Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-01-06
CONCERT AT THE ACADEMY.


especial interest in these concerts,
both from a great fondness for music
and for the great interest we take in
the culture of that beautiful art as a
department of education.
The main attraction in this affair
was the singing of Miss L. S. Hall and
Miss L. j. p. Smith, the two lady
teachers of music, who, however, were
assisted by several accomplished anna
teurs of the city, viz; Miss Symes
Messrs. w. A. Settle, r. Jackson and
George McCurdy.
The programme was long one, and
we will not attempt to go through with
the whole of it, but will make some
mention of the principal singers.
Miss Smith being new to the Clarks-
vile people claims our first attention.
This young lady's voice is a soprano
of the highest register; the soprano as
soIuto of the Italians, and, as is usual
with that class of voices, possesses an
almostunlimited fiexibility. This was
manifested in the first part in the song
which she substituted for Robin Adair.
We believe that it was composed ex-
pressly for Madame Nilsson, and is at
any rate we'll adapted to exhibit the
vocalisation of that wonderful artistic,
and, of course, abounds in almost in
superable difficulties for an amateur.
The skill and energy with which all
these difficulties were successfully en-
countered and triumphantly overcome,
would have been credItable in a pub
lie singer of the first class and were
astonishing in oneso young and trained
only for private singing. 1t only need
ed the contrast of her delightful sim
plicity of style in the we'll known
Coming thro' the rye" to establish
her reputation as an all-accomplished
artistic.
Of Miss Halls qualities as vocalist
and musician we have had several OPP
portunities before now of expressing
our high appreciation and we are much
gratifed at being able to congratulate
her upon the complete restoration of
her vocal powers, so long impaired by
indisposition, and at being able to re-
cord that her singing was never more
attractive than on the present occasion.
Her principal pieces were the solo
with chorus, Come like q beautiful
dreans-Danks, and Reichardt's beau
tiful air, Loce'S request. Both of these
she executed with that true information
and perfect scientific method which
makes everything she does a dainty
treat for the most fastidious connois-
seur. In the latter piece she mani
Tested her power over one of the great
difficulties in vocal music, that of
singing pianissimo with distinct and
perfectly correct information. Very
few public singers are equal to this
test which she triumphantly encoun-
tered.
Several Duets next demand atten-
ton, and especially Braham 5, When
thy bosom heaCes q SIGH" This was
sung with much effect by Miss Smith
and Miss Symes, and we gladly en-
brace the opportunity of mentioning
the great aid given by the skillful sec
ond of the latter young lady to the
bright and expressive singing of the
former; in some respects singing
second Is a severer test of the musical
qualities of vocalist than the taking
the leading melody, and no one sings
second with more sympathetic sweet
ness than Miss Symes. We hope this
is not the last time we are to hear her.
Next comes The Syrea and the FTiaY
Miss Hall and Mr.. r. jackson.
Dick Jackson has an exceptionally
fine bass voice, including the entire
range of the barytone and the bassO
profundo, which was heard to much
in this Duet. One Of his
solos in a minor key is not easy sing
ing, but he gave it with artistic cor
rectness. He afterwards gave US Come
back to Erin, a good song we'll sung.
Mr.. w. a. Settle gained much cred
it in the Duet sung with Miss Smith.
W. - looul WALTZ =, bot.,r --o;oo
but his execution of the music was
both skilful and agreeable. We have
a word to say about one more Duet,
(for we could not catch the
words always facetious in its purpose.
The young ladies' are evidently discus
sing their admirers. To one sentence
in it, which we did hear distinctly, We
take exception; it was where Miss S.
to Miss Fl. very pointedly, ut
IS not Wright" Well, perhaps it isn't;
but it was not necessary to say so in
public, and moreover we are not sure
that the young lady was correctly in
formed, for (Dick Jackson to the con-
trary Notwithstanding we do not de-
spair of convincing her that it is all
Wright yet.
Finally, we have to notice a great
in the chorus. Some of
the choral pieces were by no means
easy, especially that attached to Miss
Halls solo, Come like a beautiful
Dream" and they were executed with
a precision which tells much for the
care and skill exercised in the rehears-
ais. In this department all the gen.
tlemen hitherto mentioned did good
service as well as George McCurdy,
who has not received the notice he
we'll deserves as a careful and efficient
musician.
TIE New York Observer is out with
its prospectus for the fifty-ffth year.
Tits large paper of the first class, and
should be in every family in the land.