New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-20
MUSIC-THE DRAMA,
THE ORATORIO SOCIETY.

season. which took place at the Metropolitan Opera
House last night accomplished task for which, in spita
Of the few dsappOintments o. the evening the music.
lovers OF tho city beodcn II performed entire tina
requiem mass OF Bcrioz and the last movement Of the
same composers symphonic Funcbre ct Triomphalep
With his former work our public are reasonably familiar
It having filled place in the scheme OF the Music Prs
val give in the seventh Regiment ArmOry undec the
direction of tho late DR.. DamrOsch IN May 1851 aud
having also been performed twice by the Otoro Society,"
NOyeml or - and rs. 1852. The symphonic humber
using the qualifying word by courtesy had teen
heard In this country prior to the publc rehearsal on
Wednesday afternoon In respects is OF piece
with the choral work. aud objection can be urged with
Justice against its selection any other ground than n,
want OF serious musical beauty. But OF this a few woris
later The curiosity to ger acquainted with all OF Der.
liozs large works. these which the critics of his time "a
lis evident satisfaction denominated architectural,
is a auabe one and performances to be hailed with
pleasure which enable tho public in general ana
musicians and musical students in particular form
their own opinions OF this strange artistic Literature
There ia music OF which il is true Of that
only hearing is believing In the Berioz cult that has
lis during The last fifteen there has been
vast deal OF extravaganza. and we need to hear n
music clear minds OF the ideas left Ia
the hysteical Of Eeri0z himself those
who have accepted him fully the infable apostle OF
new gospel In art well as TO detect the occasional
manifestations OF tue divine spark which certainly
Alowed within him
To make this needed exposition task the largest
dimensions and II can he questioned without unlndne
whether the Intellectual mechanical and financial re-
sources which at the command Of Mr. Walter Dam
rosch are equal to IT, OF speak OF perfect
ex osition. As performances ordinarily in the face
OF the drawbacks which all art meets In democratic
America the achievement last night which re.
nected much credit the youthful conductor anC his
cety. There was no time when one needed to be IN
doubt as to his wishes he manifested his desires az
intelligent and decisive manner, aud generally be got
reasonably satisfactory response But Is nevertheless
true that makeshts of any kind fatal where much
OF the effect depends strict adherence to the COM
pOsers prescriptions Is tha case In this Requiem.
Much of the impressyeness OF Berliozs setting OF the
mass for the dead comes from the effect com
bnations of sounds, OF Instrumental cOoring re.
iteration OF chords in antiphOny between voices and
bands only fraction cores from tue expressive beauty
OF the mcOlic Investment. The terrific effect OF tie
TUBA Niru0i and LGcyy8poSa al out which much has
been written T. produced simply IL device which
BcrllOz In his theoretical writings laid Great tresshy
.; alternate fanlare- Of the most ordinary kind with
some rhythmic garicty, which heaped up into
volume OF sound that last takes the imag nations Of
the listeners captive and presents their soul, picture
OF the last judgment With really awful dsilnctncs, And
this effect typical Of nearly all the Others though ii
stand, monumental among them.
Now all Of TIL, kind Becli0z has calculated tie
Win VINE 10 dltillh trIicu cu- Win TIC utHoat
nicely aud do not believe that complete results can
De had II h means are changed For tie Requiem lie
planned general orchestra OF 10 instruments, cGOu.
OF 30 voices aud fOgr Subordinate orchestra, Of bras,
instruments be stationed a the fOur corner, OF bis III
terpreatye forceoRe Of ten nsrnenStwo o'esht each
ana one OF twelve. The numerical proportion desired
therefore stands follows : lnstruncntaiists and2l0
singer and lie "lshel the instrument t>ts increased
proporuondtciy WIN larger chorus Ihcor pfoiottloh'
were main alUrl last night IA any particular but on
d. not wish to las much stress. Tor th reason
that the dih'ulty 0I me muse Tor amateur
chorI,iers I, 50 great that We do not believe
tla tho 100 sinners last MINT gave ont
the volume 81 souni which BerIoA expected tIom
hs 20 tO The immediate purpose To call AZ.
% the fact that the mpuritie OF information in tne
band especially ~ ne HoShGs aAl -iJ""S p''' "'tle
tA, composer tic strange device ot combination Of
ladl trombone and high nate notes 'eiett Trombone,
ami three HlitN j ttc le7ctWlOn ia h"Iuo! were uc
caSonnly distressing and that the same ceiect married
standing tuat touf -o9 singers Sdn- lucl H>,H Z" 'h|
entire male chorus. Herr Always singing Ui The 81
t'S too was disappointing ahd hsd II not Zen Iot ths
hcauuIW work OF tue women OF the hDir ls portion
}cnd have failed cOI ccly % the telling effect Which
il Is admirably calculated 10 produce Herr Always
T"lc6 IN operate t0.cs Nlth MS compass We Sho' I'M
aginc good but h singing = OF the style
which can cope with task ike that set IN this
N0nctns one can nor sing beautiful sustained note, on
high ana Bnat by main strength aud yet produce the
piece. II has ou.c been sung In perfect fa>hiOn-by
Si.not Cmpanini 40 the festival ot l>sl Those who
italian tcHurs subsequent 'rumphs H. opera sank nto
u,l-uiIcaucc. Her DUOr,ky. like Atyary one OF the
more favorable impression by his SINGING OF tue Q,'
BisS though be. TOO. showed tendency 10 nltten
h tones 10 the Hys'iTS and AQnt>, and sided Herr
Alyarv and Miss GOidSticker 10 mar The QeGT,is
Tn, latter number wa, by ,eXtet 90 professional
leop.c Nj, Marie Van tie finish OF whose vocal ,t -
stool sharp contrast with that OF her companions
,ylom we lave. named. Miss Carrie tot,tCk,r, Herr
Alvary. Herr DWOr-k ks. Mr. Col"tti ana ,lr sanger
The" Symphonic Funchre ct Trlouphae," ot which the
closing movement was given l. occasional piece
which, 10 iud,e los this extract, has all the deIIer's
usually found IN music mrricdy written 30 0scr. Brr
loz was commissioned write x by " Rcmusat, the
tncu Minister thc Interior. In CONCENTRATION Of The
heroes OF tr Iul, Revolution AID Il performed ~
the omen mir when the bodies those dead WORTHLESS
transferred the Column OF the Place &c IA Ia-lr IA
Juiy $40. IL originally written Tor military
band but RcrliOI ~Uh-c ueutly added for strings
and chorus The latter comes IN toward n" close With
the word. Gipirc ~ h'iDuyaC hcT,S, brriOL calls
The movement an a. 0uc1,s" II j. liitlc te'er than
march FOR brass band, tJl Of sound and iary ssns.
lAl.- ~