New-York tribune., 1919-10-05
Brooklyn Oratorio
Society to Resume
Pre-War Activities

The Brooklyn Oratorio Society an
nounces the opening of it's twenty
sixth consecutive season under the
same conductor. Professor Walter
Henry Hall, Of Columbia University.
During the war its regular concerts
were omitted, many of its members be-
ing IN the service of their country
The society will resume it's concerts
IN the opera house of the Academy Of
Music. They will be given under the
auspices of the Brooklyn Institute of
Arts and Sciences and of Columbia
University. The programmes and dates
are: December Is, Handels "Messiah":
March 20, "The Dream of Marv." nv
Horatio Parker
The chorus will also assist in the
concerts of the Columbia University in
Manhattan. Rehearsa!s were resumed
at Memorial Hall last Monday.
The Brooklyn Oratorio Society was
founded in 1898 by Walter Henry Hall,
ITS only conductor from that time to
the present. It's first concert was
given in the spring of 1894 for the
benefit of the Church Charity Founda
ton of the Diocese of Long Island.
which not only netted handsome sum
to the foundation, but brought immedi-
ATE publlc recognition for the new
chorus; The. programme consisted Of
Mendelssohn's "Lauda Sion" and Ros-
sinis "Stabat Mater" The orchestra
was selected from the New York Phil
harmonic Society and the soloists in
ciuded Ben Davies, the Welsh tenor.
Howari W. Connolly. who had been
secretary to the defunct Brooklyn
philharmonic Chorus, conducted by
Theodore Thomas, brought his pifts to
the task IF building up the new society.
Sufficient interest was aroused in the
community to give two concerts a
season for several years. In the mean
time, through the lninistrations of
Professor franklin W. Hooper it was ar
ranged that the concerts OF the society
should be given under the auspices of
the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and
Sciences, of which he was the director.
IN 1903 the chorus gave the second
performance in America of GEORGE
Henscheps "Requiem," written in mem
ory of his wife. This was given at the
metropolitan Opera House in New York.
The choir numbered 225, besides choir
OF thirty boys from St. James's Church,
New York. The soloists were Helen
Henschel, Schumann-Hcink, Ellison
Van Hoosc and Anton van Rooy
The destruction by fire of the old
Academy of Music removed the only
concert hall then available in Brooklyn.
In order to tide over the situation two
concerts were given in Carnegie Hall
New York, the Bach "St. Matthew's s
Passion" and the first performance in
America of Cigars King Olaf"
In 1905 the society was reorganized
with the Hon. Edward NJ. Shepherd as
president and representative body of
Brooklyn citizens as a board of direct
ors. Some time elapsed before the new
Academy OF Music was completed, and
although concerts were given in the
Baptist Temple, the lack of a suitable
hall caused decline in the interest in
oratorio singing. Mr.. Shepherd was
succeeded as president by ex-Mayor
Schieren, who in turn was followed by
Charles Jones Peabody. These three
men did their utmost to keep alive a
taste for the higher forms Of choral
singing during the interim between
the destruction of the old Academy Of
Music and the building Of the new one.
In due time patience was rewarded and
Brooklyn now possesses one of the best
auditoriums in the country.
In 1912 the conductor was appointed
to the new chair of choral music at
Columbia University. The Brooklyn
Oratorio Society soon thereafter affili-
ated with Columbia, since which time
it forms one of the two sections known
as the Columbia University Chorus,
singing at the festival concerts of the
university, besides giving its local con-
certs under its own name. The ar
rangement with Columbia University
leaves the society entirely independent
in its local policy and activities and
relieves it Of all running expenses OK
ccpting those relating to local concerts.
From the beginning of its career the
Brook lyr Oratorio Society has adhered
to high standard both as to choice
and performance OF choral works. Its
members have cheerfuly submitted to
the discipline required for adequate
study and desire choral education
rather than emotional interest in pop
uar music. A partial list Of works
performed either alone or with the
Columbia University Chorus follows:
Messiah ...................... Handel
Acis and Galatea. ................... Handel
St. Matthew's Passion 800. Bach
Creation 11ayuIl
Elijah NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Mendelssohn
Midsummer Nights Dream. MendeIssohn
Redemption .................. Gounod
St. Elizabeth llszt
Requiem i1osetai sesa'
San,sosn and Delilah ...,.... Saint-Saens
(olden legend ............ Sullivan
E;no Olaf Elgar
Nusic Makers Elgar
Sn;r;r ~ England ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Elgar
All first performances in America,
R1acl Knioht ElRar
Banner of st. George. Elsar
Mystic Trumpeter ...... Hamilton Harty
Brooklyn composers have been repre-
sented by:
Golden Legend ...............Du Dudley Buck