New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-16
NJ USIC.
The Musical art .Societu.

Large expectations are always invited by an
"'uhcenents or a concert by the Musical Art So
cie'y' And naturally Ten "A dozen years ago
the society undertook the cultivation of a kind of
music with which only n small minority f tho r,h
hc-indeed. only a few musicians professional or
a"'ateur-Nas familiar. 1t was an undertaking as
oie ana oeautlful in purpose ii daring.
'u' the results made appeal to the public and be-
tween popular admiration for the societys achieve
hehts and the continued support of the patrons
WI" gave the Cachet of fashion to the concerts
'i'ey nave come to be looked upon "a the purest
0Iu HisheSt nights OF artistic endeavor. With the
eio"'h OF appreciation. however, has also grown
ueii'ahd Tor greater and ever greater excellence
IN the performances of the zocietv This do
mand has not always been fulfilled so perfectly
as IL was last night. when. at the first con-
cert OF this season. Mr. Frank Danrosch put
forward a peculiarly attractive and varied pro
gramme Greater freshness, more spontaneity
better precision than was heard in the first mart of
lne programme devoted. as usual to unaccompa-
I"ea church works.. could not have been reasonably
ana properly expected from the choir. There was
put little disappointment, and that in the secu-
XII part or the programme; and that there was
compensation for those who see the truest and
hIshesl mission of the society in the cultivation of
capella music in the pieces which made up the
hrst part OF the programme and the manner in
"h4ch theY were sung. Here beauty was regnant
not only in the compositions but also in their per
formance. There were three striking compositions
IN the part, each characteristic expression of its
time and the nationality of its composer These
were motif 20 Magnum Mysterium," by PaIes-
Trina; an anthem, "Hosannah to the Son OF Da-
Vld, by Orlando Gibbons, and motel for double
chorus by Johann ChristOph Bach who was
cousin of the father of the greatest of all the
Bachs. From the suave and celestial beauty of the
Italians music up 10 the rugged and picturesque
strains of the German nice incubation was made
by the great British musician, who has been called
the English Palestrina. In these pieces, too the
choir did its finest work. though a more general
appeal to the simple susce ptibties Of the many
was made by such pieces Calvisino's Joseph,
LlebeT Joseph, Mein." and Arcadelt's Ave Maria"
whose loneliness tempted List transcribe 1t for
pianoforte
Mr.. DdmrosCh more than usually successful
this time with the secular portion of his scheme,
which began with three Quartets with pianoforte
by Brahms-idealiZed dance pieces vivfed by the
vocal part and its poetry Mr.. Walter Damroscn
played the pianoforte here, though unannounced
on the programme. and helped the pieces cordial
appreciation. Music of the harmonicaIly intricate
fashion set by Cornelius an eight-part song by
Hans Koessler. fun of moving mood pictures but
so extremely difficult TO sing that il put d notice
able strain even the experienced chOrsters of
the Musical Art Society. Two dainty part-songs
by DvOrak, which have figured before in of
these concerts, preceded another noveIty-three-
part songs, The Snow" and Fly Singing Bird
for women's voices, and Longfellow's Spanish
Serenade' for mixed voices. all with small orches-
ira. They redolent with poetic beauty and
exquisite sentiment, and made delightful end of
a peculiarly uplifting and refreshing concert The
two choral parts Of the programme were separated
Kogels arrangement, played by the strings Of the