New-York tribune., 1902-12-27
MUSIC.
The Christmas Orator7o.

edifying In the performance of Handel's Messiah
sby the Oratorio Society at Carnegie Han yesteiuoS
afternoon, and to those who went to the perform
ance ernectinS revelations because of the use OF
the newly revised score of Professor Pront II was
disappointing in it's essential features. IL "ou -.
idle to expect greater popular interest," III h10ii
oratorio than has existed in New-York Tor decaues'
vain to look for more reverent atuluu0 % -
audience toward the work and all concerned III i's
Interpretation. What is needed for the soou %
RaudeTs music is the substitution OF an a''ls
tic appreciation of it in place OF the PuIe-F
devotional feeling which has prevailed SO loHs'
and this could he secured were the perIuncioiH
style of performance which has fastened l'seii ~ po
its interpreters abolished 1t is not a he" 9o
that The Messiah needs so nuch as ne" CO
earnest study. It was fond hope that such SluuS
would follow the adoption of the new edition Suc
a study properly conducted, would eNtefiu l''e
through every department and every agency en-, i,
ployed in the performance. 1t would oesn' WIN
the conductor include the solo singers, the clioi-
isters the organist and every member OF tne oi
chestra down TO the kettledrummer Humoruih
should cease and the individual Whlns OF 'lie So
singers also. An effort should be maze u pen
trate to the great pulsating heart Of the WORK 10
o,,roia+a its words with proper expressiveness and
impressveness: sing its music with proper styie
with dignity. clarity beauty anu @ solo
ity: to give the instrumental support aPpto
nriate grandeur and keep it in balance WIN
the vocal part: This is asking an loea
attitude toward the work the part Of the per-
formers and under existing circumstances peilap'
1t is asking too much The Oratorlo society ie'
off it's Christmas performances 1t receives gen,
erous patronage when 1t sings The Messiah an -
is.ntc discoura cement at all other times. Yet IT
continues in its unseffsh policy OF giving Two
works besides "The Messiah each year. anu oi
seeking to extend it's repertory with new Worhs
everv wear or two Thus. this year we are TO nave
Edward Cigars Dream of Gerontus' Worh Vi
great magnitude and difficulty. and one that mas
created more appreciative comment in Europe tilan
ANYTHING of its kind produced in England LOT eiitS
years past The spirit of the society Is certainty
commendabe; but would it not be wise to reverse
the policy for one year at least and prepare Inc
Messiah" carefully and prayerfuliy, an mltio' uo
Justice to the work. and incidentally make II give
the profound artistic delight which 1t would surely
give were it infused with unity and consistency oi
style and the lofty expressiveness nauVe 10 i's
music?
Mr Damroschs experiment with the new version
was fragmentary and futile except so iar as 'ii
orchestral and organ accompaniment were C'
cerned Dr. Prout consulted his own pleasure III
many places, whether humoring Handel mozart VI
tradition, and Mr.. Damrosch exercised the saiie
privilege with reference TO the new score' Shu0'
the circumstances its effectiveness cannot De us
cussed. It was pleasure to note that the murray
s11rdy chords In the wood-wind in the 'Ali we IKE
sheep" chorus had been eliminated They deserved
TO 60 irrespective of whether Mozart or hleF
added them. It equally pleasure 10
observe that the wood-wnd voices which MO-
zart added beyond all question. to the ac-
j compartment IN the bass air, The Feopie
that walked in darkness, were retained. Inc
outcrv against these began with Professor Thibaut
OF Heidelberg, who lectured on the Pandects ana
weaned Schumann away from Jurisprudence ana
helped him into music. A lovely soul was Thioaut'
but he does not seem to have looked deeply INTO
HandeIs texts while demanding his gaunt ana
stalking unison unadorned in this number II Is
not the fact that the people walked IN oalhiess'
which is celebrating, but that the people SO walk
ing have seen great light" Mozarts additions
are not luminous but their golden glow is nnarvei |
of beauty. 1t is page for the most fnooeIh Vi ou
orchestral writer's with all their vrtuosity' Be
hold the Lamb OF God" benefited IN impressiveness
bv the abbreviation OF the first note OF It's sup
tect but much remains to be done with TINS ci'i 10
by all our conductors. Neither OF PROFESSOR louI
suggestions as to the Accomplishments lot the
/ sacco recitativo was followed. Mr.. Damroscn
did not use the pianoforte in lieu OF the narps'-
! chord nor have the harmonies sustained Dy the
strings; he used the organ. as has always Deeh uo
| custom here. What argument can De Droush'
AGAINST It aside from the historical. IL would Dc
! hard to imagine Here the organ tones nave par
| ticular beauty and appropriateness.
The solos were sung yesterday oS Nine suzanne
! Adams Nine. Kirkby Lunn. Mr. Van YORK ana
! Mr. Vrtherspoon Nine. Suzanne Adams evidently
was the only one of the four who had newly stuoed
| the music OF the oratorio. She took no nDerueS
with the text barring the entirely proper appo-
,+aturi in the rectatives which belong TO the
| Handel style, but everything in a spirit Oh
elevated serenity which uplifting Her voice
was purity itself, her phrasing perfect. her taste
bile her enunciation beautifully distinct a
/ more lovely performance Of Come unto Him. 1t
may safely be said, has not been heard IN New
| York for twenty years. The English tradltons,
SO far as readings are concerned. were preserved
| also in Nine. Kirkby Lunn's singing OF the con-
trsIto airs also It is to regretted some OF the
features of English voice production But she gave
her hearers the characteristic alto color. phrased
we'll and her voice was ample in volume, vibrant
eoualized and filing. Mr.. Van YORK sang iacka-
daisically and not always in tune ~ willow,
willow waly!' Mr.. Witherspoon must be credited
with generally good intentions; but his tempt were
astonishing to say the least and too great anxiety
| to articulate distinctly gave US many unpleasant
| aaixAs which have no place in the English Ian
| guage spoken sung.