New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-09

MUSIC.
BACHs PASSION MUSIC.


n there Is any work In tho whole literature %
choral music whose choice by ths orstoro Society
ought to invite leniency toward shortcomings In IT.
performance IL IL Bach's Passion According to St
Matthew" Not only Is this music extremely dihicub
to sing but there is so much In It that a yet for
elgn tho popular taste that to give it demands
considerable sacrifice Its first complete performance
Ia New-YOrk took place in 1850 when tho late Dr.
Damrosch brought It forward with the aid OF tho
Oratoro Society. 1t given second time four
years later and last night ser another lapse OF four
years, 1t was again repeated. Mr. Walter Damrosch
could not do wiser than to perpetuate tho tradition OF
periodical revival OF the grand old work, and when
popular taste Is rpo for 1t will DO glad TO 500 10
alternate with Handel Messiah at each Christmas
tide IL cannot win sufficient appreciation TO command
for itself annual performance In the Eastertids
Last nights per formance haa It's Disappointing, but
also its gratifying features. The chorus neither
powerful enough confident enough to give full
effect to the dramatic spirit with which Bach infused
many OF the ch0ruses In the work, particularly those
In which tho feelings OF tho people contemplating tho
last earthly scenes Of the divine tragedy Viewed
Bach spite Of his archaic FORMS Is still among tho
most modern OF composers far tho spirit Of his
music s concerned, and there Is way In which
recognition tho profound beauty OF this Passion
could quickly be gained than By performance
which should do Justice to the colossal energy end
power OF such numbers that marvellous composition
In the first part In which two solo voices bewsi tho
taking of Christ while at intervals the chorus bursts
n with It's indignant commands, Leave Him ~ Bind
Him Not - etc., until all proving vain, tho cuinns
ton OF righteous rage IS reached In the double chorus
"Ye AgLtnngs Ye Thunders In Clouds Arc 70
yanished" 1t Is difficult to imagine more truth
fully expressive piece OF music than this or ono whose
unique power would be more promptly recognized II
n were but worthily performed. For Tho wondr0bs
tenderness of the religions feeling In the chorae' ana
choruses not dramatic In tho sense already ndcat.d
inc uerfDrniance lat night found cfedtabic vchcic
though a tendency to indulge In soto voce singing
produced monotonou, effect. ., .o.,,,, ooru
Tho solo parts in the hands OF worthy com
many, namely, Miss Fila Earle, Miss Emily Minant.
William Donnison, Max Heinrich ana Emu fiso'os
mirabo training and cvicont sympathy with iho
music made his performance more interesting tnah
around all of which Bach wcsyes halo Of harmo9'es
from tho vlOns and barring the Difficulty be iound IN
pronouDcng the -honored stunning p.'cEs 10 'np
German tongue, snch as th' and W. his ereaenen
of tho text surprisingly good Miss Earo anu
Mss wnant sang with panstahing ndetS 70 ,h ,no
nriutcd page and there much beauty IN tncr
tones though they disclosed uniamIarity with mo
style demanded by tho music Most OF ths dramas ~.
Heinrich who Is so good musician that 10 seems 10
be equally at home In all kinds CT music Mr. Ign,
nlson's sweet voice and suavo manner OF singn;
showed TO good advantage In the pathetic ar ~
Watch With My Dear Jesus Away. VIII. VIII ~ II; 81,
aulste choral res ponses but his treatncnt vi on,
Relatives was wanting In vitality ana deciama'oi'
fervOr.
THE BEETHOVEN QUARTETTE CONVERT.
The Beethoven QuartettO Club gave It's thf anu
final chamber concert for tine season last h'S" IN
Chlckerng Hall. Miss Adelaide foresman, contfano'
Mr. W H. sherwood. pianist, and Mr. ii. X shelly
organist assisted Tho clubs numbers wcro quar-
tctte op. 90, No. g. in Major," BcothOvcn' Two
movement from Quartette. Op 1872, No. =, ontnieh
"The Fair Maid of the Mil"-a cyclical tone poem ic
six movements, Rail and Rubinseln's ouintete' op
co. In C miner for piano end strings.
Miss Torcsman sang songs by Schubert LiSsch
and II. r. Shelly. Her singing was not up to tho
standard OF the OCCASION nor was tho Shelly song,
10 say tho least entitled to place on The prog ammo
The Beothoven numt er splcndidly played so lar
as technique Is concerned, but IL was not gwen with
nearly much intelligence and feeling as hubns;clns
number. This beautiful cOmpOslt GA was reserv'd
for the last and we'll worth waiting for aiter
hearing long programme Tho clubs rendition OF y
might le call ID a yaedctorv OF successfnl series Oh
concerts. MIR She woods playing In that number -
deserving Of much praise. There was largo auuoho'
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