Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-08
A GRAND SECULAR ORATORIO.
Arminius to be Presented by the Choral
Society Next Week.

The Washington choral society have a very
well-deserved reputation among the chOruses
of this country for their energy and enter
prise in bringing out important novelties, or
works that have almost the same interest as
novelties. Their announcement for their sew
enth season amply sustains this reputation and
promises season Of exceptional enjoyment to
Washington lovers of choral music. For the
first concert, on Wednesday evening next, the
program will consist OF Max Bruch's secular
oratorio of 'Arminus." This is very gen.
orally recognized both in Europe and in this
country as one OF the best products Of the
modern school in choral music. Its subject is
drawn from the old northern mythology
from the same source, therefore, that inspired
Wagner trilogy Of the Ring ofthe Nibelung'-
and it is not too much to say that it possesses
much OF the rugged dramatic force Of that
great music drama, in so far as the subject and
mode of treatment gave similar opportunities
a good deal Of disrepute in these
days as q form Of musical art; but Max Bruch
has done much toward rehabilitating it by such
works as ''Arminius," in which he has used all
the resources Of the modern tendency in music
to secure an almost pictorial vividness and
power in the musical illustration of his subject
The story Of "Armlnius'' deals with the resist
ance of the Teutonic nation to the approach
Of the Roman invaders; the summoning of the
savage army, the approach Of the Romans, the
mysterious prophecies Of the northern
priestess OF Wodan, the conflict itself. and the
vision Of the slain warriors carried off by the
Vaikyries to an eternity OF bliss in Walhalla
are the subjects Of the principal choruses and
solos, and are depicted with thrilling power.
Bruch delights to deal with great choral masses,
and he knows how perhaps better than any
other living writer to secure the most over
whelming effects from them. By such MEANS
with a most skillful use of variety and richness
in orchestral colOring and with an individuality
and power in the most striking effects of mod
ern developments Of harmony, does he secure
his effects, rather than by the contrapuntal de-
vices and extended fugal choruses that were
the main reliances of the old school of oratorio
writer's. The result is an intensity and impress
siveness of dramatic power that makes AR
minus" seem almost a living picture upon the
stage-an almost savage and very striking pre-
sentation Of its wild northern subject.
The enthusiasm and zeal with which the
mastered the difficulties of this work assure a
very satisfactory performance of their portion
of the task, while the soloists who have been
engaged leave equally little uncertainty as to
the excellence of the solo portions Of .'Armi-
MUS" Miss Gertrude Edmands of Boston is
one of the most gifted and artistic of contraltos
now in this country and she has won special
distinction by her singing of the contralto part
in "Arminius," while Mr.. George Prehn Of
New York, the baritone, has likewise had much
experience in singing this work. in which ne
has been very successful. Mr.. VIM. H. Lawton
tenor, Of New York, is also well known as a
musician Of high attainments, and will con
chestra will participate and there il every prom
Use OF a rendering Of "Arminius" equal in ex-
ceiience to anything that the choral society has
ever done.