The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-15
MAX BRUCH'S CANTATA
A Brief Description of Fair FL
len, or Relief Of Lucknow"
May Music Festival-The
New Book.

At the May Musical Festival on the sec
ond night, choral work of Max Bruch
will be heard in this city for the first
time. This work is Fair Ellen. or the Re-
lief of Lucknow which received its rep
resentation in this country at the Worces-
ter festival of 1888.
The heroic defense OF Lucknow by it's
British garrison in 1857, during the Sepoy
rebellion. is of the most memorable
events in the English administration of
India The world is familiar with the
story of the disaffection of the native
troops. the failure of Sir Henry Lawrence,
who was in command, to overcome the
mutiny, the stubborn defense which the
brave little garrison made against the re-
peaved assaults of the native troops, their
temporary assistance from Outram and
Havelock who cut their way into the city,
and the final relief which was brought to
them by Sir Colin Campbell. OF all the
stirring incidents of the siege, however,
not one has made such strong impression
the fanciful story of the Scotch girl
who heard the slogan of the MacGregors
far away, and knew the highlanders were
coming to their rescue. IL is this incident
which Bruch has used as the theme of his
cantata. The story is Identical with the
one often told in prose and poetry. but
the dramatis personae differ. Instead of
General Lawrence we have Lord Edward.
and instead of familiar Jessie Brown we
have Fair Ellen"
The work opens with orchestral pre-
lude of eight measures introducing a bari
tone solo, May God in His Mercy be Good
minor, in which Lord Edward bemoans the
beleaguered city. This is Followed by
chorus of soldiers, citizens ana ana
he'll households.
gallant veterans of Lord Edward,
though sad and dispirited are not utterly
eS that she hears sounds or Ine camp
bells Are Coming" and encourages them
Her song is intensified by the faint sounds
of the orchestra. in which the drum ana
pibroch, are distinctly heard; LORD. k6rd Ed I'd
maiden sore distraught." The sad ana
gloomy condition Of the royal hearts ddrt;ct
i'm the following chorus, when nearer ana
nearer the last hour came. -
Max Bruch, the composer OF ooo ar III FL FL
ceived his first musical instruction from ms
mother a favorite soprano singer IN the
Rhenish music festivals. At the age OF
elaven he became a pupil of K. Breiden-
stein and already tried his hand at compo-
sition in the larger forms; at fourteen ne
wrote q symphony which was puOncly per
formed in his native city. He gained the
Mozart scholarship at Frankfort-on-thS-
Main in 1852, and was for tour years spe
composition. After a short residence IN
Leipzig he returned to Cologne where ne
remained until 1861, devOting his time 10
teaching music and composition. After the
death OF his father QS6D he visited many
of the German musical centers, studying
for snort periods in Berlin Leipzig Vienna,
Dresden and Munich, finally stopping at
Mannheim, where he brought out his Lore
lei' and wrote QS62-6D his "FrlthJot saga,
Roman Song of Triumph Flight of the
Holy Family" and other choral works. In
1S65-67 he was musical director at Coblenz;
in lS67-70 court kapellmeiSter in Sender
hansen during which time he wrote his
first violin concerto, two symphonies, etc
His opera "Eermione' was brought out
i'm 1872 in Berlin, where he spent couple
of years. To this period belongs his "Odys-
seus."
His more recent choral works, "Armin-
| ius'' and the Song of the Bell were com
posed during his residence at Bonn QS73-S).
After visiting England. where he. brought
| out several Of his works, he succeeded
Stockhausen QS79 in the dictatorship or
Stern's famous Choral Society in Berlin,
| and i'm 1880 he succeeded Benedict as direc-
| tor of the Liverpool Philharmonic Society
| In 1885 he composed the cantata, Achll-
| leus" which has been performed in this
| country but two three times. 1t is not
| so interesting as the "Arminius."
Bruch holds deserVedly high rank among
| his contemporaries and in his peculiar
sphere of large choral compositions is
| probably unsurpassed by any writer of the
| preSent daV.