New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-22
MUSIC.
The Church Choral Society.

The second recital Of ecclesiastical music by the
Church Choral Society FOR this year took place In
St Barthoomew's Church last night. in the pres
euce OF an audience that filed all the pews, and
under the direction OF Mr.. Richard Henry Warren
II had been preceded by a recital in the afternoon
OF Wednesday. which had served as a preparation
FOR last nights service. The progra nine illustrated
"A singular mixture OF styles, but was none the
less interesting on that account, and there
n notable narshaIlng OF forces. PTotes-
sor Parker came from Yale University 10 play
the solo part Of his concerto for organ and
orchestra; there was choir Il some seven
score singers. an orchestra that was Efficient
81 not sufficiently numerous a quartet OF solo sing
ers and orgarist TO assist in the accompaniment
OF tie choral works and play the postlude which
proved 10 be Bach's Toccata IN r with an oTcnes-
trail part added 10 The organ The solo singers.
only one OF whom. the tenor. can be said 20 have
met reasonable expectations. were Miss Margaret
FRY soprano: Mrs. Richard Henry Warren, con
tralto. Or. Franklin Lawson, tenor. ard Frederick
Wheeler bass. The orgauist was Charles Helm
roth The programme consisted OF PROFESSOR PAR
ker's concerto, which had It's first performance in
Nevs-York on this occasion. Bachs cautata The
Lord Is a sun and Shield" the old German chorale
Vow Thank We All our Cod which IS the
byrrodIc text OF the cantata that preceded IT, and
IN which the congregation Joined; List setting OK
the thirteenth Psalm, Dvcraks Tie Deurn LaHcA-
mus" snd the Bach Toccata.
OF all these works only Professor Parkers con
cor-r was wholly unknown here. though none OF
Thorn barring the chOrale, vas fanilaF. Inc
psalm by Llzzt. which, despite its dlsiolnted ana
declamatOry meCdic structure. has slhsiia''y
expressive beauty. used to be sung IN Trinity
Church years ago with organ accompaniment ana
also figured on one OF the first programmes OF the
Church Choral Society ten or twelve years ago
When DR. pvorak came New-YOrk 10 take up
his residence here he brought his tie Deum with
him and Il was performed while stil in manuscript
AZ the concert given in Carnegie Hall for the pur-
pose Of introducing him. At that time. too. the
Church Choral Society sang fl under the COM
poser's direction. Then two works were performed
with more spirit than the Zach cantata, but
there was still largo room for vitality and
precision. In truth the work OF Mr. Warren.
and his people was neither inspiring nor parJicu-
Iarly edirytng last night. All the music was more
interesting than its performance, Professor
Parker's venture into field which has been
but little cultivated for reasons not hard TO
understand was made two years ago. while
the composer enjoying his first Sabbaucal
year in Germany. II discloses much ingenuity
in overcoming the difficulties which lie in the
way Of an effective combination Of the orchestra
and the instrument which seeks to initiate its
voices SO far as it possible. he has con-
trasted their timbres and has achieved striking and
beautiful effects by solo Of violin. horn. harp
and kettle drums lie has known. too, how TO be
graceful yet dignlfed. in the middle movement, and
serious and souorous in his handling OF learned
forms In the finale. From beginning to end the
work held the attention OF the listeners and re-
warded IT, The TIE DeuIn'' IS strange-almost in
comprehenSihly strange-in Its conception OF the
spirit OF the famous old hymn. Its tone OF jub
Iancy is almost barbaroGsly ingenious. but the
music takes hold Of the fancy and at the last
seems work its Justification even while hav
Ing the Intellect puzzled. Its appeal is directly and
frankly sensuous-