Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-06-28

They had evidently been trained by master of
the Art We were delighted with beautiful
Duo on two Pianos-a march by Prof. Richard
Of the Institute. 1t was difficult. but very
beautiful aud admirably rendered by Miss Nav
erick of Texas, and Miss Wilkins of Washing
ton, D. G.. Auber's fine Overture, ERA Dia-
volo," was beautifully played by the Misses
Moore of Texas Miss Payne, and Miss Belle
Shackleford of Va. These pupils were all of
the intermediate class in the School of Music,
but played with astonishing skill and accuracy.
Herold's Tampa was rendered with fault
less taste and skill by Miss Maverick of Texas
Miss Bayne of Baltimore, Miss Wilkins of
Washington city and Miss Mansfield of Hi
nois, on two Pianos, accompanied on the Or
gan by Miss Brewer of Maryland Miss
Gaines of Va. sung with admirable expression
Solo by Arditti, Magnetic Waltz" By the
way expression is characteristic of this Mu-
sic School, and indicates how closely the pupils
are made to study the hidden spirit of the
compositions
A trio, Believe Me- by Verdi, was sang
by Miss Castlemap Of West Va Miss Thorn
of Ala, assisted by Prof Davidson The
march from ''Athalia, by Meudelssohn great
ly impressed US. It was rendered on two Pr
amos, at one of which, two little pupils not
twelve years old, presided with triumphant sue
cess-Miss Mamie Pritchard and Miss Lizzie
McCay, both Of New Orleans. We watched
the nimble fingers of these little ones who can
scarcely span an Octave, as they played in per-
feet time, This production of the great master
Miss Harrison and Miss Jordan, two brilliant
performers, presided at the other instrument.
"Cheerfulness," by Gumbert, was accurately
rendered By Miss Brannon and Miss Brown. -
Weber Grand Overture, ''Oberon," was rem
dered with faultless skill on two pianos, by Miss
| Gaines and Miss Kirk of Virginia, and Miss n
| Hamilton and Miss Veal Of Georgia, accompa-
| MED by Miss McGavock of Va, on The organ,
and Prof lde on the violin. These ladies are
impression on the audience. We confess our
selves surprised at the great number Of supe-
rior musicians in one Institution. The time,
taste, skill, expression and perfect familiarity Of
all the performers with their pieces, indicated
clearly the thorough training they had received.
| The South has cause to be proud Of all such
institutions and of none more than this.
The venerable Bishops engagements allowed
him to give only one evening to these exercises
| and be was importuned to confer the Diplomas
at this time He prefaced this duty with some
admirable reuaarks-at first full of off-hand but
appropriate humor, and ending in the mos.
| touching and instructive counsel to those who
were about to pass from this happy retreat tc
| the active employments and bewildering allure
| ments of the world. Few men are so ready
| thoughts as this venerable man Of God, and
we feel sure that the counsel SO paternalIy and
affectionately given by him will never be for
gotten by the members Of this fine class
Diplomas were conferred On the following
young ladies, viz:
Misses Mamie e. Brown Lizzie May Burke,
Josie Cowan, Lizzie Fairfax Gaines, Lydia G.
Kirk Lucy W. Pendleton, Lizzie Radford,
Saliie A. Roller, Maggie e. Segar, and Laura
Staples Of Virginia; Misses Jennie P Brewer,
and Mamie Brewer of Maryland; Miss Edith
| Cash of Washington, d. g.; Misses Mamie
| Lou Dancey, Tezesa A. Thorn, of Alabama
Misses Jennie I. Elliott, r. Nathalie Hamil-
| ton, Saliie w. Lamar of Georgia Miss Susie
L. Marks of Louisiana Miss Carrie Willing
ham of South Carolina.
Diplomas in the School Of Music were con-
ferred on Miss Virginia L. Hansbrough, Miss
Cynthia McGavock and Miss Genevieve s..
Shackleford, all OF Virginia. These are the
first pupils graduated in music by this Institu-
ton since its commencement twenty-four years
ago They completed the full and difficult
course, ~ devoting six hours daily to it and
have left an example to be followed, we trust,
by many in the South, to whom a full course
of music offers a most inviting and remunera-
tive field.
Miss McGavock presided at the organ, while
the pupils and the audience sung the ''Gloria
in Ezcelsis' and the Bishops benedictiou closed
the delightful entertainment of the first even
ing.
Two things struck US in this exhibition The
thorough preparation Of the pupils, indicated
by their uniformly correct execution in the DIFF
Jfcalt as we'll as easier parts; the remarkably
appropriate expression, showing how closely
they had studied the spirit of the compositions
and that music was taught here not simply as
mechanical exercise, but as deep science, in
volving in its higher progress, the finer senti-
ments Of the soul indicated further by ''the
ttaiag'' on the plan of the European Conser-
yatories, by which pupil is trained to an inva-
riable and correct standard of time.
The other point referred to is, that the exhi-
btion was one of the skill and taste Of the pu-
pills exclusively. Every thing was their own.
They were at home either on Organ or Pianos,
and played the difficult accompaniment for
chorus of twenty-five voices or their parts in
an Overture, with equal correctness and skill.
The music was Of high order, much be-
yond the uneultivated taste of the multitude.
We outsiders must expect this, as no other
style of music will allow such an exhibition of
skill and study, as would satisfy parents of
fidelity on the part Of the Professors. These
gentlemen we're trained in the rigid curriculum
of the Schools in Prussia and France, and this