Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-31
Musical World
B. POULIN will present on next
Thursdav evening. June 4, at

Inursuay evening" june =, az
- Simpson auditorium a chorus
of 100 voices and Nine. Genevera john
stone-Bishop, Abraham Miller and Ed
nond Shank, soloists, in a rendition OF
Gade's Crusaders"
This is a most interesting and beau-
tiful work, a description of which is
reprinted from Upton's Standard cam
tatas.
THE Crusaders is one of the most
powerful as we'll as beautiful of mod
ern cantatas 1t was written for per-
forrnance in Copenhagen in 1866, and
ten years later was produced at the
Birmingham festival, under the COM
poser's direction. II is divided INTO
three parts, and its story may be told
in word. Its theme is the same as
that which Wagner has treated in
''Lohengrin' and "Tannhauser"-the
conflict of the human soul with the
powers of darkness, sensual beauty
and sorcery, and its final triumph. 1t
is the story of the temptation of RI
naldo d'Este, the bravest of the Cru
saders, by Armida and her sirens, who
at last calls uron the queen of spirits
to aid them in their hopeless task, the
thwarting of the powers of evil, and
the final triumph before Jerusalem.
The first part opens with chorus of
pilgrims and women in the band of the
Crusaders, expressive of the weari-
ness and sufferings they have en-
dured in their long wanderings, the end
of which still appears so far away. AS
the beautiful music dies away, the in
spring summons of Peter, the hermit,
is heard leading up to the Crusaders
song-a vigorous, warlike melody, full
OF manly hope and religious fervor.
An evening prayer of pious longing
and exalted devotion closes this part.
The second part is entitled ''Armida,"
and introduces the evil genius of the
scene. A strange, mysterious orches-
tral prelude indicates the baneful
magic of the sorcererS wiles. In a re-
markably expressive aria Armida de-
plores her weakness in trying to over
come the power of the cross. AS she
sees Rinaldo, who has left his tent to
wander for time in the night air, she
calls to the spirits to obey her incan-
tation-
Cause palace grand to rise
Let sea before it glimmer.
In the walls of richest gold
Let the purest diamonds simmer;
Round the fountains pearly rim.
Where bright the sunbeams are glancing'
Flashing low and murmuring sweet,
Set the merry wavelets dancing.
In you hedge of roses where fairies rock In
softest dreaming,
Fays and elfns bid appear, and sirens
float in waters dreaming.
All around let music ring,
Fill the air with sweetest singing
Lure them on with magic power
To our midst all captive bringing
Sing remembrance from their hearts,
Till they bow my will fulfilling;
Make them every thought forego,
Every wish, save mine own, sitting.
After another invocation of the
spirits the sirens appear singing SEN
suous melody. Then begins the temp
tation of the wandering knight. He
starts in surprise as he hears the
voices rising from the waves, and
again they chant their alluring song.
They are followed by Armida, who
appeals to him in i seductive strain
cob, Rinaldo, come to neVer-endlng
bliss!"). The knight joins with her in
a duet of meiodious beauty He is
about to yield to the temptation,
when he hears in the distance the tones
of the Crusaders song. He wavers in
his resolution, Armida and the sirens
appeal to him again, and he turns as
if he would follow them. The Cru
saders song grows louder and rouses
the knight from the spell which has
been cast about him, and the scene
closes with beautifully concerted
number, in which Rinaldo, Armida, the
chorus of Crusaders and of sirens con-
tend for the mastery. The fascination
of the Crusaders song is the strongest.
The cross triumphs over the sorceress,
and in despair she sings
Sink, scenes Elusive. deem in dark abyss of
doom!
The light of day is turned to blsckest night
OF gloom.
The third part, entitled Jerusalem"
is religious in character and mostly
choral. In rapid succession follow the
morning hymn, with beautiful horn ac-
compartment, the march of the pill
grims full of the highest eXaltation,
the hermit's revelation of the holy
city to them, their joyous greeting to
il, Rinaldo's resolution to eXpiate his
offense by his valor, the hermit's last
call to strife, their jubilant reply and
the final victory
As our God wills it. Up arouse thee
Up! yon flag with hope endows thee.
Jerusalem! the goal is there.
we cry aloud, "Hosanna"
-r-
There is to be a genuine welcoming
home of Lark Ellen" at the Audito-
rum Friday evening, June 5. We are
to hear once more our own charming
Southern California singer, who after
her great success at the Metropolitan
opera house in New York city last
month has been singing her way into
California's Song Biz