Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-12-14

D VIII VI nhiItu NiuhlN NJ NUt NhuINhs lbI lut
benefit Of Mr. II. |. Proctor, who has ofTicat-
ed the past year as Organist As was ex-
pected the attendance was good, and the Choir
acquitted themselves with honor, performing
several solos, quartettes and choruses in a
manner that would do credit to musicians of
very much greater pretcnsions.
Mr. Proctor is young man of rare musi-
cal talents, and bids fair to take his place in
the front rank as an organist and pianist.
Modest and retiring, he knows no ostonta-
ton but when called upon to preside at the
organ or the piano, he does it with the skill
Of master. No piece of music is so diff
cult but that, under his hand, the instrument
Is sure correspond with readiness and accuracy.
Coming among us about one year ago, an en-
tire stranger, he at once drew around him a
host Of admirers of his skill as as an organ
ist and pianist, and so well has he sustained
himself that every succeeding day has but ad-
ded to his hurels and this last effort may
well be- styled the crowning act in year of
successful musical conquests. During his
stay among us he has contributed not little
to the eleyating of tho standard Of musical
taste in our midst and now that he has left
us though for a temporary absence, we
trust') we are sure that the best wishes of the
citizens Of Montpelier will ever attend him
wherever his lot may be cast.
We need say nothing in praise Of the eff
forts Of Col Hopkins, the leader Of the Brick
Church choir. He is so well known as a
singer that ANYTHING VIC might say Of him
would be but a reiteration of what is already
known and admitted by every one that has
heard him sing,-hs equals arc few, his SUI
periors rarely to be met with Too much
credit cannot be given him for the planning
and successful carrying out Of these concerts
Mr. B. d. Hopkins, brother Of Col. Hop
kins, added to the interest of the occasion,
as well as to his own reputation, by his supe-
rior skill as base singer at is the Lords
Own Day" base solo, was finely executed,
and was received with the applause it richly
deserved
Miss Carpenter of Barre and Mrs II. 5.
Loomis as treble, Mrs +. r. Skinner as
alto, Mr.. d. Goodwin as tenor, and Mr. Camp
Of Barre as base, with the other members of
the choir, all sustained their parts with much
credit
Miss Greenwood of Nashua, who was pres
ent by especial invitation, added greatly to
the evenings entertainment. We never beard
a suprano voice of such power and sweetness
in which there was nothing but music and
with her almost iaultess style Of execution, .
she held the audience in silent amazement
until the close, when they sgni6ed their ad-
miration of her musical powers by repeated
applause. So well pleased were those who
heard her on Wednesday evening, that she
yielded to the many requests to give a concert
OF more popular character on Monday even
ing at the Village Hall. Notwithstanding
the storm, the Hall was well filed, and Miss
Greenwood won new laurels.
If our opportunities of hearing Miss Green
wood and Judging of her qualifications as a
singer had been limited to single evenings
entertainment, we would be exceedingly eau
tious in the expression of our opinion con-
corning her but having listened to her in
the rehearsal, in the concert, in the church
service, and again in the concert, and in eve
ry case with the most genuine pleasure and
satisfaction, we venture to commend her
in high terms of praise. ~inout the fear
of changing our opinion hereafter. Her voice
is soprano of unusual compass and quality,
and we have rarely, if ever, among the many
good singers whom it has been our fortune to
hear, listened to one whose tones, for purity
and delicacy, have more delighted our ear than
hers. We heard her. or tried to, with the
car of the critic but she disarmed us entire
ly, aud we watched in vain for the first weak
point, either of voice or method, whereon to
predicate criticism Her highest tones,
reaching to c and d, and even above, were
taken with certainty and case; while her
lower tones, extending to G., were rendered
in the same satisfactory manner Better still,
this broad range of compass was traced in a
manner perfectly graceful and pleasing. In
no respect was the listener made to feel that
it was difficult task to the performer. Miss
G. has often been before the public in the
principal towns of her adopted State, as the
assistant to other performers but her con-
cert here en- Monday evening was her first in
her own name. 1t was in every respect
good beginning, and worthy of the distinction
which, to our mind, awaits her. Her pro-
gramme was admirably chosen and better per-
formed. Every piece was rapturously encor-
ed, and each encore was gracefully and appro-
priately answered.
Miss Greenwood is at present employed to
sing in one Of the churches at Nashua. Her
performances reflect the greatest credit upon
herself and her teachers hitherto. But there
are broader fields Of study and attainment to
be made by her, and wider distinction to be
won. We are therefore gratifed to learn
that it is her purpose very soon to place her
self under the instruction of one of the best
vocal teachers in the country, We wish her
every success. No young lady has better
foundation on which to build, as a public