New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-09
loan OF ARC
EPIC IN MUSIC
Bossi's OratOrio Is Per
formed by the OratOrio
Society.
b. II. f. KREHBlEL

The Oratorio Society last night &C
complished task which it has had in
contemplation for nearly a year past;
it performed Bossi's oratorio Joan OF
Arc" To do thing like this is a sacrifice
TO what conductors more than their
singers or the public think they recog-
nize as a public duty. So far as the
patrons Of large choral organization
are concerned it has long been observed
that the old things please them best
The Oratorio Society lives on the pro
ceeds Of the two Christmas.ide per
formances Of The Messiah So do
nearly all the choral societies in the
country. The situation used 90 have a
parallel when German opera companies
tried 20 exc out an existence Just as
English and Italian companies are do
ing now When the ghost refused 70
walk (which In theatrical patlance
means that salaries could not be paid
a performance OF DER FreischUtz" was
given; and for the time being al was
well. So 10 has been with our OratOrio
Society for years. But the conductors
and managers have felt 10 duty a
any sacrifice to keep up with the spirit
of the age They made a notable ef-
fort last night. but it is TO be feared
an Intellectual one I'm spite Of the fact
chat popular interest ought 90 have
been stirred by the dedication Of the
first monument 70 the Maid of Orleans
in New York only two days before. The
audience In Carnegie Hall last night
was not "a numerous as II ought 20
have been had there been nothing eS-
traneous 10 attract it
Bossi's oratorlo. or mystery as he
chose 70 call IL, is artistically AS in
structirg as any recent opera, and
many times as valuable from the same
point Of view as the ballots which are
promised later in the season. It's con-
tents have been outlined iu this Jour
nal and need not be repeated. BOssls
music is delightful so long as IL re-.
mains in the lyrical or epical field.
When 10 attempts 10 become dramatic
10 becomes commonplace and tiresome.
Nothing more fascinating than the
prologue. whicy pictures the poets
fancy of the intb,ents which may have
preceded the tragedy Of the Maid OF
Orleans. could well be imagined The
pastoral music AZ the beginning is so
charming that not even a critIcaster
would be tempted 20 raise the question
how the shepherds pipe cSuld have
acquired the tones which n large me-
chancal ingenuity gave the oboe hun
dreds of years later The delightful
mood was there. and 1t was preserved
even In the highly artificial vernal
scene which followed the lovely pas
toral music The singing Of the boys
from the choirs Of the churches OF 81.
Andrew and 81. Eward the Martyr was
most admirable. and so was the sing
ing Of the society. which reflected cred
n on it's conductor. Mr.. Koemuenich.
When the dramatic scenes came
later the weakness Of the composition
was forced upon the notice Of the
hearers and also a weakness in the per
Torrance. Let the world slide seemed
20 be the motto. "uo one will notice.
because no one will know There we're
sound and fury enough to conceal all
deficiencies. And yet 10 was a highly
creditable performance one JustlIying
high praise 10 the society and It's con-
ductor We doubt very much NJ any or
ganization in the country could have
done better with 10. As for the inter-
pretators Of the solo parts. Miss Sunde-
Illus merited praise for her intelligent
ana Jealous WORK anu ehAiit "Napti ~ :
the beauty and sympathetic quality Of
her voice in its middle register. Moth
ing lovelier has been heard anywhere
this season. Mr. Morgan Kingston, the
tenor. did all his work with an uuyleid-
ing steely style that made enjoyment
difficult. Mr. Clifford Cairns sang the
bass solos most satisfactorily. and IN
the ensemble nobody was wortnier or
praise than the representative Of the
two saints who called Joan 90 her mis-
sion-Grace ID. Northrup and Rose
Bryant. IL is frequently the case IN
oratorio performances that the singers
Of small parts in the most artistic work
Of the evening. We rhould Ike 20 say
this OF the representatives Of the Two
female saints were il not that 10 might
reflect upon the very large credit due
10 Nine. Sundelius for the fine manner
in which she performed a very difficult
task.