New-York tribune., 1901-05-25
MUSIC.
BACH's THE PASSION ACCORDING TO
ST MATTHEW" PERFORMED
AT BETHLEHEM.
tBY TELE GRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE-I

festival of the Bach Choir to-day. but unnapphy
it came hour too late TO heighten the enect Oh
the thunder and lightning cheIr, which neeoed d
tonic in the matter of tempo. But the day has
been too beautiful, from artistic point of view
to have its record beginning with diSpraise. The
festival spirit has reached its height The town Is
full of visitors. and they remarkably gentle
class of music lovers. The score of musicians OF
more or less note who are here were augmented
by the arrival of Frank and Walter Damrosch.
faithful workers in the choral field and that of
Bach, who marveIling tonight at the results
which Mr.. Wolfe has secured from his battalion of
amateurs
And there was cause enough to wonder The
solo singers were excellent for the greater part.
but solo Gingers cannDt make Bach festival. The
orchestra did its work with much more finish than
Thursday, but orchestra does not make a
Bach festival The essential feature is the choir.
and Mr. woe's singers accomplished miracles to-
dav There were moments when the dramatic
climaxes were reached when they struck like a
thunderbolt and always they kept the critical
listeners in amaze by the promptness Of their at
tack their easy mastery of the music and the
wonderful cleanness with which they presented 10
--e the web and woof of the choral fabric
were revelations old Bach students in the
in which the opening chorus, with l's
cantus firrnus sung by a supplementary ehoir OF
bows was sung II is doubtful whether any prevt-
o,,s performance in America was comparable with
it-certainIy none that have heard. Wonderfully
impressive. too, the chorale which closes the
first part.
The solo parts were in the hands Of Mrs. Marie
KunkeI zimmerman. Miss Stein. Mr. Ellison Van
FIoose Mr. Ericsson Bushnell and Mr.. Henri G.
Scott The first and last came from Philadelphia
the others from New-York- Mrs Zimmerman
sang the soprano solos at the recent performance
of the work in New-York under Mr.. Hall and
Messrs Van Hoose and Bushnell were associated
with her there It cannot said that her style OF
singing is Bachian. and a want of steadlness OF
voice in the afternoon caused some apprehension
But she knew her music, which was comforting
So did all the singers, for that matter MI van
Hoose reveIled in his high tones, and his voice
stood the unnatural strain without sign of wear
A benison. and nothing short OF it. was MISS
STEMS singing Of 20 Golgotha,' with the caress
of inefrable tenderness in the accompaniment
which must be heard with the instruments for
which it was written to be known in the funess OF
its loveliness. Mr.. Andreverdier and Rudolph Hen
ming played the violin and violonceno oooisatos'
and played them well, and Mr. Scott did MS du'y
conscentiously.
It is not for the purpose of indulging cavting
mood that. having said much in praise Of to-
days performance. discuss some OF the quesuohs
which the readings of Mr.. Wolfe and MS singers
have raised in my mind II is not at all dlfacuit
to foresee the establishment OF periodically re-
curing Bach festivals in Bethlehem as a feature
OF American choral activity for years to come.
The ideal is, allowing the conditions prevailing
here. auspcious, the forces capable, and lovely
spirit of enthusiasm has been created in the per
formers well the public The financial out
come of the present festival is assured and In
another year, 1T is safe to there will be suft-
cient interest Bach in the East insure success
in this respect from the outset.
cult OF curiosity and interest at least will have
been founded. Then will come the question OF the
study OF traditions of performance, or the estao-
lishment Of a style which will best create and
nourish real appreciation OF Bach's music There
will have be agreement the subject OF tempo,
OF instrumental use of the treatment OF embellsh-
all hODa
music as well as vocal and style in the delivery
OF the archaic airs Now all Is in confusion To
ma ajority Of the singers and their teachers or
coaches the traditional manner OF singing
Bach's music is a thing unknown Perhaps they
are not 10 be condemned TO everlasting redemp-
ton for this since their opportunities for singing
the music are few, but there are some points on
which agreement might be enforced by the con-
ductor. One OF these is the employment OF the
appogiatura in the recited narrative To-day Mr.
Van Hoose followed the manner usual in the sing
ing of oratorio music in England and he was right.
The others adhered rigidly TO the printed page,
which was wrong. Mr.. Van Hoose was also wise
and discreet IN the main in not seeking always 10
individuaIize the evangelist and NIL him with
emotion. When he occasionally forgot good taste
and discretion il was for the of vocal display
which regrettabIe.
Mr.. Bushnell. having the words OF Jesus 20 oe-
liver properly tried to imbUe them with dramatic
feeling. but he occasionally transformed the man
Il
OF soft sentimentality. The sublime serenity. the
lofty dignity the tender pathos, for which bach
found such marvellous expression. were frequently
wanting. The singer should appear TO be oorne as
on angels wings Mendelssohn said OF ms own
Elijah All the words OF Jesus are lifted into a
higher ether by the accompaniment OF the strings
which Bach reserved for them. and the serenest
repose and tenderness should characterize thelr
delivery. Some of the features which MT Wolfe
has introduced into the readings call up quesuohs
of taste only; others questions Of righteousness IN
Interpretation FIis tempt are all considerably
more rapid than those Of all the conductors who
have given the work IN the United States, and the
chOraIes are taken at a speed which would scan
dalize the organists of Germany. This 1ancy'
however Is TO prevent the performance from dras-
ging and thus becoming monotonous- II So II Is a
penalty which Mr. Wolfe is paying for thinking
that a proper appreciation OF Bach's music de-
nands the performance of his works in their in
tegrtty.
We had a day Of it to-day. two sessions occupy
ing four hours in which airs which had been
elided In all the previous performances OF me
Passion" in America were given. and the last
da capo pursued to its death. Fortunately there
was period OF two hours for rest and recreation
between the two parts OF the work. and there was
the stimulus OF curiosity to hear the unfamiliar
pieces for the cognoscenti. but the effect was
nevertheless exhausting This is a period OF de-
sire for record making. Bethlehem. Mr. Wolfe
and the Bach Choir have made a record. and the
question OF the need value or integrity or the
performance will settle itself in time When that
time comes there will be time for the slow
movements and for pathos and tenderness Of ex-
preston in the choral work. the only element in
which the choir can be said TO be deficient.
There are two other matters. however, IN whlch
Mr. Wolfe may have TO quarrel with musicians
when it comes to establishing the Bethlehem
tradition of performance. There does not occur
cadence in the progress of number. solo. orches-
trail or choral at which Mr.. Wolfe does not make