Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-02-19

oS%s., oouusy, anu city MUSICAL s0cfetles
Of the United States and the Canadas, met,
pursuant to the call, at the Smithsonian In
Hitute, at ten O'Clock yesterday morning.
Inc meeting was called to order by the
president, ]. Magruder, Esq, of this city,
+. Glenroy, Esq taking the secretary's chair.
=, Inc session was opened with prayer by Rev.
Mr. Dashiel
On motion, Messrs Tucker, Lloyd, and Sher-
rim, Of this city, were appointed committee
on credentials.
On motion, the Chair was authorised to ap.
point committee to draft constitution - q
permanent basis for the future operations of
the Congress.
Prof. I. B. Woodbury., of New York, the
musical director of the Congress, was then in
troduced by the president.
Professor Woodbury. was glad to meet so
many familiar and friendly faces at the ma
tional musical gathering. He was sure from
appearances that the sessions must be made
profitable and pleasant to all At any rate,
II all things passed off as we'll as they did in
the local convention Of last year, no one
could be dissatisfied. He hoped to see a
large number of delegates from the various
musical societies throughout the Union. Many
OF the delegates he knew to possess great mu-
steal talents. Some of them were great pro-
fcients In the various branches of instrumental
and vocal music. The ladies accompanying
him, delegates from New York city, were pro-
fessiOnal singers, and had attended at his re-
quest to assist in instructing the ladies in the
cultivation of the voice, would be found to be
efficient members of the Congress.
The exercises would consist of practise in all
the various branches of music accompanied
with suitable instruction and illustration by
lectures and examples by the Processes in at
tendance. Prof. Henry had promised several
lectures on sound.
The Congress would remain in session five
days, during which time two concerts would
be given, one on Thursday and the other on
Friday nights, at one of which the oratorio of
Abraham and Ishmael would be brought out
He closed by saying he had every reason to
expect very pleasant session
1t was resolved that the Congress hold three
sessions per day: one at 10 O'Clock, the next
at 3 o'clock, and the third at "A o'clock.
After the practise of several pieces, they
adjourned till o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION
The first part of the session was occupied
by Professor Woodbury. in a lecture on the
management of the voice so that it may i'm
prove in strength from use, and not deteriorate
In quality. The cause of loss of voice, and of
bronchial diseases, is generally attributable
to an attempt to force the voice beyond its
register. In doing this the voice is strained,
irritation of the soft tissue membranes of the
throat Is excited, and disease snsues as a nat
ural consequence. The prevalence of bron-
chial diseases among city clergymen, and the
comparative freedom of the itineracy from
such complaints, was ascribed to the sedentary
| life of the one, and the active outdoor exer-
else of the other class. A few simple proven
tives and cures were mentioned Attention
was then called to the practice of sustaining
and swelling monotone as long as possible,
thereby strengthening and not straining tho
voice This practice was recommended as q
private exercise.
The practice of pieces for the concerts vas
then resumed under the direction of Professor
Woodbury., who presided at the piano, Pro-
fessor Cook, one of the best solo violinists, ac-
companying the voices ON the violin.
EVENING SESSION.
The whole time was devoted to practice of
music for the concert. At the end of the first
hour, Prof. Cook, of New York, gave a solo on
the violin, which was tumultuously applauded
until it was repeated, or rather until be gave
another OF a lighter character When it was
concluded the storm Of applause was RECON-
menced, and, though Prof. Cook refused to
play again, 1t was some time before order
could be restored. After half an hour more
of singing in chorus, the gas suddenly went
out, leaving all in darkness, when the Con-
gress adjourned till this morning, at 10 o'clock.
SECOND DAY.
The first hour of the morning session was
devoted to lecture on the proper rendering
of common church psalmody, by Prof Wood.
bury. The importance Of accurate style and
expression In church music is not, as a general
thing, sufficiently valued. And to this valua-
BILE branch much attention would be paid by
the Congress
A lively, joyful tune was selected from the
"Cythsra," and was sung trio, in chorus
under the direction of Pref 9 Cook and w God.
bury, and all the errors noticed were pointed
out and corrected. Then piece of opposite
expression, " Corfu" was selected 1t had
iegato movement, and the expression required
the piece required a soft, gentle, graceful
movement. In singing this piece, some of the
voices stood out in too great prominence
This led to a comment on the various quail.
ty of voices. Some were particularly quail
fed to sing on and lead in the choruses but
that was no evidence that they could perform
solos well, although most who could sing well
In chorus thought solos were within their
scope. And so 1t was with good solo singers
they were often but Insignificant members in
chorus. In the old countries, many profess
sional men devoted themselves wholly to cho-
rus singing, and it was regarded as much q
part of the profession as solo singing, although
1t did not command as high remuneration
In singing some of the church pieces the
ausptdIion ol the WOrQs 10 the music, and the
music to the sentiment, was commented on
This led to some remarks on the necessity of
choristers exercising discretion in selecting
music expressing the sentiment contained in
the words. If the hymn was one of prayer,
one style was required was it one Of praise,
joyful, ardent movement was needed and
whatever was the sentiment of the words,
such was the style of music necessary, and ali
sentiments were expressed by the selections Of
music usually found in the text books
A piece was now sung by twelve voices,
three on part, which produced a fine effect.
A committee on quartets was then ap
pointed by the president, consisting of Messrs.
Tucker, Ward, and Stewart of this city.
The rest of the morning session was devoted
TO practice.
This session, like the previous ones, was
largely attended by the citizens and some of
the delegates. But many Of those expected
from distance have been detained by the
irregularity of the trains.
FAIRLY CAUGHT "A morning paper states
that " the wind was excessively high on Sun
day last-high enough to carry away the der