New-York tribune., 1909-04-09
RAch's "sr. MATTHEW PASSION"

Gauged by last nights audience. which was i'm
pressive in size and closely attentive. the per
formance of Bach's mighty setting Of The Passion
According to st. Matthew might come 10 be ac-
cepted here as musical religious fixture of. the
eliminating days of every Lenten season. Whether
the Oratorio Society, which sang the work last
evening at Carnegie Hall (as it also had done on
the corresponding day of last year in the Churcn s
calendar would to assume the Bach master
piece as an annual task for generation past 1t
has constituted itself the official promulgator OF
Handlers Messiah" at Christmas. is another mat
ter The undertaking is too serious to be prepared
in the short time of rehearsal allotted to The
Messiah" and, moreover. there might grow up
tendency to perfunctoriness which Is all but IN
evtable when music becomes a matter Of routine
In any case the point be emphasized now Is
rather the receptive and appreciattve attitude OF
the public than any probable effect upon the
OratorIo Society itself Certain II is that SO long
as the organization gives the Passion with the
snirit and energy that marked this presentation It
will deserve be heard by all the lovers OF great
music that Carnegie Hall can hold
Without being remarkable IN any one respect the
socetv's rendering Of the Leipzig cantors setting
OF the Gospel narrative brought out IN large meas
ure the simplicity and majesty OF the composer
thought often as the archaic INSTRUMENTATION
with its predomnatng mixture OF reeds ana strings
would remind the hearer that Bachs art was sun
rooted in the medieval German spirit, the UNI
versaI quality Of this inspired music would sweep
80, r,eraI,, historical considerations of time and
neriod and set the listeners pulses astr with the
throb Of its supreme vitality. The men anu "o'7i'
NJ the Oratorio society's chorus, under Dr. FRANK
Damrosch's earnest leadership. sang as though tey
Understood and felt purport of the text ana lS
eating The dra matte potency Of the cries OF the
,o,,Itftude and the devotional and contenpiat'Ve
moods of the noble chorales were alike cornlulli-
Gated to the audience. and the endurance el 'he
IL dv If choral tone as we'll its accuracy eia9
ttcft,- and volume must be heartily praised Eve"
tho rtnieno choir CT boys, taking part IN the ue
,,endous opening chorus. proved effective despite
the undistinguished quality OF It's tone; al 'e@S J.
made for contrast -,
,rbe solo singers contributed much toward the
success of the performance. The ouroeh OF '"7
>rarrator's defamation was borne by MI GeF'ase
I-1uaz ubo though obviously out OF voice, mace
,r,ends nv The clearness and eloQuence OF MS
e,,ncistion No more intelligent reading OF TINS
,ext cor,d have been desired Mr.. Claude Cunning
han, sang the Saviour's utterances with amphtude
and generally with beauty of vocal SOUND anu MI
Uitherspoon was effective IN the bass parts que
mainly TO his skill in conveying the textual mean
ing Mrs Rider-KeIsey sang artist!cally the so
prano SOLO music with good appreciation OF the
reouireunents Of Bach's style while Nine. Homers
opulent contrato gloraed what she sang especlaIly
IN The duet with soprano Alas! Ny Jesus Now Is
Taken" 1t was a pity that Nine Homer's duties
ar the SIetropotan Opera House. where she was
IN sing F,rda in 'Siegfried. took her before
the evening was over. The last two contralto
arias were sung with dignity and skill by Miss
Janet Spencer.