The Somerset reporter., 1904-11-24
OratOriOs.

Gently held In the First Baptist church
in Skowhegan:
! An Olatorio is a musical composition for
both instruments and voice, consisting of
solos, recitatives, quartettes and choruses, with
grand organ and orchestral Accomplishments,
the subject Of which is taken from the Bible
or Sacred History, used not as religious SER
vice but as higher class Of musical enter
tainment, but given for the music alone, with
out costume or any other stage effect
! The word oratorio is derived from a latin
word meaning belonging to prayer, and as
the first oratorios were performed in the ora
tory or PRAYER chapel of the church hence the
name. When. where and from whom did
they originator
In 1905 St. Phillip Neu an Italian Cardinal
set to music series of Bible stories which
under the name Of Religious Operas and in
the dress and scenery of the Bible lands, he
had performed, one every Friday evening in
the oratory of his church. His object was to
set before the public higher class of musical
entertainment than that found at the then
popular Opera His plan was successful.
He died in 1890, but he had sown a good
seed in the musical world, other musicians
took up the work, the fame spread to other
!
there efforts in that direction and as a result,
the music reached a higher level, the drama
/ tic part was omitted and the Oratorio as we
understand it to-day was established in the
early part of the 18th centuary, Although to
Italy belongs the credit of the first oratoro
she has not handed down very many to US.
Concone gave us Judith" stradella, John
the Baptist
| To Germany we owe the most, and foremost
among oratorio composers stands the name
Of George Frederic Handel whose life was
interviewer with his oratorios.
| His first oratorio esther was so we'll
received that others followed, "Deborah"
Sampson SAUL But his ambition was
not satisfied so he set to work and in Just "a
days from start to finish he completed his
grandest of all oratoros, 1.-THE Messiah" He
made every preparation to give this oratorio
and spared no expense. 1t is said he trained
each individual voice in his choir and was
very stern at rehearsals, would allow no light
talk or laughter and became enraged even to
stamping his foot and shaking his fist at an
offender. But enemies were at work-public
| opinion was stirred up against him and the
| first production of "The Messiah" in London
| failed and bankrupt and discouraged he fed
to friends in Dublin to rest and think. Here
he was encouraged to try again, and to make
the financial part success they took up sub
scriptons to cover all expenses and allow him
a goody sum. So he set to work with re-
newed activity and this time lis anticipations
were more than realized. 1t is said that it
was performed every night for g weeks to
crowded houses. At one of these performances
when one Of his lady soloists whose voice was
Of very pathetic sweetness sang the solo.
al lie was despised and rejected" that noble
man in one of the boxes arose and said "Ihat
woman should have her sins forgiven for sing
ing that song" Encouraged by this success
and at the request Of friends in London he
returned to that city where under a new name
he again presented this oratorio and this
time it was we'll received.
At one performance when the King was
present, when the choir sang "lhe Ealleluah
Chorus the audience was SO affected that
with one accord all arose to their feet and
with uncovered heads remained standing un.
til the end, and this custom of standing dur
ing the singing OF the "Ihe Ealleluah |
Chorus has remained to this day over $50
years. Besides those already mentioned |
Handel has given US "Solomon," "Toshua' /
"Belshazzah" "Israel in Egypt" and Judas"
He always conducted his oratorius aud FIRE. /
quently gave organ concerts in connection
with them.
Beethoven who gave us 1.-THE Mount Of
Olives and Mendlessohn who gave "St.
Paul" and "Elah' and sad to relate this last
grand work was the cause Of this great mans |
death Having only limited time in which |
to compose it as it was promised for some
great festival, too close application to work |
together with grief at the loss Of dear siste. |
was too much for his already oyertaXed sys- |
tim. lie died shortly after it was completed. |
Both Of these oratorios are popular on both |
sides Of the water, and selections from them
are sung by all good church eheirs.
France has gwen usGounod who composed .
"Ihe Redemption Austria has gwen US
another fine oratorio, 1.-The Creation by
Joseph Haydn, and if ever genius struggled
to fame with all odds against him. surely this
one did. Born Of the very poorest Of parents,
he suffered all the pangs of poyerty-starva
ton, privation even to becoming a street
wait; but with one object in view, to become
musician, he struggled brayely along till
at last way was opened to him, This ora
torio was composed in his declining years,
when his fame as a musician was already es-
tablished. On the occasion Of his return to
Vienna after a prolonged absence, this was
performe in his honor when he was guest,
and it is said that when the choir sang that
grand chorus, "Let there be Light" the audi
enee we've SO loud in their applause that
tremblngly the old man arose and, with
wave of his hand, hushed the applause, say
ing, "Hush, it came from above
Among English composers, | find "Eh,"
by Sir Michael Costa, John the Baptist
"Joseph" and "Davld, by McFauen; and in
more recent years, 'The Ligh Of the World
and "The Prodigal Son" by sr Arthur Sulli
van. In no country have oratorios been so
popular as in England, where they have been
sung with power and perfe :tion unknown
elsewhere. They are to be heard on almost
all grand occasions. All cultivated singers
are familiar with oratorios in fact. it is
part Of their education.
Thanka q ffaPinn