Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-05-15


/ prepared the following analysis OF his
oratorio "Golgotha" which is TO be
presented at the Illinois theatre Sat
urday, May %. under the auspices OF
| Augustana college:
The Introduction-This contains
the solemn. almost march like themes
| o. the first chorus. a strain OF the sa-
tauic hords deriding Christ, and the
choral OF penitents intoned by the
horns in quartet.
2.He Bore His Cross-Of all the
scenes in the passion the scene of
Christ bearing his cross Is possibly
the most impressive. We find this
scene in the first chorus. The pain
full solemui;y OF the same IS found in
the themes. He bore his cross is the
opening and closing theme OF this
chorus. and in the main theme of the
chorus. In the secondary theme which
appears about the middle OF the Choir
us. where Christ IS overcome by the
tirrible burden, the scene OF his faint
Ing away Is expressed by the interval
OF the augmented second.
3. Weep Not for Me-The via Dolor-
es scene is still with US. in the tender
melody given TO the tenor. we feel
the love OF Christ in the words. Weep
not for me" In the middle part ac-
oompanying the words. Weep for
yourself and your children" the deep
anxiety of Christ is expressed in the
agitato figure OF the oboe.
4. And They Crucified Him-The
scene changes-we are on Golgotha.
This chorus is more reflective. The
appalling scene OF Christ being nailed
10 the cross is overwhelming. The
thought OF his great sacrifice rises in
our souls with the chromatic passage
heard from the basses and altos. And
they crucifed him" The fun chorus
takes Il up, and then the first chro-
matte thought is again heard in uni
son with the tenors and sopranos. The
tenor follows with a short solo, THAT
the Scriptures might be fulfilled etc.
The bass solo He was the most de-
spised" closes with the thought
Therefore we esteemed him not"
which is taken IN by the masses in
the chorus. the word not" being es-
peciaIly brought out by the sudden
changes In harmony. What follows is
q working out OF the first part
=. Art Thou the Christl-The satan
&c chorus. This opens with a short
bass solo. Around the cross we hear
the hordes OF deriders hooking Christ
with their Yah theet Yah theei The
few faithful ones at the foot OF the
cross. Mary, Mary Magdalene and
John. in the beautiful passional Choir
al sung by the quartet. are being con-
tinually interrupted by the hordes
the cross They reign supreme in the
principal theme OF the chorus. art
Thou Christ. then help Thyself." Even
the high priests. in the male oh rus.
deride him. The accompaniment car
ries with II the fercest derision, sar-
castle sheer and laughter accompany
ing the main theme and the chorus OF
priests throughout.
6. Jesus, Let NY Final Rest-The
following chorus. like a beautiful an
dante. with its tenor solo expresses
the souI-felt prayer OF the humble
penitents who are overcome by the de-
rision, and mockery, to which they feel
they are a part.
PART III.
Behold the Mantle second part
opens with a bass solo. Behold the
man for sinners sake etc, re-
Elective number. II closes with the
thought, "And silently he prays to God
for those who torture him" The clos
ing OF the solo part on the fifth seems
to suggest the question -What?-and
the little plaintive oboe figure on the
end closing on the third seems 10 sug-
gest the question Why both an
swered in the solo OF the oratorio
which follows:
5. Father, Forgive Them-Whate
Father forgive them. The divine |
love of Christ is never expressed so
as in these words, Father,
forgive them" In the midst of all my /
suffering. bleeding. crowned with |
thorns. derided. spat upon and mock |
ed. In love thought OF thee" Why? |
Because I love thee so. Christ prays |
for us. pleads for us, the tenor rises |
in the second part 10 the thought. !
"Dost thou remember me-" Hear the |
deep anxiety of Christ. why fearest |
thou me. why feest thou.'' why fear |
est thou me. why feest thou?" with |
the horn obiigato in almost q demand. |
The number closes with the first |
thought. Father. forgive them.
q. For God So Loved the World
The seriousness OF the preceding num- |
bers overcome one. but we find relief /
in the beautiful thought. the gospel of |
gospels. For God so loved all the |
world that he gave his only begotten |
Son. that whomsoever beiieveth on |