The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-04-27
THE GOUNoD SOCIETY.

Mendelssohn's "St. Paul" was the ora
 torio given last evening by the Gounot
 society, in the presence of a large ano
 enthusiastic audience. The music lov.
 ing population of this city are deprived
 of the privileges enjoyed by cities that
 hold their regular musical festivals And 1t is on this account that the
 Gounod society Is looked to for the
 medium that shall furnish us with mus
 ioal performances that stand in pleas ing contrast with those given by enlin-
 ent organizations of the great cities.
 The combination of a powerful and
 selected chorus of drilled voices and a
 complete orchestra, rendering compost
 tions of the highest order, music that
 emanates from the depths of the cradle
 of both the Jewish and Christian faiths,
 works of the most dignifed character and composed by the most renowned
 musical geniuses, demands more than
 a passing criticism, and without enter ing upon such task it is befitting at the present time that a retrospectbon
 of the position, musical rank, influence
 and example which the Gounod society
 holds, should be made; also of it's early
 rise, it's struggles and the work accom- plished during it's existence. It would
 be erroneous to say that the Gounod society should be given the exclusive credit for endeavoring to give and pro- mote oratorio in this city, as the must cal history of New Haven records, with pride, the existence of a society that rendered works of this character as early as thirty-f1ve or forty years ago. This organization was known as the
 Mendelssohn society, and reading it's history, a record is found of very fine rendition of "St. Paul" under the
 dictatorship of Dr. w. Dexter Ander- son, on December 10, 1867. The follow ing year this society performed Haydn's Creation" and then disbanded. Then followed period in which musical progress here was, for some years, al- most at g. standstill, compared with the rapid growth and progress of our city, and many years intervened before the birth of the Gounod society. Tn con- sideration of these facts, it should be admitted while an inferior or passable performance of an oratorio would have sufficed years ago, to-day the highest peak of musical culture must be att tained to satisfy our cultured and llyp- ercritical audiences. So, upon the ruins of a once noble structure, new edifice has been erected, that found in its re- naissance and recruited to It's ranks, singers, endowed with fresh and wig orous voices, and who, when ably guild ed and instructed in the knowledge of using and blending their voices in chor- al work by talented and spirited con- ductor. compose the Gounod society of to-day.
 With their infant struggles and early sacrifices, the loyalty and persever- ance of some of these self-denying men and women who stood to assist in the hour of need must not be forgotten and their praises could not be lauded in a few words. By this loyalty the Gou- nod society has achieved undisputed uccesses-successe that were well de served and are acknowledged by every well-meaning and true musician.
 But the prevalent question at the present time Is, What will be the fu- ture of the Gounod society during the next twenty-five years of its existence and what influence will it wield over the musical history of New Haven? It Is an important question and one that must be dear to every lover of music. The greatness of Boston in all it's musi- cal glory and achievements calls for emulation in this city. Remember also the musical festivals of Worcester and Springfield. Where are those of our city? With our Gounod as a vocal so- ciety, with the strains of a newly found- 1 ed symphony orchestra still ringing in | our ears, what are the causes that keep the musical fame of New Haven mini l mized when compared with that of the 1 cities named?
 The greatest impeachment to such a l development and it's completion is a l structure which lacks the proper space, l and acoustics for such | musical performances. The theatrical 1 stage is strictly adapted for the drama: it also serves for comedy. The soleIn nifty of oratorio is out of place when given in a theater, and the absence of | 0 pipe organ despoils it of it's sacred The need of a large and proper edifice called a ''nusic-hall," with it's auditorium in contrast to theA galleries found in theaters, is keenly l felt; one in which naught except thei strains of music of the old masters and the new of the oratorio or symphony, should ever disturb or mar it's august | and consecrated walls.
 It seems that such a temple of music should be designed and built by our own great university, to be controlled by her only and to be offered for the of the highest ideals of art. This edifice would be a welcome md appropriate "heimath" for such a society as the Gounod and the sympho- ny orchestra. And in time, by perfect ng both organizations and combining hem this city will hold as grand festi- 1als as those which are given in the states. s.
 May NOt Gpnut fI,a T1auaaOd |