New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-22
MUSICAL NOTES And COMMENT

Announcement is made that the Brooklyn Choral So
ciey which has heretofore given private concerts only,
will be increased in numbers and next season begin
publ1c career. Three concerts will be gwen in the
Broolvn Tabernacle under the direction OF C. Mortimer
W1ske "The Messiah" will be the first work under
taken with an orchestra OF fifty and the Of
the Tabernacle Thus far the information contained
in an official announcement made in behalf OF the
society can be printed with cheerfulness and con-
gratulaons to the society and Brooklyn The follow
ing remarks on the instrumental parts TO be used IN
the Messiah performance however not calculated
10 impress musical people with either the candor or
intelligence Of those at the head Of the enterprise
At the first concert in December complete per per.
Torrance Of the Messiah" VIII be gwen ana as lar
Brooklyn is concerned, and America too, 1t VIII Dc
an historical one When given al the Academy brass
band had TO be engaged TO play the organ parts at the
Tabernacle this will not he necessary. Again. ar
rangements are being made in Europe TO use at this
performance Instrumentation for the first time In
America. II is by the greatest OF Messiah" con
ductors, Sir Michael Costa, and is said TO be much
fnet than the one called Motsrt' sIthongh ne oI
which by is Thought 10 so disguise the work as TO
be hardly recognizable
We have no recollection Of brass band playing the
organ parts at any Academy performance. nor will
many be found to admit that Sir Michael Costa
was the greatest of Messiah conductors that
his brass band and bass drum additions to Han
del's score are wanted in America AS for Franz's
version Of Mozart's score, while II may be cnti-
cised by those who resent all interference with
stretch of words be said 10 dsgulse7 the work to the
point Of unrecognzablity. Such announcements tend
to make the judlcous doubt the artistic prospects OF
the society.
Among recent English publications OF music are to
be noted two songs from the incidental music to
"Marmion," as produced at Glasgow last spring, com
posed by A. c. Mackenzie the incidental music by
the same composer for Mr.. Irvings performance Of
@Ravenswoods arranged a panoforte duet, f.
Mundella's The Victory Of Song c. II. II. Parrys
"pAllegro" and Henry COward's Story OF Bethany
Dr. Parry's somewhat audacious effort TO give new
music ~ the lines Of Milton which Handel set. is
nevertheless surprisingly successful though the music
Ia archaic I'm STYLE Circumstance that Invites con-
tst with Handel's measures urgently as the text
Mr. Mackenzie's songs are Where Shall the Lover
Rest - and "Lochinvar7 both beautiful In melody,
graceful chivalrous and full Of sentiment. They
ought 10 find their way into concert rooms next
season. Novello Ever Co. are the publishers.
Mr. y. C. Burnap who has by no means lost MS
interest in musical matters though he Is less often
Ia the public eye and ear than formerly, sends word
10 The Tribune Of organ attracting attention IN
Paris which is constructed as 10 produce quarter
tones the suggestion having come nom NJ. Saintsaens
VINO wished 70 Obvate the difference In pitch between
the wind strnged instruments OF an orchessa, by
which, suppose, Is meant that slight difference re-
sulting from the natural tendency OF violin player
TO play In true temperament, which Is Impossible 10
players Of wind instruments constructed for playing
in equal temperament. Concerts have been Owen on
the which have greatly interested students, IS
pecialy those which have disclosed the Instruments
aoaptablitg 70 the performance Of Oriental music III
which fractional tones smaller than semtones are
utilized Mr.. Burasp says that the experiment was