New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-15

MUSICAL MATTERS.
THE WEEKLY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
OF THE MUSICAL ART SOCIETY
THE CEREMONIES AND MUSIC
OF HOLY WEEK.

THE CEREMONIES AND MUSIC
OF HOLY WEEK.
The musical calendar for the current week is as
follows:
Monday-Aeadsmy Of Musis m Ie snee Recital
by Mrs Corinne Moore Lawson: ASadeiT n;yad 9.
MFRS u4onSsan oe esfra Rouse s
the Chicago Orchestra. Theodore Thomas COM
wednesday-Academy OF Music, p m. "Tannhau-
HAL saS p asc H
p M recital by Louis Schmidt ,jr r ANA YES
hOt ba Ms A opers rTsian and
NJ H s11sGny scce Gy:n Ad p9SS
Music ~ p m M. Der Freschitz' Academy ~, Of
ssf essssls s5 ss
Saturday-Academy OF Music. p n NE nN fomrth
Concert Of the symphony Society Metropolitan
Opera HOUSE. s p Thomas m Conductor k a
The least satisfactory of all the representations
which Mr. Damrosch's opera company mas given
was that Of Tristan und Isolde yesterday ai'ei
noon. For the ineficlency Of Frauein Eibenschutz
portrayal Of Brangdne excuse was onered py uio
fact that she had never before attempted the TASK
but II would be difficult tell why she should ever
have been asked to assume the role. FOR the quaint!
Of her voice Is not at all that required by INC iu'0
For the rest the purpose or MI. Al'ai!' MI Ian"
rosch las the representative OF the orchestra ana
1
Torrance Of the drama in the manner eNe"pii''eu
by the Irishman who played the fiddle by main
strength" So noisy Tristan was never oe'o'e
heard in New-York. Nearly all the low music "a
the second act was shreked. and most dissonahty'
too How blessed was the relief when Mr. Fischef
voice, most musically modulated came like
poultice to heal the blows Of sound. Ihere was
no surprise in the performance or MT AWAY Ds
to hear the voice of Nine klaisKy lorceu ou' u
time and harsh was something more than surpr's-
ing She seemed to have been carried OIL "er
musical feet by the intensity OF her ieen"s
For the lovers OF church music the affair OF the
week which overshadcws all others in beauty anu
significance Is the concert OF the Musical Ar "o
ciety, which will take place In Carnegie han Oh
Thursday evening. Mr.. Frank Damrosch, the ai-
rector of the society. has not only arranged Pio
gramne Of extraordinary interest but also e'i'S.u
the services Of the Oratoro Society IN oruer W s"
effect to one Of the most striking OF the selec'ohs
the "Improperia" of Palestrina lie mas aso d.
ranged to have the help of the Rev. Dr. fefiiai,u
dOrbesan and NJ CASTOR Marie Dethier respectively
one OF the priests and the organist Oh ''e |""o "
ST Francis Xlver, 10 sing chants ana pa! wv
preludes and interludes which belong 10 inc I'm -
resnonses by Palestrina with which the concert VIII
| begin The Kneisel Quartet VIII also tahc par.
in the concert the complete programme OF "h'''' -
as follows u ,,rysr
l. Three Responses
90 ..Trisiis ct anima mea."
3 ta) Improperia .......-.''''' " Iot
@, cT o ai =, d,ac Ancient Easter iynn
% "Aleiua chTist1s s srG,9Nn
L. Quartet for strings. ma or OPP a. No.
The pt KHr'S 4ri ITa5'e'
s. a) MotetAve verum Corpus ;c6aif M%zHr
pSr, so a1senT Tod das list die KGhie NAch
T. "a, Norwegian sonsIhkenas Toner M:ndss .1g
The circumstance that Mr.. Damrosch has ue-
| voted the first part of this programme to music
| composed for Maundy Thursday. Good friuas anu
Easter Day invites discussion OF the SERVICES W
! ,b,cb he went for his selections. Though hampercd
| by the necessity Of choosing music when might "e
made effective in a concert-room ito when II Is 10
be assumed the public como to be ehterthl'eu anu
| not to worship he has succeeded in finding exam
piles which are only characteristic OF their con'-
| poscrs but are also eloquent expressions OF the
| religious moods which mark the clmactic period OF
| Holy Week. This has been done with que resa'u'
moreover for variety and contrast
Holy Week (Hebdomas sancta) has been regarded
by the Church with profound reverence from the
| earliest days OF Christianity. st. Chrysostom SAID
of it, I'VE call II the Great Week, not that II CON
sists Of greater number Of days. or that the GAYS
which God has wrought in IT, for on these days was
the tyranny of the devil overthrow deain uis
| armed sin and It's curse taken away, heaven
| opened and made accessible. and men made 1eiowSS
with the angels was also called me a "a Sap
rows the DAYS Of the Cross and the Days Suffer
root Of which has been variously derived told high
| German. Char-mournng. lamentation: Iaun'
Charis-gra ciousness kindness: Gothic and Anglo
Saxon kara.pain sniering In tne cas- OF tn
to be open in Holy Week. and those confined In
prison released
The week begins with Palm Sunday Dominica In
Palmis) and eliminates In the last three days
Maundy Thursday. Good Friday and Holy satur-
day.
The services Of Maundy Thursday commemorate
the institution Of the Lords Supper and the cere-
mony Of washing a sign Of humility. The
| name by which It is known is derived from the
first word Of the antiphon which Is sung during the
| latter ceremony-"Mandatum novum do vobs-ut
! dlligats invcem" CA commandment give
YOU that ye love one another.') In Germany the
day is called Grtindonnerstag Green Thursday,
| and on It the custom Is still observed Of bringing
a special dish Of green vegetables. generally spin
ach to the table, this being supposedly relic Of
| great antiquity. The Lords Supper instituted
to take the place Of the Paschal feast Of the Jews
At this feast 1t was obligatory to eat uneavened
| bread and green herbs With the Paschal lamb; and
this custom. It is thought. is perpetuated in the
| greens Of the Germans. Holy Week is filled with
gloom. but there Is a temporary outburst Of JOY
| when the Gloria" of the mass IL sung Thurs
day Previously the bells in the towers well as
| those used to give the signals In the churches had
| been senced and their places taken by rattcs and
| blocks of wood. When the Gloria in Exce.sis Is
| sung, however, bells and organs join In the glad
| acclaim. II is the last joyous expression Of the
| week. After vespers the priest and the ministers
divest the altar OF all its coverings and ornaments.
| in commemoration OF the fact that Christ thus
dcspoiled and His garments divided by lot this be
Ing indicated by the antiphon which Is sung during
| the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS sibi vestimenta mea, ct
| super western mean miserunt sortem' C'They
| parted my garments amongst Them and upon my
vesture they cast los'). Two hosts are consecrated
on this day, one for the sacrifice and one for the
Friday After Investment
affairs the clergy meet for the ceremony Of the
Washing OF the Feet, this being performed in each
church by the Superior. who puts off his cope, and
on his knees bareheaded washes. wipes and
kisses the right foot Of each OF those who have
been chosen to represent the inferior clergy. The
custom, once general among the laity well as
the clergy has fallen largely into disuse. but