The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-05
A LENTEN CONCERT.
New Haven oratorio Society to Give Sacred Cantata
 of Elgar.
DATE SET IS MARCH 19
Two Greatest Living Composers of Choral Writing Will Join Hands
 in This Event.

Tonight in College street nall, the New Haven Oratorio society will meet for a rehearsal only a half dozen more of which are to be held before the big chorus gives its Lenten production of Sir Edward Elgar's sacred cantata "The Dream of Gerontius.
 This is only the second Lenten con cert the society has given during it's career. In choosing this really won- derful musical setting of Cardinal Newman's drama, which is spoken Of in the church as the Tragedy Of Soul, the society has set itseH most arduous task to perform. While the music Is rarely beautiful with It's great dramatic climaxes It's score is exact ing and extremely difficult. The chor- us has been at work upon 1t since early in the winter in Tact more re- hearsing has been given to "Geron- tius" than to anything the society has ever produced.
 The date set for this, the last con cert of the season is March l9 and on that occasion in Woolsey hall the two greatest living composers Of choral writing, that is writings for voices and orchestra, will be associated as 1t were.
 Dr. Parker and Sir Edward Elgar, the American and the English eom- poser, contemporaries, warm friends and admirers, one of the other. surely this the greatest thing the English man has written will be sung coma more. Dr. Parker went over to Eng land to conduct his own work, St. Christopher" in the same festival a; which Elgars Gerontlus" had it's pre- mier. So the conductor of the New Haven Oratorlo society heard the sa- cred cantata under the most interest," ing conditions.
 This Is the first time that the Elgar work has been given in Connecticut, although 1t has been sung everywhere nearly where a chorus or sufficient ability to master its score exists. 'Gerontius" is psychological drama in seven parts. each section contain ing its own distinct dramatic effect, each section strongly marked, stamp ing the scene individuaI and carrying profound appeal of its own. It was written when Cardinal Newman was slxty-five and in deep grief over the death of friend. "Gerontius' IS said to be one of the most unique and original poems of our time Elgar once said, after he had com pleted his gigantic task. "The poem oi Newman has been soaking in my mind for eight years at least. Dur ing all that time I have been grad | ually assimilating his thoughts into my musical promptings."
 Many musicians have been attracted by this peculiarly dramatic poem, bu' only Elgar, mystic, dreamer ol dreams, devout Catholic, carried his idea to realization.
 No more beautiful or fitting Subject for Lenten concert thac this could have been chosen, It is the dyint mans dream "of his souls transporta. ton to the unseen world and It's re ception by the ministering agents o 1 the Almighty's will" In the score \ music of the highest dramatic intensity as there is also, music of the deepes devotional character.
 Besides a large chorus, and the full est of modern orchestras, there is re uuired for the production of "Th' Dream of Gerontius," semi-chorus O | twenty solo voices.
 Among the singers who will make up this chorus are: Mrs. William E Haesche, solo soprano at St. Paurs Mrs. F. O. Robbins, solo soprano a Center; Miss Mary Lynch, solo con tralto at St. Mary's; Miss Grace Wal ker. Miss Louise Danniker and Mis- Ellen Hofer, all three solo contraltos Riley F.. Phillips. jr., solo baritone a St. Xavier's. New York, and these wei kno,rwn artistic singers: Mrs. Freder ick W. Brown, Mrs. c. w. Vishno, Mrs c. w. Okeson, Mrs. Nathan F. White Mrs. F. M. Sperry, Frederick Maurer A. ]. Bowen, J. n. Gilson, Rufus Shep ard. Charles Aran, soloist at Chris church, and Thomas F. Williams, solo ist at Trinity.