New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-07
CHARM OF THE SETTING.

Il would be a delight to describe the
harmony which exists between the spirit
of the festivals. the beauty or lis en-
bodiment and the loneliness Of its sur
,oundings: the grandeur OF the Berkshire
hills, the loneliness of the park in winch
the music shed nestles; the adaptaolhty
of the room, with its handsome California
redwood eheathing, 10 musical purposes;
the refining influence OF musical perform
ances free from all sordd commercial IN
nuences which made them a spiritual re-
freshment even to those who had endured
the strain of the Metropolitan season now
hrppilv ended. But these things. inllting
as thev are TO the recorder or muSlca4
1oincs. are Of small significance compared
with the concrete illustration which the
festival afforded Of the manner in which
tbe purpose Of the founders is being
carried out. \ note on each days pro-
cramme stated this purpose TO De 10
honor the memory Of Robbins batteH
and 10 present Ito the people OF Litchheid
Countv choral and orchestral music IN
the highest form" AS 10 the methods
emploved. there was an equally succihct
statement: "No tickets are sold 10 the
annual concerts, admissions being by H.
Vitations. which are in the hands OF the
members OF the chorus This was 10 De
read: what was TO be seen was chorus
Of some four hundred voices and an Or
cbestra Of seventy men selected from the
philharmonic Society and the band OF the
Metropolitan Opera House. In the DodE OF
the house an audience twice as large as
the body Of performers-al invited 2uests'
The chorus was composed OF delegates
from FIVE towns and villages in Litchheld
County-NorfOlk. Wnsted, SdlIsour.
- Canaan and Salisbury. In these towns
there are individual chOirs which are
amaigamated for festival purposes IN me
I.itchfeld County Choral Union; but the
societies are all trained by the same
cho:rmaster. Richmond =. Paine, who
conducts the performances OF the chorai
works al the festivals unless they are new
or are brought out under the direction Of
,hc,r composers. Last week the choral
works we're Bruch's "Arminius' and
liandels Messiah" There are seven
bundled members ali told IN the societies,
which IS larger number than can be
,..l.zed a, q single concert; so 2 selection
j. made on the basis Of attendance on re-
heavsals and efficiency. But all share III
tho advantages II study and the prNl-
leccg afforded by the concerts The union
which invites its own audiences. is the
Jeaven which leavens tine lump Of musical
culture IN tire county. Seated among the
invited guests last weel; were celebrities
whose presence attested the widespread
a.. ~fh localities fnG
unique work doing by the union-Inusi-
clans like Walter Damrosch' Horauo
Parker. George ". Chadwick. Frederick
Wolfe conductor Of the Bethlehem Bach
yestiyals). Maud Powell Henry Hadley
zone OF the two composers who produced
new works.. W. II. Humiston, Ar
thur Woodruff, the veteran OF the Men
oelssohn GIee Club OF New York.
THE WEEKS PROGRAMME.
The principal works performed were
"Iucfer." a new symphonic poem by
Henry Hadley, ana Bruch's "Arminius
On Tuesday evening; Handles Messiah
with Miss GIuck, Miss Braslau, Paul Alt
bouge and Herbert Witherspoon as solo
elngers, on Wednesday evening; a series
Of orchestral works by Jean Sibelius the
guest Of honor, W9gner's overture TO his
early opera die Feen." an orchestral
rnapgody entitled Prom the Prairie by
C'olerldge.Taylor, and Dyoraks sym
,hony "From the New World on Thurs
day evening. Mr.. Paine conducted the
choral works and SIR. Arthur Noes the Or
chestral outside Of those By sibelius'
Critical attention cannot be given to al
~ this music or It's performance. The
writer was prevented from hearing MI
JfadIey's new work and Bruch's dramatic
oraiorio. OF the performance OF THE
Messiah" II may be said that chorally II
v,ss 81 times Rrandlose, the high lights
sbinlnQ from Behold the Lamb OF God
surely lie Hath Borne Our orlefsD ana
..lfsllelujah," IN which the son%ities were
tremendously impressive and the deciapa-
lion ouch % 20 reflect great eredit on the
conductor suG ct0irmastcf Parpcpisfiy