New-York tribune., 1886-03-21
MUSIC.
BROOKLYN PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

filled greater portion OF the evening" and associated
with IL was a composition By Ran called Die Tages-
zcitcn" and having the descriptive subtitle "Con.
cerantc chorus. panoforte and orchestra" In this
composition Mr. Franz Rummel performed the plano
forte part
It's pleasanter task than has been provided bys
new choral work for long period 10
write OF Dvoraks cantata Considered as alb
solute music 1t is not so beautiful as his "stebat
Mater" but it Is interesting comp ,sitlon and
one which Is stamped with boller originality 10
| marks an Advance toward modern theories OF COM
position, and applies the system OF typical mel
odies without serious. curtalment OF the melodio
arluence which has much admiration for the
Bohemian composer The poem selected by Dvorak for
musical Investments largely narration. This without
doubt would have proved a serious defect had tho
setting been undertaken by almost any one OF tho
majority the younger generation OF German composer
but In the case OF Dvorak whose dramatic instincts ara
decidedly inferior to his lyrical II offered an advantage
His method OF treating the narrative element with
baritone solo and choral repetioul is not auay shappy
and In few instances In tho earlier
norton OF the work tempts to
despair OF much good coming from II, but the musical
poets mods are ounumbered many times by his energetic
waxing moments. and when once one s In the current
there IA no denying that the music takes firm hold on
the fancy and conures up the mood which should reus
from contemplation OF the gruesome tale that is the
subiect OF the cantata. This subeetmatter
a legend which has had a great fascination for
posts story -tellers and, musicians the coming Of
hosty lover for bride at the midnight hour noe
turual Journey with host OF attendant horrors cu!-
minating at cock-crOw with the discovery that tho
bridal chamber is a grave, the importunato lover
skeeton The tale received its eloquent relation
I'm Birgers fam Gus ballad "LenOre" which Sir Walter
Scout introduced TO English readers by his excellent
translation rather paraphrase. This ballad Noss n'
forms U.s. was suggested by story which the poet heard
servant maid relate, which occurred the poetic lines
tlaws he
scuee" and the dialogue between the spectre and tho
b,nless Maiden" Graut Lebcnen auch I" Vie sOllto
mir grauen Ich bin ia bel dir out o. Whch burger
constructed the refrain which has such overwhelming
dramatic force his ballad and which has been 80 mar
velou.y translated into musical tones by Raft IN his
Lenore symphony. The legend Is common to nearly
all the countries Of Europe. The poem OF . j. Erben,
ued by Dyorak for cautata presents Of two Bo
hemiau versions. This differs from the German
tale in that the journey from the home OF the
maiden to the churcbyard In which the dreadful dHo
melt takes place is made on foot and the MAIDEN IS
saved In the last extremity through the merits Of
prayer TO tho Virgin. II a singular circumstance
that the tale was presented OF the works
posed Tor the last birmingham festival and that in both
instances happier ending was used An episode IN
Mr. AndertOn's Yue Tide told the Icelanic version
OF the legend, which the ullucky maiden is named
Gudrun. she ike the German Lenore. rides behind
her spectre lover but unlike her saved from desruc.
ton by catching hold the rope of the lychgate bell as
she falls from tho phautOA holse =. ,,,. .,,o p.to
Il would unquestonably be unfair to Judge the Bono
man poem by the English version which Is trans,a-
tion by Rev. Dr. IrOutOeckot an earlier iausAtoh
into crnan IL is scarcely be expected Of any poem
that it viii much literary merit IN translation
twice removed wnen the translator moreover Dound
by feters OF the music We therefore prefer 20 *
oneratr Bohemian poet from tue many he.eganSes
and manifest aD'urdlles OF INC EhE.sh 2o,A, lI.s
done certain variations from burgers DdiIdu appear
which brief notice. Ihat The heroine Is COM
peel to walk thirty miles m mEer b
the Journey made In the same time one hundred miles
and no carries double The added
one difficulty to task Of the composer by rOObng him
OF the chaLce to utilize continuous rDythmlcal move
parts such energy to the last division Ot Kan gym
phouy. A. recompense, however ne gained ia t"o
re aed -Odes opportunity OF which he made most
admirable use. Three times IL the WearsOme harcA no
spectral Bridegroom stops and bids ms bIie casi Oh
prayer-bOOk Chsple and cross AS hlndrdnsss % her
ur0yre, These episodes which Occuru The progress or
p1,I, tafs ,re treated In a manner To the charm of
which lover Of musIs at once expressive anu Oeau-
ful can deaf Another difference between nc YER
sons is the motive OF the divergent endings Burgers
heroine Ia her agony the return OF Art lover olas.
pheucs God aud her awful end the puu' nent Visited
prsys Tor her lovers return her death and ner
salvation at the critical moment. therefore Is only
however that she seems TO achieve It by means Of
dishonest How else are these lines to be under
'''o" Thou hast before me ever gone
By risky paths / followed on.
sull thine IL Is the first to be,
Make thou the leap, I'll follow the"
He eapt the wall with sudden power.
live lathom full or somewhat more.
The maiden then. in deadly fright
BetOOk hersef to hcadoug hiSht.
Perhaps it s not considered wrong to lie to ghost IN
There are eighteen numbers in the eantata.
Eleven Of them are hAfatNoi 6N orcbestTa wTa beag,
the chief part though the voices do their
9bSy desert6e three Of the remaining i've unbers
duets tenor and soprano whlch give OUT the
dialogue between the two chic per'onaSes OF the drama
two are the prayers before and after the gnosty journey
Of tho uckess maiden. Mr; Dvorak, as has been ln'
tnated makes Use OF Oret phrases TO NhcA tne Isle
ers are al liberty 70 attach specific meanings We have
been unable to find IN them any coh'ieraOe uestee OK
appropriateness, or to note an! OF nose ehe,I'o - .
ustormatons which are among the lraseNolthy eAt.
ures OF the best writing OF This kind The majority OF
the effects which Mr.. DYorak achieves WIN tnem 40
achieves los means OF changes IN harmony ahd or
cbestral color Their principal use is TO give uhy o
structure To the composition NeN ,v'oo.
with the greatest freedom aud the most obvious devices
OF realism used with Charming Nahhhcss "hu u-
auslous TO such chimes the midnight hour occur We
m near thG 'sntEs eocE AL these bits OF dr,i1eston
being accompli shed by musical symbols when nave 3e-
use OF them lies in the fact they do not occur as so
lated sounds. but axe factors OF the HuslcaI psce
figures in the accompaniment. or the freshness
suavity and beauty OF DyorAks me.oa'es; 'n9 ~,
%pnaSSpS aE aSmeSis fn'' ;e Savonc tuctare noue,
abe) and the occasional unconvenjlons.iy ,b ~ nor
harmones Il is not necessary 10 speak ~ lenH'u,
have we time. They un & with the ulmos. reiI.rL ~;
ID the handling OF his instruments TO maze up fhSt
real beauty against which the stron-est ~ ~.
can be urged "a that 1t lacks the dramatic iOl
supreme moments which great musical D'''N'''''
The concertante by Raf Is a compos.'oss syen ~
four movements descriptive or ia, 'bslong,
ing nighC and daybredk. IL ,13st ia
TO little cultivated class OF compositions oil w. m
most notable example is Beethoyens " mora ma
ta.is Tnis truly beautiful work was plainly .Io
insriration OF Rars composition, though the irep,e
bic symphOust could not resist the temp T1e
TEND Tho form and rive II symphonic ch@aoleI ~.
dependence on BeethOvens model is most oo'
first movement, In which, as IN the "ChoIA Nsnt. A
the pianist pre- udes his instrument uhtL nc edyops
melody OF simple structure lhls ne Insn I ,.Eas IL
fhroush several variations the orchestra theh 20 bs
II u and continues tho dalliance, Whereupoh ;-aat.
chorus Jons instruments aud gives IL r..bos IL
mrut. The composition is unequal, anu " !, IA
entertaining rather than profound or
| NOT disclose Mr Rummcls great abllty ass p''''
though IL made plain his musicanshlp "a. ,,o, mora
The choir OF the PHI harmonic society ulI ner.
than the principals to give the cantatA a" 90 t,.s 10
formnnce There was ample Intelligence ahu .ni
the sinsing OF Nine Hastrcter. MT MocAti'so 's.,Scts