Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-02
THE LIGHT OF ASIA.
The Choral Society Closes Its Seventh
Season.

The Washington Choral Society. closed it
seventh season last evening with perform
ance of Dudley Bucks Light Of Asia" and i
was gratifying that the service it did to Amer
lean art and to the music lovers of the city by
repeating this work met with such a hearty
response on the part of the public as to fill the
hall to its utmost capacity. The Light OF
Asia" was given its first public performance BY
the Choral Society two years ago, but withou,
the orchestral accompaniment. An energetic
and liberal effort was made this year to give il
with every possible adjunct to a most complete
presentation-the composers personal direc-
ton, which Mrs. Thurbers interest in Amer
lean art provided the means Of securing. and
the assistance Of the Boston symphony Orches-
ira The work as made known under these
conditions of completeness showed itself
clearly to be in the nature Of compromise
between the oratorio, whose length and gen.
eral outlines it shows, and more modern
form. The composer has made frequent use
OF the LEADING motive" principle, for instance;
put by ITS application in composition of this
KIND, especially when the motives are SO few
ana so frequently repeated, it is shorn of al
most all ITS force and potent dramatic signifi-
canoe.
The CHARACTER OF THE MUSIC
on the whole is pronouncedly lyrical; and the
skiiifui selection of the words from the poem
has been made evidently to favor this concep-
ton. Indeed, Notwithstanding the several
choruses In fugato style and several passages Of
exceptional dramatic and picturesque strength,
there Is such prevalence of sweetness suavity
and melodic grace as finally TO become we'll
nigh cloylng. Apart from the question whether
music OF this quality can properly claim
brotherhood with poem of such great power
and ioftiness OF conception as Arnold's, Mr..
Bucks setting is seen to be a work OF as high
an order of merit as this country has yet pro-
duced. It is the work of a musician of high
aims and earnest purpose, amply equipped
with all technical knowledge and having some
thing to say. The skill and expressiveness and
frequently even the impressiveness of his
choral writing are prominent, whether in fugai
or IN homophonic treatment; and the same
thorough command OF writing for the voice is
shown In the solo declamatory passages. While
the Instrumentation scarcely ever has much
distinction, it is everywhere sound and effec-
tive. Mr.. Buck was governed by right feeling
when he rejected the tempting opportunity for
employing Oriental imagery and Eastern
local color in his music. 1t may well be
doubted whether such devices, however inter-
estlng IN themselves, would truly comport with
the dignity and impressiveness of the theme he
was illustrating, and his music is stronger with
out them.
MUCH CREDIT DUE.
its singing, which showed a sure knowledge Of
the work and 3 far finer finish as to shading
and rhythmic niceties than it has displayed at
Its previous concerts this winter. 1t evidently
wrought IL the fullest understanding with Mr.
Buck, for which the admirable training of DR..
sherman bad so well prepared it. 1t was a
serious handicap that Mr.. Rieger, the tenor
sololst engaged tor the performance, was de-
tanned by illness; and his place had to be filed
by Mr.. Mcfarland Of the chorus. He sang the
music almost at sight and acquitted himself
with much credit in these most unfayorable cir
cumstances. MIR. Bushnell who took the bari
tone part, has an excellent voice Of sympathetic
quality and sings with intelligence and some
understanding OF the value OF good declama-
tory style. Miss Dutton possesses none Of these
advantages in very marked degree and her
voice at times was decidedly unpleasant Both
these singers seemed to be inexperienced in
the sort Of work they were called ON to do and
made many mistakes in their entrances. The
Boston orchestra Of course did much good
work in the orchestral support, but they, too,
in several places we're at variance with the con-
ductor.