New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-14
MUSIC.
A CONCERT OF BAcHs MUSIC.

The loveliness of the effort must plead for ex-
tenuation-and a strong plea is necessary-in judg
ment on the first concert of the Bach Singers,
which took place in Mendelssohn Hall last night
Mr.. Bt0rksten's ideal Is one that invites the in
terest and affection Of all lovers Of serious music
Ihere has been no time for century and a half
when propaganda for Bach's music has not been
something desirable and necessary and 1t may be
that the state Of affairs will prevail century
and half hence For Bachs music. If any. is
immortal. and surface appreciation and the Xix
ing or the careless is not for such But Bach must
not be approached except with fasting and prayers
even by the most Jealous lover. He Is archaic In
more respects than one; his scores fragmen-
tary, and tradition is all but silent about the
manner in which his music used to be per-
formed. The problem of his restoration has
long occupied the minds of musical scholars
and they are not yet in agreement. In one respect
and in one respect only, make bold to say, was
there anything of the Bach manner observable last
night This in the relationship between the
vocal and instrumental choirs The players out
numbered the singers nearly two to one, and there
was the many voiced organ besides This the
proportion in Bachs day. but 1t is inconceivable
that the effects anything like those heard last
night. especially In the opening number. when the
noisy hartng of the trumpets, aggravated by a
musical muddiness of information, was all but In
tolerable IF this be Bach will have of
him" must have been the reflection of many q
sufferer in the audience It is indisputable that
the seeming disproportton not only between voices
and Instruments but also between the Instruments
themselves, largely helped out by the part i'm
provised the harpsichord or organ In Bach's day
But Mr.. Wetzler did nothing illustrate the theory
last night; the contrary, he added to the gen
eral discontinue
There we're twenty-five singers in Mr. Bjork-
stems choir, and most of them seemed to have
good voices, though one of the sopranos would
force up the pitch and create direful cacophony in
her zeal to do her duty, and the notion of what
constitutes choir singing is stu misty in their
minds. But they made noble effort and If the re-
suits were not gratifying the ordinary listeners
who exempltfed beautiful and commendable
spirit in attending, ana anything but satisfying to
the student. the fault can not be put upon them.
Nine Gadskt too. sang with winning earnestness
and Nine Agnes Janson, a newcomer, with equal
zeal and considerable exhibition of vocal possess
sions but less intelligence and far less taste Mr.
Hosea the baSso, did his small share acceptably.
The solo and choral pieces were four numbers
chorus, soprano solo. bass solo and chorus, and
accompanied chorale from the New Years cantata
"Jesu nun sci gepreset,' an aria with the echo
effect, dear 10 the hearts of the followers Of
Inventors of the dramma per musica, from the
secular cantata, Hercules am Scheidewege" ('"The
Choice of HerculesD; the first number of the
Easter cantata. "Bleib' bel uns': Sanctus a SO
prano aria from the secular cantata, "Von der
Vergnugsamkeit,' and another secular cantata
Ccalled by Bach. Dramma per Musika, "Tonet ihr
Panken.'D
What finally shall be said of Mr. Wetzler's
transcription for orchestra of the first of the six
organ sonataS which Bach wrote to aid in the
musical education of his Friedemann? A
transcription in a specifically Bach concert! Bach
wrote also for orchestra And transcription of
an organ sonata! Bach was the greatest COM
poser for organ that ever lived. 1t Is fact that
Bach wrote the sonata for his to practice upon
the pedal clavier. but the purpose was to prepare
him for the organ. and two of the three move
ments organ music and nothing else. The
last movement adapts itself naturally and
effectively to the orchestra as it would to the
pianoforte, for its rhythmical ncisIveness Is not
to be given out the organ; but-was 1t needed9