New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-27
MUSIC AT CINCINNATI.
BACHS "CIIRISTMAS ORATORIOn AND
BRUCKNER'S TIE DEUMn

POPULAR CONCERT IN TIE AFTERNOON
QUALITY OF MR. THoMAs's CHICAGO BAND
-EXCELLENT WORK OF THE CHORUS
,BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TBlBusEi
Cincinnati, May 26.-Tie third day of the music
festival brought forth two concerts, one devoted TO
exploiting the orchestra and the majority OF the
solo singers In the afternoon. and one OF more
serious and significant character in the evening.
The afternoon concerts at these festivals are In
composition, like the sunday evening popular ores
given By Mr. seid and Mr.. Damrosch during the
musical season In New-York The principal singers
Tide their battle horses. The orchestra helps to add
variety TO the list, and the predominant
spirit in the audience Is one OF hearty
and unaffected enjoyment. Naturally the
features OF such concert cannot interest
Easter readers II is enough that for the sake OF
the integrity Of the record mention be made OF the
fact that the orchestra played Brahms's symphony
In F. the overture 10 "Oberon" Mr. Thomas's tran.
scrfpuon Of Chopin's funeral march, and LISTS
"Mazeppa," and that the singers We're Miss Smith
and Mrs. Lawson; the local celebrities. Nine Mielke,
Nine RlttclGOezc. Mrs. Deverc-Sapio and Mr..
LlCye.
Tie concert In the evening was n very different
affair, and in every respect up the dignIhed plan
which Mr. Thomas has strven SO consistently 10 main
tain the choice OF competition is concerned 1t
began with parts one and two Of Bachs Christmas Ora
torio. and then. after SclumannS first symphony. pro
duccd composition which literally as well as fgnrl-
lively. has made Il good deal OF noise I'm III, world
during the last few years This was Anton Bruckner's
Tc Deum' for chorus, solo and orchestra The Christ
mas Ortoro, or rather the modest portion Of II that
given, made better impression than Bach's
music Is wont TO do in this part OF The country,
Circumstance for which credit belongs 10 the
cheerful and pleasing character OF the music:
the inS!nuaiing charm Of the sumber song for
contrao solo, ana the pastoral lovcness Of the
symptom, which separates the parts.
This symphony and the elaborate accompaniment
to the slumber song brought prominently TO notice
the excellence Of the woo1wind choir OF Mr.. Thomass
Chicago orchestra In the Brahms symphony In the
afternoon. well in the Beethoven symphony
played Wednesday, ii made plain that the
organization which Mr. Thomas has controlled for the
last six or eight months is not wclLbaanccd band
It's brass excellent in itself shows a tendency to
become stridcn AT times and then it crushe, all the
vitality of the wocdwnd tone, whose predominant
character Is determined largely by the oboe OF NJ
Bour Wit. its engaging quality. but tiny and trcklng
quantity. The string tone. moreover. Is wanting III
breadth and muscuarity and the efforts which Princi-
pal BcndX makes 70 supply the deficiency by vigorous
bowling frequently results In d.srcsSnGly ragged al
tacks The Chicago opinion that the orchestra which
Mr.. Thomas took along In pat from New YORK ana
recruited in Chicago IS the best OF s recent orgal1d-
tons is not based facts II is not ever the peer OF
the band with which he gave his last dGnifed series
Of concerts IN New York.
The Bach selection cyacted comparatively little of
the cloru, but that It'll" performed in an exceed
ingly crcdablc manner Indeed. there are features
Of the choir which entite l.. il not 10 the unique
position TO which the patriotic Clnclnnaiian Is III
clincd 10 lift everything connected with his festival.
at least 10 profound respect The excellence OF IL
material could not be more eloQucntN atcScu IMAM
1t has been by the results achieved under mano Ill
II It could be doubled in number without los In
qualify and the present spirit be maintained
ii would be an admirable choir for festival purpose
and all the artistic raiSOn dctrc which used - exist
in connection with the Cincinnati festivals wOnd be
restored II is worth noting. though it will
seem n sclfcvidcrt proposition wherever Nj
Thomas IS known, tina; the sentimental stvle Of
singing in the chorac> which prevailed in the
Dratorio society in New York WIS not tolerated
here. The old Lutheran HYMNS were sung In
healthy manner. though with r"pidiy OF
tempo disturbing to the traditional notions |
which adhere TO them, and which are |
justified by the circumstance that in the |
olden time they actually sung b. the congrc- |
cation. The Handel and Haydn society. at
it, recent performance Of the - Matthew
Passion. made an chort to lntoduc, the |
custom in Boston. The effect wa, 10 hcighten |
the impression that the performance Of the Passion
Music i, a religious function. but II went far TO rob
the affair Of the monotony Usually complained Of !
There Is nothing Ike personal participation T. irai'
Interest.
But the most noteworthy feature OF the
performance Of HachS ofaOhO the sing |
ing Of Mr.. Lloyd. completely /
artistic accom- lshment thnn his sngnI Of
Haste, We shepherds" can scarcely be concel:e';
IL i, simply marvellous Madam Ritter G0ctz' >an-
the sumbcr song with much beauty Of voice and man
ner. and shared the h)nO,S Of the evening with the
tenor.
fancy thar the name Of Anton Brlckner wOuli |
not De Looked at In such sdewise manner II T. In
New-York II 1t had been Introduced By his "Te Dcum'
Instead Of three symphonies which Messrs. scidl. |
Thomas and Damro'ch have brought forward there. |
When his most admired symphony The seventh In |
E-maor performed by the Philharmonic Society five
seasons ago onetbd Of the audience left the concert
room after the second movement. The "Tc Dcum' |
would have held the attention OF It's hearers |
In the end. II l. work OF remarkable |
originality and power. though neithe- the cor
sorvative nor the ultra-pIogressst will be likely
TO set 1t down impeccalie. 1t IS marked " some
of the characteristics Of his symphonic writing, cs-
ueciay by the for pedal points and daring
Earmcnes Bruckncrs bOldncSs in this latter respect.
Indeed sometimes leads him TO be completely In |
different TO ones cars. IL. l.. H.