The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-16
BACH FESTIVAL CANTATAS.
rUO That ARE SELDOM HEARD
SING YESTERDAY.
aTbe Heavens Laugh" and God Goeth Up
With Sa,onting"-Ihey Deal With
Christ's Resurrection and Glow With
religious Peace and Happiness.

concert Of the min Gay OF the bach IestNd
was not one OF grave importance and may
he dismissed with moderate discussion.
The chief interest in 1t lay in the unfamiliar
character Of two cantatas which COM
nr.ed the programme. These were "The
H.avens Laugh" and God Goeth Up With
Shouting
In all probability none of the numerous
lovers of Bach In the Moravian church
this evening ever heard either of them
before The audience was large one
and seats were at a premium. Again the
vomen disclosed some of the glories Of
their wardrobes and some Of the men went
10 church In evening clothes.
Nevertheless, there was good deal Of
seriousness in the general attitude OF the
audience, and those who were in search Of
Bstblehem atmosphere were not altogether
disappointed.
The Easter cantata Der Himmel Lacht,
der Erde Jubliret, which Mr. Wolfe trans
lated "The Heavens Laugh, the Earth Itself
Rejoces," was written in Weimar to text
by salamo Franck, and was frst performed
on April 81. l715 It WAS afterward revised
Throughout by the composer. A vocal
part was added In the opening chorus and
the Instrumentation was enriched. The
6pAl aria, too, was altered.
The work In now known only in the revised
form. The cantata opens with beautifully
written instrumental introduction. followed
with chorus embodyipg the titular words.
Then follow in succession bass solo with
prefatory rectative and tenor solo. Both
Of these deal in way with the objective
fact OF Chrst's resurrection and its final
result III the resurrection and salvation of
the Christian.
The tenor solo voices some purely doc
trinal thoughts and then come the recta-
tive and air for soprano. The air is very
tender and touching, dealing wholly with
the hope Of the Christian in death. Thus
the closing churale enters "and 30 to Jesus
Christ III 60, mine arm to him extending
Thus the work h built on characteristic
lines, for the thoughts OF death and the here
after were never absent from the mind OF
Bach and he intimately connected them
with the Joyous Easter festivities. Why
should the Christian be glad that Christ
was risep except because il assured him
that he, too should rise and 60 to his
Father? -
In the soprano solo Bach has fore
cherae in such way that when the chorale
bud already seen.
The chorale itself Is so harmonized that
il CLOVIS with religious peace and happiness.
Here, too. Bach employs the instruments
With eloquent power, for the progress Of
the violirs and trumpets above the vocal
parts gives the music a mood Of ecstasy.
IL OF the very realization Of thought of the
laSt fiHnk and the ascension OF souls re-
deemed. V0f the Ave Easter, cantatas, of
happier selection than this, the third. .
Tho ascension cantata, 'Gort fahret auf
nit jAuehxen," translated by Mr.. Wolfe.
"Gcd goSth up with shouting was written
&, d j ibsn o Sssn re s.a ,ns s s
NTH hAsl rscttative for the soprano pre-
e ...sas. the closing ohorale' which has two
Asain ahe text celebrates the ascension,
and the oAforale utterk a prayer that the
Christian ,nfay follow. 1t ends with the
lines When, when may stand before
Thee? When reign with Thee In glory|
The best and briefest description ofthis
cantata IL that Of Spitta, who says that
and the remainder mora devotional. The
work, he says, Exhibits a tone picture Of
Ebris,'s ASCENSION iull OF majestic and
graphic movement, both in outline, and
10 detail: everything presses upward. the
construction OF the fugue. and one im,Por--
tant subject comes crashing in like the blast
81 4 trumpet.'
The opening Of the choral movement
N thoroughly original; il u short and
solemn Instrumental adagio which fore.
4 prelude, When tho allegro is reached
me theme and the counter subject are
developed at first on the inst rlments, and
after the most complete musical prepaia-,
tiop the chorus bursts In with the CLASH al
trumpets and drums.
These two tantatas demand OF the listener
a very strong sympathy with Bach They
ar n,s at allrp ,on lite or intri cata IN detail
bit they need the true Bach enthusiasm
70 make one discern their real beauties.
Bach Commentators generally seem 20
prefer the second. but tonight It was the
Att which made tho real impression. This
vss doubtless due in large part to the nature
o. the solo singing,
The soprano, Rebecca Mackenzie, was
qthte equal to the demands Of the rep0setul
measures Of Bach. which demand the
sa'ootfest tone and the greatest purity
dAyl-.
Tho contral,o. Mrs. W. L. Estes. local
Ginger, showed excellent Intentions IL her
delivery Of the beautiful alto, air in God
Gos,h up," but her voice did not answer
Wy REQUIREMENTS OF tIl9 ecoIt' ~ 'ot"ny,
dinerent method Of ton. formation would
Be the appropriate thing. But it was alto
eether proper that she should appear as
sooist, ns she has been from the beginning
one OF The moving spirits Of the Bethlehem
festivals, and lovers OF Bach owe her
genuine debt Of gratitude.
Theodore Van YORK was the tenor to-
Eight, and lie was not in the best OF voice.
- gang ln,elgently. but with SOME ehort'
Snnan Walker was the bass
!, The orchestra was better in most places
tn4n II was at the beginning OF the week.
but again tho weakness Of the colo cello
Worked harm to the general erect and the
lplndcions treatment OF the organ was
noticeable, The chorus sang very well
hdeed and one or two Of the choral num-
bers. especially that nt the beginning OF
the FIRST cartata went with fine spirit
viewed as a whole. tho concert was the
weakest Of tho series. The cantatas them
elves suffered by comparison with the
more adequately executed solo works OF
vwedpesday night, while even those OF
monday evening seemed improved before
tonight
This. too, was because Of the Noio sing
mg, Tor certainly both chorus and orchestra
Sere much more satisfactory.
The town Is crowded with strangers,
eno rooms al The hotels are all taken. The
Town IL reaping profit and the festival is
sstner1ng from tie publicity given to tho
!uolhgs OF two years ago, The impression
men naturally gained ground that the
PERFORMANCES here were not only unique
In feeling and surro,,ndinps hut also in