New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-21
MUSIC.
THE oRATORIo SOCIETY.

After absence from local concert rooms OF
nearly twenty-one years Handels Judas Nacca-
beus'' was heard last night in Carnegie Hall. The
oratorio was performed by the Oratorio Society,
which took II into its repertory when itha Is the
society-was scarcely three years old. and sang 10
again seven and a half years later. The interim
was almost long enough to invite fresh comments
on Handers composition: 1T was quite long enough
to compel some mournful reflections on the part of
those who could remember the earlier perform
ances. DR.. Leopold Damrosch and all but
one OF his quartet of solo singers have gone
over to the majority In the mean time and
so has the soprano who sang the solos when Walter
Damrosch conducted the first repetition-a strip
ling who had taken up the baton that had Just
fallen from his revered fathers hand Fragrant
are the memories left by all OF them. by Miss
Antonio Henne and Christine Dessert, Joseph Mas.
D. NJ. Bsbcock and A E. Stoddard The OratorIo
Society was young at the first performance and
almost palsied at the repetition by the calamity
which had fallen upon It. OF verify their hero.
friend and father no more But II has waxed
in strength and efficiency since then and there
scarcely be a question that neither OF the
earlier performances compared with that Of
last night in spirit. in beauty in copious-
ness of tone. The martial choruses were thrill
ing enough to rejuvenate the old Handelian
strains and the younger generation.
with and sympathies attuned only TO the mod
choral. TO marvel at the puissance of him who.
when he wished. could strike like thunderbolt.'
But. after while. the feeling OF monotony crept
fn and the need of something besides such ele-
mental effects Handel relied upon TO stir the
blood of his listeners century and half ago
made itself felt Is real vitality only in THE
Messiah? Would that oratorio sound like Judas
Maccabaus'' If It's music could be ASSOCIATED from
its book and the gracious period which prompts
its performance year after Year, Has sentiment
so much to do with the artistic appreciation of the
people2 Over six thousand persons heard the
Christian oratorio at its last Christmastide per-
formance by the Oratorio Society; we question II
more than fifteen hundred heard the Jewish ora
torio last night
DR.. Frank Damrosch compelled to make
second change In his solo quartet last night Miss
E. z. Patterson substituted last week for MISS
Gelmer. originally chosen to sing the contralto
solos. She sang at the rehearsal on Sunday but
took Ill. and Mrs. Adele Laies Baldwin was called
on to take her place at the eleventh hour. Her
efficiency was not on the plane occupied by that of
her associates who Miss Laura Combs.
Daniel Beddoe and Charles W. Clark. Miss Combs
is a newcomer; Mr.. Beddoe and Mr.. Clark have
had but few hearings tn New-York All three
came to us out Of the West. though Miss Combs.
believe. has taken up a residence with US
For tenor with the heroic vocal caltbre required
by the airs call Forth Thy Powers" and Sound
Alarm DR.. Damrosch enlisted the ringing
Welsh voice of Mr.. Beddoe who responded nobly
to every call except that made in the early part OF
the work. when much of the music too low
for him. Mr.. Clark, who comes from Chicago, was
a somewhat rude and unfinished singer when heard
here some half dozen years ago. but he has
quIred finish and dignity of style during his Euro
pean sojourn. and his The Lord Worketh Won
ders" was finished example of oratorio singing
Miss Combss finest attribute is that of young
fresh and unspoiIed voice which contains in 1t much
of promise, AS yet her singing is deficient in style
her manner is tentative. her defamation wanting
in BREADTH her utterances in warmth. But she has
shown herself entitled TO a cordial welcome.