New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-19
MUSIC.
THE MUSICAL ART SOCIETY.

THE MUSICAL ART SOCIEi' l.
The Musical Art Society closed its fourth seaso"
with concert I'm Carnegie Hall last eVehiis' ~"
lovely mission of this organization. when was
called into existence and Is conducteh ny 'i'' -.
Damrosch. has so often been mentoheu u, ,
designed TO convey enthusiastic praise III inns o'
nal that nothing remains to be gaia OH ''"' -
It IL enough to record the fact that ed0" ~
offers new and convincing proof that II II ii" "s'"'
OF refinement in the community, ana tna' =, %
complishIng lovely work In the pu'''''% ,
elevation of popular taste in choral muS''' ''
njgbt's concert like the corresponding mee'''s VI
last vear was devoted largely to lenten H'"s'0' VI"
first part OF the programme being set apart ~ "
cerpts from the Roman Catholic Once 'o' ~ -.
son OF penltence. though its cohcl"u"e a.,
was a Christmas hymn OF the carry pd'' ~
seventeenth century. transformed into an Easter
hymn by the substitution OF the ancient
et Filla' for n German carol winch 80,
,remeIv characteristic OF It's Thuringan or'S'", "a"
scarcely be said 10 have strongly tnc'u -,
musical setting All the music OF '"'s P"''
longed TO a period In which euphony "as sup,
I'm the art and dramatic expression 'n'''s S'''''
thought Of ,, g.,
The nearest approach 10 that element, when u
.ho doro,nor, ono since the secularlzation OF the
mass was effected by musical composers, was 10 We
found I'm n "Crrcifxus' for ten voices by An'on,o
into which deal OF poignancy was inJec'e' 'S -
persistent use OF the dlssonance OF the seeo''
The composers represented were Ahegri, 'osq''"
de Pres Iotti Orlando di Lasso ana Noich'''
Ieisring The transformed Christmas hymn was
the contribution OF the latter. Most decideo'y 'e
gem OF the set of pieces was the motel, "Timor et
Tremor" by Di Iasso one OF the most inspired anu
inspiring compositions that Mr. Damrosch ia'
found yet From a historical point OF view the
greatest interest centred in the opening humoer VI
tho programme, Aegrrs "Miserere the roHlan'ic
story OF which was told IN The Tribune last sun
nh all
and his singers confirmed what has Deeh "iit,e"
by visitors to the Sstine Chapel in Holy Week ior
a century past namely that the mucn-Va"hteu
composition depends for It's effect chiehy upon 'e
solemnity OF the moment in the service III WHO" 1t
IS introduced and the manner in Which IL ~ Su''s
The latter rests upon tradition. Stripped OF us
ingenious embellishments the composition, though
full OF impressiveness and beauty, Is IN no wise
remarkable and certainly sounded bald compared
with the motel OF the great ID Lasso' WHICH
throbbed with life. Mr.. Damrosch had attempted
I'm his rehearsals to reproduce the famed "Abelli-
menti," but constrained at the last moment
10 abandon them rather than risk a failure.
A masterpiece Of Protestant churth music. bach
"Actus Tragcus," filed the second part-a COM
position whose wonderful tenderness of expression
IN consists OF a series OF CONCENTRATIONS on DEATH
and was doubtless composed for a funeral OF cohi-
memoratiye service) put all thought ol 10 -"
mendous learning into the background It's coor -
sombre throughout, this effect being neiSHte"eu W
the orchestral accompaniment. from which all the
bright, assertive and militant instruments, such as
yiolins and trumpets, are excluded. Inc Heiou'
PARTS in the original score are carried by Woe I'd
gambia instruments from Mr. Morris o'e"er'
collection were again used, as at the former coi-
cert this SEASON. and flutes. Mr.. Damrosch mace
usa occasionally Of the parts Cor clarinets ana
bassoons added by Robert Franz, but the result
showed that with the organ which was playeu 10y
w G. c. RI as Il help the additional accon'P"'''
ments were unnecessary. The vocal NUMBERS Vi
the las, mart had been heard at earlier concerts Oh
the society. There were two of Brahmss "Nacnt-
wacbe" songs and Corneliuss "Liebe, dir ergeo zen
mich The second Of the Brahms, Kun sic
occunied in this part of the programme the same
Mace OF pre-eminence that the Di Iasso motel uiu
in the first unique feature of the evening was
the playng OF two solos for the viole damour' ny
W VoiRtlander. They were an Introductory An
dante and Mnue. by Milandre. and Transcription
OF Padre Martins "Plasir d'Amour' MI Nolst-
lander IL now a resident OF Pittsburg' where he -
tho first viola Of the orchestra recently fouhueu'
He was formerly member OF the Philharn'ohlc
C,Iuh 81 Detroit and has devoted years OF Work 10
nm attempt 10 restore the vioe damour to favor as
n solo instrument. lie received much encourage
ment last night. for the audience, Wnich HE" the
hall was mos, enthusiastic in its testimony OF de-
light Nothing could have been happier than the
introduction of his instrument into a concert al
most wholly devoted TO music composed before tie
language OF earthly passion had entered the art