New-York tribune., 1902-12-04
MUSICAL COMMENT.
a BOHEMIAN SONG SINGER-HANDEL'S
MESSIAH IN A NEW EDITION
THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS"
ON CONDUCTING

on CONDUCTING.
Bogea Oumiroff. who gave recital in Mendels-
sohn Hall yesterday afternoon is specialist in
song He is a Bohemian of refined address, ana
evidently artist of fine instincts and attain
ments. His voice. barytone of small volume but
wide range. is excellent in quality. and has been
trained to good effect, though it serves its owner
with entire obedience only when the sympathy
and sentiment which the product of a ma
tional prediction inspire 1t. His excursion yes
terday into the music of century ago C'Adieu
Chere Louise from Monsignys lie Deserteur
Caldara's Come raggio al SOL Beethoven's La
pertenZa" and the seneschaPs air. "C'est Ia Prin-
cesse de Navarro from Jean de Paris') and
that into the field Of the German Lied yielded
little pleasure. The singing painstaking
marked by good taste. but there was no spon-
taneity about it, and its intonaton was frequently
at fault AL this changed when he reached
the music native 10 him in the last part He
sang Tschaikowsky's setting of Goethes NUT
wer die Sehnsucht kennt' in Russian with lovely
finish and pathos, and thence became more and
more impressive till he reached climax Of per-
feet and tender beauty in Dvorak's gypsy song
Ais die alte Mutter.' which he sang in Bohemian
Another fine specimen of art song permeated with
the spirit of folk song in which Mr. Oumiroff won
much success a ballad set by Sdenko Ffbrich
entitled "Hrac." Singularly enough this. like the
Russian song, turned be translation of a
German poem, Der Spielman' which came out of
the Danish of Hans Christian Andersen and was
composed by Sch Mr.. !ournirofr was heard
by small audience chiefly representative of fash
ionable society.
Matter of special interest to lovers of choral
music is contained in the preparations making by
the Oratorio Society for its remaining concerts this
season. AS usual, the Chrstmastide concerts,
which this year fall December 25 and q, will be
devoted to Handlers Messiah" but even here nov
city is promised in the of a edition,
Gently completed. by Professor Ebenezer Prout and
published by the Novellos. A edition of the
familiar oratoro in the world, especially one
which will compel a change Of the text in parts
will strike many persons even musicians as some
thing anomalous; yet moments thought ought TO
disclose that there is composition known to-day
in need of authoritative revision than THE
Messiah The revision necessary, not only 10
reestabish the integrity of the original text out 10
bring something like order out of the chaos whlch
has prevailed for nearly century in the manner
of performance. There has never been clean-
that is a perfect-copy Of the oratorio either as
Handel wrote Ii Mozart arranged IT, Inc
original prints contained errors which have oeeh
propagated by all the prints that nave loi-
lowed, and it has been demonstrated that Mozarts
arrangement was sophisticated by Johan Adam
Hitler before 1t was first published Last summer
the house of Noveo. in London. issued a new vocal
score based upon a thorough revision OF the Work
made by Professor Prout. who stands at the head
of English scholars in music Professor Prout COL
lated the manuscripts Of Handel and his secre-
tary. Christopher Smith (the latter the scores used
at different times by the composer when conduct
ing performancesl, and the early printed Scores
and the basis of this collation. purned the text
This done. ne turned his attention TO the instru-
mental parts and reHrote them to make them
meet modern conditions Mr.. Frank Damrosch
promises adherence in ali respects 10 this new
version.
The second bit of news in connection with the
oratorio Society relates to the final concert OF
the season. on March "a. For this Mr.. HenscheFs
Requiem had originally been selected; but. the
Brooklyn Oratorio Society having subsequently
come out with the announcement that II would pro-
duce the new work a short time before the date set
by the Oratorio Society. Mr.. Damrosch has put the
Requiem aside in favor of Edward cigars
Dream Of Geront,us.' This work, which had its
first performance at the Birmingham Festival OF
1900 and has been heard also in Germany, has
caused more comment than any English compost
ton for more than decade. Mr. Theodore Thomas
has decided to make it the main attraction OF the
next biennial festival In Cincinnati 1t is set
ting of Cardinal Newman poem Of the same name.
When first performed. Richter conducted and Nine
Brema Edward Lloyd and Plunket Greene were
the principal singers. Ellison van Hoose. who VIII
sing the principal part, studied it with the COM
poser last summer.
welcome outcome Of the present tendency tow
ard a revival of interest in the music OF the
eighteenth century would be the founding Of
Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty to the
Classics 1t would be agreeable occasionally to
hear nuance between pianissimo and mezzo-forte.
be gratifying to acquaintance with an
adaeio when the composer introduces one. instead
of putting up with the arsissimo that the would-be
irnitators of Wagner push forward instead When
MI Hertz turns his brass loose in the bacchanaan
scene in ''Tannhauser'' one ought to be able to
listen to II without fancying perforce blood spurt
ing out of the eyes of the players, and piano
ought not TO be inaudible There heights that
are not as high the heavens. and depths that
are not as deep the waters under the earth.
thatr fern rfs
The Choral Union announces to all who wish to
avail themselves the sight singing classes which
situated in various parts of the city, that ap-
pcations for admission OF members without
examination will not be accepted for this season
later than Sunday, December /. Such applications
should be made No 81 University Place, between
S and 10 o'clock. on any evening but Sunday, at
the classes while in session. A correct musical ear
and an ordinary singing voice are sufficient 10
qualify applicants for membership. Sunday after
noon sight singing classes have recently been
opened at Public School No s. Seventeth-st. and
First-ave and at Public School No 90 Eldridge
and Rivington SITS. Under the present benefcent
policy of the Board of Education. permitting the
use school buildings for other popularity educa-
tionaI purposes strictly school sittngs further
classes will be opened in school buildings when per
mission be obtained for them
La Trayiata' was repeated at the Metropolitan
Opera House last night as the fates had COM
Ynanded When the managerial schemes OF fort
night-if not a month-have to be readjusted De-
cause of the Illness of single singer. it is becom-
ing in the public TO cultivate a grateful and ap-
precfative feeling toward Mr.. Grau and an humble
and supplicatory toward the artists ana the
elements Substitutions not always as success
full as was that of last night, when Mime. Sembrich
was in perfect voice and spirits, and. with her
compsnions repeated the success of last Saturday
afternoon There was but one change in the cast,