Litchfield enquirer., 1876-01-27
The merIden Musical convention.

The Meriden Musical Convention.
 The fifth Annual Musical Convention of Meriden was held Jan. 11th, 18th, 18th, and 14th. Thomas G. Shepard, of New Haven, conductor; Henry A.: Foster, of Meriden, organist.
 The objects of these Conventions are, 1 the elevation of. musical taste. higher standard of performanceby church choirs, the study of the music of the best authors and to perform such works aa require the highest order of talent for the solo parts, and the combination of numberssto render | the choruses with effect.
 The principal solists on thiss.occasion were: Miss Henrietta Beebe, of New York, Mrs. Charles R. Howard, of Boston, and Miss J. M. Patrick, of Worcsste sopra-. nos; Mrs. Flora E. Barry. of Boston. con- 1 tralto; Mir. J. Nilsen, of New York. tenor. Mr. W. c. Baird, of New York, and MT. Henry M. Morse, of Woodstock. bassoe.
 The choruses numbered about one hun dred and fifty. The greater portion of them were from Meriden and vicinity, al- though there were several representatives from other portions of the state. On the last day of the convention. strong dele gation came up from New Haven. mem-. bers of Prof. Shepard's chorus in that city, and the Friday morning rehearsal showed that the Director was master of the situation, and that the grand concert for the evening was an assured success.
 The convention opened Tuesday. We'd nesday, and Thursday morning, with short lectures by Mir. Shepard. These lectures were practical and interesting. There were three sessions each day. The first public performance was a matinee, Thursday afternoon. ''In Memoriam" (a tribute to the memory of Solon Wilder). The Thursday evening concert was very good one, bringing out several fine cho. ruses hnd Solos. Faithful and True,', from Lohengrin, ''Triumphal March, '' from Naaman, and the Cantata Hear my Prayer" by Mendelssohn. with Obligato solo by Mrs. Howard, were very fine se- lections. and we'll performed,
 But the real work of the convention be- gan to appear in the rehearsals of Friday morning and afternoon. Sterndale Bsn- nett's Cantata, ''The Woman of Samaria,' had been selected for the Friday. evening concert. This work was composed foFand first sung at the Birmingham Festival in 1867, and was new to all. It is a very pleas ing and interesting work of twenty. two numbers, eleven of which are choruses. The solos were taken by Miss Beebe, so- prano, Mrs. Barry, contralto, MT. Nilsen, tenor, and MT. Baird, Basso. The soloists performed their part to perfection. The choruses were fine and we'll sustained. There was no perceptible wavering of the chorus as whole at any time, and if any of the parts were weakened the splendid manner in which the Conductor handled the chorus, and the timely and efficient assistance of the organist brought them out all right.
 The organist was assisted during the Convention by T. T. Mansfield, of Meri- den, and Robert Smith, of New Haven. Mir. Shepard, the Conductor, as the suc- cessor of the late Solon Wilder who was great favorite with the conventions of the past, labored under. some difficulties, but he soon galned the confidence of the con- vention by his thorough knowledge of the work to be performed and by his kind and encouraging words and manner. He in- fused his own spirit and enthusiasm into the singers and the chorus went to their work with will which promised and f. nally gave success.
 Most of the music. sung at the conven- ton was of higher order than is usually attempted upon such occasions, and shows that step has been taken in the right di- rection.
 When shall we have a good musical convention in Litchfeld County? We have good material, and, if it could be brought together under good conductor once year, it would do great deal to- wards raising the standard of sacred mu- sic in all the choirs who wouli take hold of It.. What has become of the society organized in Litchdeld few years ago, with MT. Robbins Ratte]l as president. G. A. Hickox, sec., and several other ex- ecutive officers scattered about the coun- ty? X.
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