iutei-
gent Judgment; but the attitude of mscaEs press and
public toward the dcrs In this country from that
held England and there is likelihood that tho con-
sensls OF opaoD VIII DC lcss favorable to the compost
| ton IN NeS-iork than In London. The music OF ar
Mackenzes which was heard here last season "a baals
for ORCHESTRA entitled. La Dame sans Mcrciv and an
orchestral rhapsody on Scotch ARA insured a sym
pathetic hearing for oraoo for it disclosed the fact
that at least one British composer working To yet
out the In which English music has moved so long
The prospect OF musical emancipation In England
achieved through the influence of British composer of
originality and foc only,be pleasant 10 tina
kinspeope OF the English on this side of the Atlantic
It may be that such Will have pre-
cede proper recognition Of native American taent
Mr. Thomas entitled to the gratitude VI the English
for furnering OF their music here; he VIII be
entitled to greater OF than he already
has II next he supplements Mackenzie, Cowen
and STANFORD with a list OF Americas best mcn.
A description of" The Rose OF Sharon has already
been printed in Journal and also estimate OF the
music FAR practicable from reading of
vocal The antcipations aroused were pleasant
aud nearly all realized in tho hearing The subect
OF book compiled from the sacred Scriptures
D. Mr. Joseph pcnnetp the Song OF Solomon which
huti IA kant in the oaad
| opinion of the Lord Chamberlain and the religious
sentiment OF England by prologue and epilogdein
which assurance Is given that the play with It's some
what luxuritnl language is merely parable intended
roreshadow the love OF Christ anu His Church. Thh
view also ngenOusly accumulated by Mr.. MaeksnziG
Who introduces DelOdc phrase which Is intended To b
typical OF the love celebrated in the story at the onseto
| the epiOgue
There is nothing new the application of the dramatic
idea the Cantcles; In tuis Case the novelty comes
from a Of extraneous matter with which the
familiar story the OF the sulamite BY Solo
and his constancy under temptation Is studed out
This additional matter has influenced the composer Tor
good IN Instances, bnt tor evil. IL has spun
out The WORK to au uneonseionsDe length, thus making
excsOns necessary. aud brought ncongiuit, INTO
the music by compelling frequent Changes iron .ne
dramatic the epic style OF treatment. and whrre Mr.
Mackenzie dramatic he is generally nodern where he
epic he Is od-asnioned La the seeohi paft shsa
Temptation are called Oh to fancy That I"e s.sd-
MITE while detained III Sotomoms hare a, was snsss
OF tie Carrying up OF tie Ark VI the Covenant and all tue
pop ceremonial ID presented 70 US WIN
I'm. dSessers Soaies Priests aud Fe,pis nere Mr.
BeuneIt acked tue Bible lot lines 10 pat IL tne
though lie succeeded, IL must be confessed That ones
Imagination has been carried far from the euauc oss
drama long before chorus concludes Ito Shouts Oh
the klhg. and that considerable enort is re-
qured the lost interest notwithstanding hss
AN ethical Significance given tue SCENE ny the hcNlce
the lDrettist in following the musical deiineatonod
the pageantry with this bret bit al dialogue:
First Women.
Thus shall it be done unto her whom the King de-
nghteth 70 honor.
The SuIanstte.
Nv beloved pastures his iocks among the lilies;
Lot Solomon in all his glory Is not arrayed Ike oae "
these
The Women.
Art thou so simple, o farest OF womenf
My beloved is mine, and am his.
Things like these are Ingenious, but the question Of
the propety OF their In an oratoro viii be likely 70
copied tine mo aern dramatic oratoria ~ a sufi-
cieuty elastic to cover everything that one fancy can
RuDinsteins sacred opera, sulanith" based on the
subject the SACRED Book had Zee. dspsnded on
only imeuis aud not for language. kub ns;ein
Tor his hDreltist RodenDergl, presents scene OK
pageantry whcl is foreign TO the I'd! put IL Is o. ana
ally to the stor, and kubiDsteius work Is an
opera not oratoro the scenery ana action being rea
ana not ssha tr n0a ss har:m u"s al Ssa
but the fleeing lovers are arrested by the Hatch SOLO
enters his palace with retinne crown her queen.
Here pomp aud cereDony are entirely appropriate 10 he
bring the King. who. touched by ih
SudmLas constancy, unites ie happy AIR anu seeks
consolation Ia the reflection thai aneng al the sahles
world there Is one that Is stable and brings true
happness-lOve.
We confess also. that unable TO admire the con-
ceit of presenting the first scne In Fart III as irsan
Had the number been purely Instrumental with tue
words motto the incongruity would have been less
apparent but to hear tie dialogue OF Tue OetS; ,as
march OF the Haenm ana .elr Iaas Sor Ss sr r az
Ihe Satanae. is to ask one TO set up wan I,
phantasy and his which II Is exceedingly dhcuit
to maintain Tue number. however, is saved from con
dennation BY It's great musical beauty Is sns mns ~
design lovely invention exquisite in Its instrumental
effects and from the penng or the fugheto TO the en1
OF ' stnnS praise this one scene is WORTH the yak
all that remains OF the book and leaves far behind az
second part Is filed II Is good mOderu music ana nke
the other numbers OF the work. seems 10 have
been well wntlen the fauced situation was
kind that is apt ~ inspire musician with Deauua
idea Besides 1t Is not drawn out by the injections
A limitation Of MI Mackenses powers is seen in bic
inability to maintain himself plane OF excel
episodes. In parts his writing as modern a. Lsl
parts il fashioned as iiandefs HIS enori s
give Oriental color his music are of course sttcsy
legitimate would hesitate to call them snccess
throughout The march which pictures the approach ~
solomon and his retinue is JANUARY music when
neither very beautiful nor very appropriate ne osn
esdences and intervals In the love music OF me sad
and Ihe Beored. much OF which speak, real eestey
feeling. Here too, hs accompaniment are dainy ,hs
conception and as lovely as they are dainty " 49,
piece has no excuse for being oratorio and rs
style Is orfginaD the setting OF the ISsuy
is sure always command applause md last nissa
The performance worthy or the work lns
choruses became anguid toward the close but TINS
undoubtedly the fault OF the music, which peeon an
monotonous in the second part The solos were ~
rendered efficiently and Miss Juch, Miss Wh*n-
nv Winch Mr.. Heinrich received as sincere uy
utes of applause were TO be expected. The oppo.x
mites give Keen pleasure belong TO the soprano ia
tenor parts that Miss Winant and Mr. Henren s ssi,
of fair share Of the honors tribute 70 .ne..
merit artists. Miss Juchs style adapts itseIi era
fully To the music OF The Siddnne, wnisn ~
broadly dramatic and lies easily within her Vo
and her dramatic conception. Mr.. winehs seDtim Nv
delivery was NOT out place this OCCASION ana ne
lItnn Aufln