New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-13
MUSIC.
A CONCERT OF VISITING 0RGANIzA-
TONS.

goers realize anew that there are puissant choruses
and competent orchestras besides those heard here
in seasons usual course. The Mendelssohn
Choir came from Toronto headed by its conductor
Mr. A. s. Vogt. this being it's first adventure upon
United States soil. except for recent friendly IN
vasion of Buffalo. The Plttsburg Orchestra, last
heard at Carnegie Hall under Mr. Victor Herberts
leadership, played last night under Mr.. Emil Paur's
vigorous baton recalling pleasant memories or MS
similar good offices here in other days There
were foar soloists-Mrs. Rider Kelsey. Miss Janet
Spencer. Mr.. George HamIn and Mr. Herbert With
erspoon-a dignifed and able quartet OF singers IN
the audience we're many resident Canadians CONS
to hear their compatriOts but il was not merely
sentimental impulse that melted the demonstra-
tons that followed the Toronto choiT's perform
Applause that Enthusiastically genuine
compelled Mr. Vogt, after the chorus had sung
Gounod's beautiful setting Of Psalm cxxXvH, by
Babylons Wave" to interiect Scots Wha Haze"
into the already long programme
II long been n custom of provincial British
chors to visit the cities Of their own country and
also those OF foreign lands to carry the evangel
Of choral music TO places and peoples less devoted
than their own communities to that form of art
The great cities OF the world. a rule, are less
devoted 10 choral art than to forms OF music which
offer more amusement in the careless sense OF the
word, that which ignores its dignifed derivation
Opera and miscellaneous concerts serve that end.
and operas and miscellaneous concerts usually at
tract thousands out of a population Of million
where oratorio concerts draw hundreds. British
choirs with a large membership have recently
visited Germany. combining the pleasures OF a
picturesque tour with the mission Of giving taste
Of their quality. A like purpose has occasionally
sent German Choirs on a long itinerary. in the
case Of the MAnnergesang Veren, of Vienna which
visited London only a few months ago, AMI our
own Arion Society. which some years since made an
extended tour through Germany and Austria In
these cases however. the element OF sociability
eminently characteristic Of these organizations has
played important role. Always, however. good
has resulted-an Increase OF interest in their work
on the part Of the choristers and IN choral music
the part Of the communities visited. The present
Handel revival in Germany. illustrated by the
Festival in Berlin three months ago, was indub!-
tably the product OF the unnermittent cultivation
Of Handes music in England
Choral music IS not neglected in New York, but
have no single society which cultvates it in so
many phases does tho visiting organization if
last nights programme is illustrative OF It's orli-
nary activities Here choral music is segreg gated,
specialized. The Oratorio Society performs only
works OF large dimensions, in which orchestra
co-operates with the chorus The Musical Art So
ctety devOtes itself to unacCOmpanIed music. d.
vided between church compositions Of from two TO
four centuries ago and secular pieces Of the con-
trapuntaI masters Of to-day. The Church Choral
Societys programmes are wholly ecclesiastical. but
OF the modern mixed type. Musurgia has made
point OF the smaller modern forms The Peoples
Choral Union, which is chiefly an educational in
stItution. studies variety Of forms. but in its
occasional public exhibitions adheres to the oratOrO
or the cantata. The Toronto Choir seems to have
taken the entire domain Of choral music its
field of operations. There only music OF this
century in last nights programme. and all
Of It, save Beethovens symphony. with q
choral ending. OF the religious order
But in to-nights scheme there is a blending OF
many kinds Of compositions extending from An
tonic Lotu G66.-17i0J TO Howard Brockway, Of
country and day. Last nights programme
began with LISTS setting of the Thirteenth
Psalm-a work of singUlarly expressive beauty de-
spite its dsjointed and decamatory melodic struct-
ure-which has twice figured in the lists OF the
Church Choral Society, the first time some fifteen
years ago. the last time less than three. Gounods
motif setting Of Psalm CXXXvi. FOR six voices
eapella and Tschaikowsky's music TO the so-caled
"Cherubim Song Of the m!ssal service Of the Rus
sian Greek Church, were the other compositions
by Bortniansky, edited by Tschaikowsky. the
hymn has been sung by the Musical Art Socl.Nv
1t Is the fifth subdivision of the mass OF st. John
Chrysostom 1t accompanies the conservation OF
the host and IS divided between an ascriptlon of
praise to the Trinity and to the sacred host. The
concluding lines.
5 5ig Kiq 3s q al shall We raise Thee
We hail Thy conservation,
which are set, rule. to jubllaut music Gin
Tschaikowsky's hymn they run out into brilliant
fugued movement on the 'HaHelujah'D. call up
the vision OF an ancient and universal custom
tho elevation OF the host IS lIkened to the lifting
up Of a king upon his shield by the soldery. Pulls
SAINT the word used at the outset to Charac-
terize singing Of Toronto choir. There were
moments last night when that word would have
been too weak 10 Mt the astonshingIy muscular
body Of tone given forth by these 225 men and
women OF the North Such vigor. combined with
such precision IS not often met in a choral
ganizatop Mr.. Vogt and the singers would have
given ewes more pleasure than they did had there
baan M Of dyrlar nfc
There too little moderation. too much
phass: yet this singing spirited viriIe
in its total effect, that occasional hardness and
explosive qualities were easy to forgive. The
Gounod music showed the choir at its best this
and tho lode to JOY" that brought the concert TO
a heroic close. Mr. Paurs share of the evening.
the symphony renewed his many claims to esteem.
Would that he had joined TO each other the third
and fourth movements