"THE HEALING OF NATHAN.'

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2199, 14 August 1889, Page 3

"THE HEALING OF NATHAN.'

Tbe BBcred historical cantata " Faith Triumphant, or the Healing of Naamsn " Is to be given In the Oddfellows' Hall tbfa evening- Several other cantatas by tbe same author, 0. F. Root, hive already been given in Ashburton tod have met with each marked approval and appreciation by tbe general public, that there was good Inducement to make the more pretentious effort of renderfog what may be designated tbe moat dlffioult production of the composer. No tffort will be spared to aeeord for " Naaman " as Booosaifal a reception *h was aocorded " Under the Palms"* few months ago. The story of Naaman !• familiar to every Bible reader. The seeoe of tbe opening of the cantata Is a garden on the banks of tbe river Abana : the time Is daring the reign of Benhadad 11., after tbe victorious retorn of Natman the Syrian master of the hosts from a war with Israel, brioglng with him many Hebrew captives In the firat number, Iran, (Ellens) a Hebrew prophet Jn ciptiyity In Sjila, exhorts bis fellow captives, still to trast In God, ihoagh Syria triumphs. Naaman'u return to Syria Ja set out by a fins ohorns of Syrian prleste paople and In whloh dua honor ißpsid to tbe great general. Tbe ehorna " Breathe it low " announces thu fact of Ncsman's disease. The feeling of despair and tbe passionate appeal to the gods fcr help is finely toid in the recitative (Naaman's wife) (( What are Triumphal •hoots." The bnrden of a sorrow f til heart finds plaintive expression in Naaman's |?mtDt "My heart is bowed" dorro," but

the naional spirit Is sirred by his patriotic sir " But I lr.va theo" an'l book |: Hfti) pla ? n of D mascng." Among tho mo t effective par?B of tho Cantata are iho passages oomm^ncing with •' O ta^o mfs wondorfal" witii the accompanying ch"•ru^ ' Jeh )vah." Th > rtesenc of Jehovah in ho movements if nature is grandly portrayed in the eto:m ceno "A clond ia o n the moun aia. ' •"t o'o us " The vo?C3 of the Lord."

The f • nd p^rfc if the Oanta'a is a dos3'ir>ti. n of JSaaman's rou-n . froyj yamari's affcor I. is : ealiax hv s boon «c c mpi-'shed Tf open- with 'Th- mining t>rd< a?e slfging '' (recitntfv )u d thriv< r s jd£ *' AiMinV hs chcruf. <! T* r ch rio% tho chariot," deo'arrs ih" j y o the Hebrew ciptiv«s at :he sucies^ o f Neaman's visit to Samaria ; and iho co 1 flict between Naima <'s nckaowlet?g tnenl of J.'hr.V'ib's power 'Now eisg to Jehovah," and the dr termination of th« Syrian priests to uphold th^ supremacy of Rimmon is given fall cfE ct to in the Hebrew maid's ascription of praist to the God of Providence "O harp of my fat hew," fs full of pathos and davotion The concluding ohoraa "Now to th<s King Eternal " is a Tary fie poortrayal of the same thought

Two extra items have been added— the tenor iolo "In native worth" fr >m Haydn's Creation," and the " Halle'nj»h " oborua from Handel's "Messiah" complete the programme of wh»t piomiaes to bo a great muiioal treat.