New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-02
70 the Editor of The Tribune.

70 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Mr. Tuthlll, the secretary of the 0ratorio So
cety, who undertakes TO set The Tnbunes music re-
viewer right with reference TO the accomplishments
used at the recent performance of The Mcssah, FUR
nishes the last Illustration that has Gomez under my
notice OF the danger character Of little knowledge
when that, as in this instance. is borrowed so
far as his letter deserves an answer at ALL It was
answered by the fuller discussion OF the question: OF
the Messiah Accomplishments In The Tribune OF
last Sunday, that discussion having been written be-
fore knew that Mr.. Tuthili had undertaken TO cor
rect certain errors In The Tribuncs criticism There
would therefore be no wisdom in spending further
space and time IN giving Mr.. Tuthill and Mr. Dam
rosch Information touching the orchestra which Ian
del employed I'm his admired oraorio had not Mr..
Tuthin raised an issue on which have a few words
to say.
In implying that the accompanments used by Mr.
Damrosch wore not essentially those which had re-
ceivcd Mozarts additions, Mr. Tuthill Is guilty OF A
deception. To all intens and purposes they were
Mozarts work, and the excisons which Dr. Damrosch
made do not exonerac his from criticism based
on the doubling OF the wind instruments
c Mozars score under the delusloD that thereby he
reproducing, far possible, the orchestra as
used by Handel himself am sorry that Mr. Tut
hls by his laundering effort to defend thes present
conductor Of the Oratorlo Society. compels me TO say
what out Of respect for the memory of tie late Goa
ducOr should have preferred not 10 say thai thc
late DR.. Damrosch never vol the right TO be set up
as an authority on the question Of a proper perform
ance OF Handcl's music. Ills undignifird reading OF
the :" Glory to Cod, chorus. with Turkish pa'Iol
effect based on a fantastic Interpretation OF some
marks of expression set for trumpet part which was
omitted in the usca by the Doctor for three or
four years after the undersigned had sci him right In
the premises ard until the appearance Of Rockstlos
book, is still fresh in the memory of many amateurs
I'm New-Yori: and II inclined further to
question his sincerity and knowledge in the publication
Of Mozarts score, attention might be called to the
fact that the wood-wnd parts which Mozart added
to the accompaniment OF The People thai walked In
Darkness, and which have been criticised by the
pudss more severely than anything else In the score
ever since the days OF Thbaut used at all of Dr.
Damroschs performances OF the oratorio. and again
last Thursday evening But Dr. Daniosch never
tried the experiment Which The Tribune coniemDs II
may interest Mr. Tnthill to learn that the ins'ru-
mentation of Handel, whose "olignal delicacy,' he
saws. Dr. Damrosch desired 10 FROM Mozart
additions. consisted of a doubling OF tho choral
voices by the strings with parts Tor the trumpets ana
drums in fOul five instances. only, anI The organ
introduced according to the taste and fancy OF the
player. . ,,.,
In conclusion let recall c'rcumst incc which
may furnish a crumb of comfort TO Mr.. tu'hlll
Three years ago Mr.. Thomas doubled MS Wooi-Wnl
Messiah I'm Brooklyn. Bui with fr)rr appIeca,
ton Of the needs thus caused he largely augmented
his strings that his band numbered over 100 Ihe
additional instruments he brought In at the cDnaAea
of the choruses as Handel used 10 dos judging from
the frequent Indications con rplesii' ana srhla
rcpien' which Mr. R0ckstro says one Of his con-
Quoting scores bear in the composers handwmtinB'
Respectfully, III. T. kREuBltl+
New. York Ian. l. l.SGg