Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-03
A TRIFLE TOO HIGH.
BESSIE Bramble Fears the May Festi-
val Will Net Be a Success.
NOT ENOUGH POPULAR MELODY.
The Music Of Wagner, for Instance, VIII
Hardly Be Appreciated.
WORK OF TIE OLD CAsrArA SOCIETY
lwa1rrrx ron tn. D1srArou.,

| iwaIrrrH ron TIE DrsrAroH.i
The programme of the coming May Fes-
tival may prove to be az Exceedingly
brilliant and attractive" as one of our good
musical judges seems to think. 1t is sim
cerely to be hoped. however, that it may fin
ally be set forth as a financial, as we'll as an
artistic success. If it SO turns out, 1T will
show that the conductor has guaged the
elevation of the public taste correctly.
A number of years ago the old Csntata
Society started out with this laudable OBJ
ject in view. with.a the glowing enthus-
iasm Of youth, and full of fair hopes, the
society was organized. fl mistake not, it
was the outcome of the "Oratorio of the
Messiah" as given at the Sanitary Fair by
the singers of Pittsburg for the benefit Of
the soldiers in the field. Everyone who
could sing was eager and willing to take
part. This was tine first time that many
people had ever heard the sublime work OF
the great master-Handel. It is not too
much to say that the effect was as thrilling
and uplifting then as perhaps it was when
given in Dublin over century ago under
the direction of the composer himself. This
occasion was the grand triumph of Handel's 3
life, and made up to him in measure for
the i'll success of other works, and the dis
appointment and bitterness of which he had
so large share.
Sacrificed Hoops for the Evening.
Women in those days must have been
either more enthusiastic about music or they
were vastly more intent upon making money
for charitable objects than they are to-day,
for it is related that upon this first produc-
tiAp nf nha lxO -
60 without their hoops for the purpose of
crowding in few hundred more people as
listeners to the divine strains of "The Mes
siah." History does not record whether this
sacrifice OF fashion was through apprecia-
ton of the music or the desire to build mn
the fund for the Irish sufferers from debt.
but it was more likely the latter. and
perhaps O more matter OF fashion or pre.
judice Is shown by the fact that "The Mes.
siah" was by no means SO popular in Eng
land.
Handel was the head of faction and
some of the fashionable people of hi. day
were his bitter enemies. Hence great tea
parties were projected card parties ar.
ranged and entertainments in various
forms devised ON the evenings when
Handel's great works were to be
produced. The aristocracy in England set
the fashion, and they, through Ill will
toward the composer, sat down on 1.-THE
Messiah" but it made hit with the people
as it does to-day. Everybody knows the
story and can appreciate the sentiment.
Moreover the music excites the emotions
and thrills the heart of the multitude and
captures them for the time being Is do
the magnetic utteranoes of true eloquence.
Appeals to the Common People.
Blaine holds the soul and main body Of
the Repubii party, while its reasoning
and scholarship form q mugwump faction.
1ngersoll can command an audience, and
carry it all with him at the time, though 1t
may afterward repudiats his sentiments In
cold blood. So it may be imagined was the
power and eloquence OF John Wesley, whose
influence has been an inspiration and O
rock to stand by to one Of the most powerful
of sects.. Great causes, great deeds, great
men have always been able to stir the world
and fire the popular heart. The MASTER
piece of Handel appeals to and reaches the
people, rs do the works of Shakespeare. It
does not require "culchaw," European pol
ish or loads of learning to take in Hamlet"
or Macbeth" or "Romeo and Juliet, {"
The gallery gods can see their good points
and appreciate their. truth to nature az
readily, it would seem, as the critics and
students who spend their lives in the analy-
sis of its language and meaning, and as to
whether the learned and scholarly Bacon,
or the plain peasant and strolling actor Of
Stratford- wrote them or not.
The touch OF nature that makes the whole
world kin is in Shakespeare, and the world
recognizes it.
The power of '.The Messiah"is So felt in the
Christian world. It does not require a stu
dent of theology to understand it. It does
not need preacher to expound its meaning.
1t tells the story OF the Savior Of the world,
as prophesied, and fulfilled, and believed.
But while it appeals to all people, Handel
hardly considered it his finest work. His
favorite was "Theodora," in which is en-
shrined the exquisite gem, "Angels, ever
bright and fair"
Why Handel Was Unpopular.
But with all hisgenius Handel was what
is known in these days as "crank." He |
was cross and cantankerous, as very many |
musicians are, and to this doubtless was due
much OF his unpopularity in England. |
Strange to say that with lives and talents |
devoted to harmony musicians are in their |
the most discordant OF |
all people. 1t may perhaps be that
to this is owing the fact |
that since the Cantata Society was
first inspired by 'The Messiah" to elevate
the public taste in music, to make the peo-
pie ashamed of their ballad loving. and
turn with admiration and appreciation to
the grand and noble compositions of the
great masters, this elevation has rarely been
shown as substantial enough to insure
financial success. The people are ALWAYS
willing to pay for what they want, but to
give token of the effects of this sought for
and long-desired improvement in the
musical taste of the people, they must show
themselves enthusiastic in behalf of German
and classical music.
To convince the members,of the old Can.
tata Society that their seed-sowing has re-
suited In plentiful harvest of elevation"
The coming May Festival must be brilliant
and attractive saccess. That the influence
,f the original organization has been far
,eaching and good is quite manifest, but
With the squabbles, the fusses, the tactic ms
md the 6ghtings. it is alec plain that envy,
md jealousy, and bigotry are as potent
,ow as then, and as in Handel's day, when
,e broke himself up over the composition Of
italian operas that nobody cared for or
Sould 60 to hear. :, =.
The People Must Grow Yet
That the cause of music has grown In
Pittsburg since those days Of the rise, de-
lime and fall of the Cantata is clearly evil
lent. Among the small and select societies
devoted to music and art-in the fashionable
.hurches where millionaifes are as devoted
o costly singers, and must have them as