The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-01-13
THE GoUSoD CONCERT.
The Story of "Auninias"--Ths restIv

Tho Story of f"ArIninius'-rhe Festival.
 As "Arminus" has newer been heard In these pauts it may be interesting to know AatGe about the kind of work the Gounod's are to take up this eyen- ing.
 "Armiulus" is the Latin foTm of Her mann. Everybody who knows any thng about German history cr llleIa!ture knows that Hermann is one of the most picturesque figures of medieval times. It was he who in the yeaG 9 of the ChIistiain era successfully led the German tribes agtalnst the invading forces of Varlls and hEIa legioms, Max Bruch has taken lthis inspiring subject and made a splendid dramatic musical saithng to it. It is not va sacred opera Nike the Moses" pf Rubensttein and there is no call foa' theraurlc effects or scnilc accessories. Butt with the sug- gtitive descriptive accompaniment of the orchestra and ,tihe dramatic d,sclam- anlon in the solo paA'ts and barbaTic harmonGcs of ltle ehorusas, the effect Is nlarvdyous.
 Pant l begins With a Tecttal of the wncngs suffered from ytihe Romans by Armtnius (the barlbone) and Slegmund (teno) and the announcement the Ro- mans are approaching. The Romans appear with a great chorus "We Are the Sons of MauS.' Arminius and Sieg- mund eXhoatt the people to brave deeds and summon lthem ito ths consecra,tion Erl the sacred blrest.
 In PaWlt II the warriors of Wodan assemble to receive tIhe message which tha Prlesit'ess has to impah45. This is a srdale scene for a dramatic soprano. The people respond ito thelr pi.esltess' | eXhowta'tions i'm al prayer to "The Gods, Dwelling High in Valhalla.
 In Part II Arminius appeals to the people Must 1 Live Ito Tell Such
 Shame?" Siegmund teils how he has been exiled and his father ithrown in chains because he had avenged 'the iil- suht offered to his behrothed bride Thora
 a,rld ends by .cursing the entire Roman race. This part endla with the Battle Song" of the tribes.
 Pant " eonItams a description of
 the bsltle, by the PrieStesis the swan song of Slegmund who welcomes death i in victcwy, the chorus of greeting to the cctnquereIr Arminius and the final
 hynsrl of freedom of fth'e German race. This Is merely the general drift of the plot, butt eveu from it1his 1t will be sesn | that the performance VIII be novel and | interesting to St degree.
 It has finally been decided to an- lIounce that these next coil-'eI3!s of the Gounotas, about which som athing lad already been hilnited inI tn ss columns, are to assume the more imLoIttant and imposing form of g musical festival. This idea has been under consideration for some time, butt it was not supposed the plan would be made public Gr'eel h. has been further developed. The an-
 nolHnce enrent has been made so that als l who Wiih to take part in the festival can apply for admission to the society
 this evening. It has been decided to
 hold three concerts, twp evening and one afternoon performances. Ore evening "Arminuso will be done, the
 other Rossni's "Stabat Mater in con
 nection with a miscdfa neous Wagner program and in the afternoon some
 great eoI. artist will be secured with
 an orchestral program. It is foolish 10 l public the names of the various solo I ists as yet, because none have been
 secured, but they will be the best artists l in the country az the time.
 ! It is desired to increase the Gounod chorus considerably, especially in the tenrr and ba,:s parts. AN who wish
 to join must apply ar Harmonic hall
 this evening ait z o'clock. The rehearsal
 proper. begins al 7:45 and no spectators 1 will be admitted. This rule viii be strictly adhered to.