New-York tribune., 1900-04-06
HUSIC.
THE ORATORIO SOCIETY.

So far as the attendance Of an audience limited
only by the seating and standing capacity of Car
neete Hail. the manifestation OF a spirit which
may fairly 5e called devotional. while the music
was sounding and Of bright gIadsomeness after
each OF the swelling climaxes in the work per
f0rmed-so far these things could reward Mr.
Damr0sch and the Oratorio Society for the pro-
duction Of BaCh's great mass in minor, they had
thar reward last night Local choral annals tell of
few incidents worthy of being classed with last
nights achievement. The last worthy companion
piece was the original production of the same
masters Passion music according 10 81. Matthew
uy the same society under the direction of the
father Of the Jealous conductor OF last nights
meeting The Passion music though often
repeated since. may yet be said to have been
placed in the treasure house not only of the Ora
torlo Society. but also OF the citys music lovers.
aid If this shall also prove be the with the
3 minor mass Il will be Mr.. Damrosch's proud
privilege 70 contemplate as lovely a monument as
The most ambitious conductor could wish see.
Il would have been commendabe thing have
produced the mass under conventional conditions;
il was artistic deed OF puissance to produce
! so well
There would be no call for comparisons with
previous performances in America, even if con-
ditions had been similar. The Trojan band Of
Bach singers IN the Moravian town OF Bethlehem
last week won the credit of being the first Amer
iean organization 10 perform the in its
trety; and VIII wish deprive them of it,
TWO grand divisions in Cincinnati. in May, 1886;
the veteran choristers OF the Boston Handel and
Haydn Society tried conclusions with twelve OF
the twenty-four numbers Of the work February,
1885, and. judge by the record. did not come of
wholly victorious. All these incidents deserve
be remembered and can be recalled for the glory
Of last nights achievement.
Il was gratifying observe the crowd of listen
ers and note the enthusiasm. Curiosity may have
drawn many into the concert room. but once there.
ne Earh brlpa hon of v1fp We spnas hear
had terr0rs for them. No matter IN what mood
they entered they remained to rejoice. They
found the colossal fugues full Of characteristic
preston and the canonic soto numbers filled with
coiOrs drawn from a and strange palette.
Bach. the founder OF the modern instrumental art.
was revealed 70 them, well as Bach the great
est contrapuntist Of all times The pastoral tones
of the obot damore sweet. Vet pungent fell de-
HghrfuIly into their ears. and such unexpected
binations basses basscons and solo horn
caused amazement and admiration. The solo
singers. from whom much is asked that Is not
given them under latter cay methods Of in
struction were unequal in merit, BaeTnstein. the
bass leading all his colleagues because OF the
snoot hness of his vocaiza non ana the superiority
Of MS phrasing and intonatioi, our Mss Anderson
also did wei. risappOintmeats We're met with IN
The singing Of Mss Stein and DOuty. but If we
10 have a Bach cult should study the Bach
style in solo singing. which IS much further from
The modern manner rooted in the drama than our
singers suspect
The chorus has good reason 10 congratulate Itself
the manner IN which il accomplished its difficult
task y showed Itself the whole 10 have mas
tered the work thoroughly. There was little that
was timid or tentative in its performance; but.
the contrary. the singers approached IL with de-
gree OF confidence that flied II with power and
spirit and energy The attack was. for the
part. precise ana accurate and the enormous com
pica;ions Of the poiyphonic web were kept clear
ano clean The Gloria" sung with splen-
elc briiancy and elasticity and though IA these
respects the chorus did not quite reach so high
isyel IN any % the other numbers. il came near IL
Il the "tt ResurreElt and in the majestic sweep
O. me "Sanctus." n the sustained choruses.
slea as the "Gui TOLLS and the marvellous Cru
elhz1s, there was noble, pangent quality that
D9rght fun realization Of the profound meaning OF
ne music Though the BODY of tone was on the
"loie, excellent, there We're times when the weak
mess oi The tenors in comparison with the other
lo-eeS was manifest. But the audience that
4i7a ils nal had reason, the whole 10 rejoice
"a q 4ea4 performance OF the choral muric-one that
go expression 70 It's spirit OF devotion: one in
' tAe chorns was not solely concerned with
= 1esAHg 70 overcome difficulties but was master
= - mem ana thereby enabled 10 lay bare some of
~4oAolho depths Of Bach : greatest choral work