Music Trade Review

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THE
7VYUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
THE BACH FESTIVAL IN BETHLEHEM, PA. <&
T" 1 H E third Bach Festival, to be given in
Bethlehem, Pa., the week of May u ,
will be more elaborate than either of those
that have preceded it. The performance will
be given in the Moravian Church, under the
direction of J. Frederick Wolle.
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday there
will be evening sessions only, commencing at
eight o'clock.. On Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday there will be sessions in the after-
noon and evening, commencing, respectively,
at four and eight o'clock, excepting on Sat-
urday, when they begin at two and six, thus
enabling visitors from out of town to return
that evening.
The entire festival
scheme is a unit in
i d e a , presenting in
logical sequence the
events in the life of
Christ. As can be seen
from the following
schedule, the first two
days give voice to the
quiet, happy Christ-
m a s feeling. These
are followed by two
d a y s of contrasting
gloom a n d shadow.
The last two days are
largely expressive of
the exultant Easter
and Ascension joy.
Again, the works to
be performed on the
first, third and sixth
days are somewhat in
the nature of prelude,
interlude and postlude
—these being largely
subjective—the others
treating more directly
of the principal inci-
dents in the history of
the Lord.
The festival opens on Monday
evening w T ith the cantata, "Sleep-
ers, Wake; a Voice is Calling,"
Nicolai's three-stanza h y m n ,
composed by Bach for the twen-
ty-seventh Sunday after Trinity.
This is followed by the song
of the Virgin Mary—the great
Magnificat—written by Bach for
the festival of Christmas. Tues-
day afternoon and evening the
Christmas oratorio. Wednesday
evening, the Second Branden-
burg Concerto grosso, for solo
trumpet, flute, oboe and violin,
MARIE ZIMMERMAN, SOPRANO, AT THE BACH FESTIVAL.
Thursday afternoon and evening the St.
Matthews Passion music; Friday evening,
the Easter Cantata, "The Heavens Laugh,
the Earth Itself Rejoices, and Budding Na-
ture Bursts in Song," followed by the Ascen-
sion Cantata, "God Goeth Up With Shout-
ing." Saturday afternoon at 2, the Mass in
B Minor, Kyrie and Gloria; at 6, beginning
with the Credo.
The announcement of each session will
be made from the belfry of the church by
the choir of trombones..
Besides the usual string instruments, the
JULIAN WALKER, BARITONE, AT THE BACH
W. THEO. VAN YORX, TENOR, AT THE BACH FESTIVAL.
FESTIVAL.
with a string band, will
be played as a transi-
tion from the Christmas
music. This is followed
by the cantata for solo al-
to .voice, "Strike, Oh,
S t r i k e , Long-looked-for
Hour; Break, Oh, Break,
Thou Beauteous Day," ac-
companied by strings and
campanella, this being the
earliest known instance of
the employment of bells in
musical composition. Then
follows the cantata for solo
bass voice, " I With My
Cross-Staff Gladly Wan-
der," closing with the cho-
rale, "And So to Jesus
Christ I'll Go, Mine Arms
to Him Extending.." In
this, as in all the other
chorales of the festival,
the entire audience will
sing with the Bach choir
and choir of boys, support-
ed by the orchestra'and or-
gan.
_ ^ _^
GERTRUDE MAY STEIN, CONTRALTO, AT THE BACH FESTIVAL,