New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-09
MUSIC.
THE MUSICAL ART SOCIETY.

THE MUSICAL ART SOCIETY.
Tho Musical Art Society, which. after las,
r,ob,,a concert no reviewer need hesitate 10 call
far and away the finest choral organization In tho
United States. and one that Is creditably uphold
ing the best traditions OF the capena choirs OF
Europe. began it's sixth season with the concert
I'm question The affair parook somewhat Of the
solemnity Of religious function. the joyousness
OF a Christmas festival and the aesthetic and
scnsuous deghtfuness OF high-cass artistic
meeting and so far these mingled enjoyments
were concerned 1t must be set down as the most
triumphant OF the socety's aristocratc entertain
rnents since its organization. The programme was
varied and pleasing. and for the greater part up
lifting: but we are not disposed to quarrel with
any one Of the old subscribers who shall depore
the growing loss OF interest on the part OF Mr..
Damrosch In the music Of the pure churchly style
which found its elimination i'm the italian schools
OF the sixteenth century. The only representatives
OF that school on the programme were Palestrna
and Vittora. and their pieces were two short
motets. The oveiness Of these. however. created
the wish that a meeting might be arranged In Tho
Cathedral some other large sacred edihce. At
which programme Of this music and nothing else
should be performed The fine Gothic style. OF
which the head IL Bach. has received a deal more
of the society's attention OF late. and though II
has its mission IT is yet questionable whether
better service would not be done 70 musical cult
ure II the society divide i,s affection itte
more evenly between the two schools Last night
besides two medieval Christmas songs by cal
yisus and Praetorius and motel by Won Herzog-
enberg which perhaps can best be described as
a modern outcome of both the old tendencies OF
the second part OF Bach's christmas Oratono'
WAS performed with orchestral accompaniment,
and gracious heartfelt. moving as the German
music was II yet seemed to be little TOO dom
inant.
But this will doubtless be felt AZ a too curious
inourv by the vast audience that enjoyed the con-
cert and were thrilled by the beauties and sur
prises which the evening brought them Better 10
turn TO a consideration Of the performance Itself.
The chorus has never acquitted itse!i better man
II did last evening. II has never sung with inner
quality Of tone. more homogeneous ana sold' 50
exquisite in Ianssimo thrilling and sonorous In
the louder passages; and it has never shown a
more perfect finish TO attack. phrasing and
nuance It seemed, indeed absolutely plastic In
Mr. Damrosch's hands and like an instrument
entirely responsive 10 his every intention This Is
particularly true Of the compositions OF the old
Italian and German masters that came at the be-
ginning Of the concert, and Of the magnificent
VIvace chorus GLORY to God" from Bachs
christmas Oratorio." whose extraordinary diihcul-
ties were surmounted with a brilliancy dash and
precision that wclngh without flaw. IL is
scarcely a cause for surprise that there should
have been less complete satisfaction with the set
programme to q close They solo quartets
Intended to sung by four voices. and calculated
for the effect Of such. and not for so large choral
mass Even had the ensemble been more perfect
than II was. the composers intentions would not
have been realized for the balance between the
vocal parts and the beautiful panoforte accom-
paniment would still have been lost. and the ac-
commandment IS an essential part Of the compost.
ton.
most effective feature Of the performance was
ts.Ft. ora
torio" by the Peoples Choral Union. ~ almost
thousand voices, sitting in the gallery. Their i'm
mense volume Of tone came with great impressive
ness to represent the part taken by the congrega-
ton In the churchly performance Of the work In
Bach's time. the composer expected II to he
sung They did credit to Mr. Damroschs training
and their own musical intelligence. and afforded
surprise and pleasur, 70 the audience when. in re-
Spouse to the enthusiasm aroused by the singing OF
Praetorus's naive little chorus. "Es ist elm Ros
entsprungen" on the stage. Mr.. Damrosch called
upon his pupils in the gallery later in the proceed
ings to repeat the song-which they ala from
memory and with admirable finish
Announcement made to the audience last
night by means of circular that the prize OF go
given by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Butler McCagg had
been awarded 10 Professor Horatio W. Parker. OF
Vale University for { setting Of Latin hymn be
ginning "Astant angelOrum chori" The judges
were originally George w. Chadwick. of Boston;
Asger Hamerick of Baltimore. and Frank Dam
rosch Mr. Hamerick having taken up a residence
in Europe before the compositions were sent In.
Renhold L. Herman was asked 10 oihcate IN MS
stead and did so. The conditions OF the competi-
ton were that the work to be unaccompanied
sacred In character adapted to performance by
chorus and not longer than could be performed IN
fifteen minutes. a residence for the last nve years
or longer In the United States or Canada was An
essential qualification in the competitors Pro-
fessor Parker's work will be sung at the next con-
cert Of the society March l6.