The morning call., 1890-05-10
THE HANDEL AND HAYDN.

The public will be pleased to hear that
the apprehended dissolution of the Handel
and Haydn Society is at any rate postponed
for the present. a resolution adopted at
the meeting on Thursday calls for the pay
ment of regular though small dues from the
members; the proceeds, together with such
contributions as may be expected from
lovers of music, will probably suffice to
lquldate the debts of the society and to
leave small surplus in the treasury. 1t is
not to be supposed that so worthy an insti-
tuition viii be suffered to give up the ghost
for the want Of S2l13
The society labors under the disadvantage
of an unfortunate name. Handel and Haydn
were great musicians in their day; but that
day is past and it is about time that their
music, like their bones, should be allowed
to rest peacefully in the grave. 1t is said
OF English people that they enjoy oratorios;
if they do, it is another proof of the eccen-
trcity of their taste which Americans
should not grudge them. The enlightened
lover Of sweet sounds in this present day of
grace prefers a different order of music. He
grows little tired of the ointment which
ran down AarOn's beard to every note in
the gamut; and the joy which he expert
enceS at a rendering of the "Hallelujah
Chorus" is observed to increase as the chant
draws TO close. To speak irreverently of
''The Creation" or 1.-THE Messiah" of
Haydn's symphonies, or of HandePs ''Dead
March in SAUL" is to invoke the wrath of
musicians throughout the world. But they
are all like Paradise Losf'-magnificen
sublime, but just trifle above the average
public taste OF this degenerate age. The
Handel and Haydn Society will best fulfill
NJ of - 81
Stewards advice and devotes itself to pro-
ducing new music, and music in harmony
with the fashion Of the hour.
That it can easily do 1t comprises
among its members number Of gentlemen
and ladies with excellent voices, which
only need little training and practice to
lit their owners to take part in modern
opera. We have no doubt but Mr. Stewart
could, after given number of rehearsals,
give fairish representation of "ParsifaI'
or "Lohengrin" with the material at his
command. and if he ever collects a manage
able company which can perform such
works his society will not run any future
risk of dissolution for want of means. The
people OF San Francisco always stand ready
to pay money in large sums for good music;
in such case they give with no grudgng
hand.
Nor is there any reason why out of the
hundreds OF young persons who take part
IN the Handel and Haydn choruses phe-
nomenal voice or two should not be devel-
oped. The great singers of the day come
from no country in particular They are
just as likely to be born in San Francisco
as IN Milan. But wherever they first see
the light they can never achieve triumphs
unless they have an opportunity of thor
ough training as soon as the voice natures
1t is the function of such societies as the
Handel and Haydn to furnish that training,
and persons Of means who desire to see the
city progress in all arts should contribute
their mite to enable the Handel and HAYDN
to fulfill its object without pecuniary en-
barrassment