Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-13

and prolonged applause, and they de-
served 1t.
The Atonement
In the evening -Taylor's
Sacred Cantata, THE Atonement,
was heard by a large and brilliant
audience. The Atonement is con-
structed along big and serious lines.
teristic of Coleridge-Taylor, so pre-
vades the work that it grows monoton-
GUS. The question as to whether the
music has secular or sacred atmo-
sphere is still debatable, but let it be
said right here, that the music GER
tainly does not fit the text, except in
a few rare. cases. Softness and
spiritual feeling spontaneity and con-
trast are lacking.
The finer sense of detail and color
give way to artificial and forced effects.
At the passage, "They Weave a Crown
of Thorns," the strongest dissonenoe
is on leave, and dominant seventh
accepted as a consonant chord) on
the word thorns. There was no pain
in the weaving, but there was in the
thorns.
THE Shadow of the Cross Upon My
Spirit Falls" is built on an ascending
phrase. The word falls" being the
highest note and at the end. This
may be originality, but it is truth in
music? Another example, Christ Has
Triumphed" The word Christ" on
a high fiat sung fortissimo is not
good writing to begin with. 1t can
not convey any reverence - and
further, the subject of the work all
through is Christ. and the point now
TO be emphasized is "Triumphed."
Many other examples could be quoted
The double chorus, THE Prayer" is
well written--it is good music-but 1t
does not depict the weeping, simple,
trusting souls of the holy women and
apostles. 1t is too complex
The whole work is mournful with
out being impressive, and the final
chorus, He Hath Triumphed," could
not brighten it enough to be effective.
In short the work gives the feeling
that harmonic effects are the chief
ends sought for, and that the text is
secondary.
The music in itself is beautiful, but
not in keeping with the thought. The
chorus could not overcome this
handicap, but they carried the work
along with fine surety, and worked
up some fine climaXes. The chorus
like the work. because they entered
into il with considerable spirit. The
soloists did not have a great deal to
do. Mrs Mary Ebrey HotZ, soprano,
has a voice of lovely quality, and sings
with taste and understanding. The
tener Earle Waldo Marshall did what
he had to do with excellent voice and
authority. but why did he cut the best
sool in the work? Henry Hotz, base,
had considerable to do, singing the
words spoken by Christ. Mr.. Hotz is
limited vocally, and was not at his
best in the part.
The local soloists. Mrs Cox, Mrs.
Harris and the Misses Heicher Mid
daugh and Turner all did their parts
faithfully.
The trio by Mrs. Cox, Mrs. Harris,
and Miss Middaugh was sung smooth
ly and effectively. The Orchestra ac-
compartment gave good support, and
added color and richness to the vocal
part. The effect of the work as a
whole was marred by three or four
wearisome waits, which made the
work drag and lose whatever atmo-
sphere II contained.
The work is stupendous and eX-
tremeIy difficult and that 1t was so
well presented is cause for keen salts
faction. DIR. Wolfe is an able musi-
clan painstaking and enthusiastic. He
conducted the entire performance in
mastery way and brought the TWEEN
ty-frst season to a successful close.
J. w. PHILLIPS.