The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-08-22
Musical.

Hill, few persons would have believed
that there was a vast amount of musical
talent lying dormant among the hills oil
Jackson county. At that time choir
was organized to compete for the grand
prize. Though our musicians failed to
carry off the prize, the desire for i'm
provement and excellence in vocal music
then received stimulus which has led
to grand results.
The musical contests at the entertain
ments given by the Jackson County Lit
erary Association, have occupied no small
part of the programmes. And the vocal
music rendered by our home choirs has
been such that we cannot but feel proud
of it.
| There have been many public enter
tainments in Jackson within the last few
years at which the music was rendered
by home musicians. These entertain
ments have been of high order of ex-
cellence, and a source of delight, not
only to those who attended them, but to
the musicians themselves. An especially
lOdVOlO vi ChSSO OhSOi eoih
ments has been the chorus singing by the
children.
But we cannot, in the limited space at
our command, speak more in detail of
former entertainments. Of the last series
of entertainments, however, which took
place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Fri
day evenings of last week, we wish more
particularly to speak. This was the pre-
sentation of the cantata of Esther, the
Beautiful Queen" But few weeks ago,
Prof. Lackey. leader of the Orpheus
Choir, Of Jackson, perfected arrange
ments for producing this cantata at an
early day. The practice in concert, by
the Choir, occupied, we are informed,
period of scarcely two weeks. Yet the
result must have been as gratifying to
Prof. Lackey, as it was delightful to those
who had the good fortune to be present
at his concerts.
The character of K.iinsg Ahasuerus was
well represented by J. W. Hank, who
adds fine dramatic abilities to excellent
singing. To say that Lizzie Crandall i'm
personated Queen Esther, is to say that
the impersonation was frst-class. The
Prophecies of Fannie Hilliker display.
ed, throughout the mastery training of
Prof. .Lackey. Rachel Lehman, as Nor
decais sister, sang sweetily, while the dra-
matlo accompaniment were CHI armingly
renn.cored. The "Mordecai' of Will Dal-
las was of the first order, both as to sing
ing and acting. Mr.. Dallas possesses an
excellent tenor voice. The alto solo by
Mrs. G. David was given in fine style, as
was the soprano solo by Miss Mary
Vaughn. The "Haman" of E. Crandall
was superb piece of acting, for an
amateur. Zeresh was impersonated by
Mrs. c. G. James Itwould be superhous
to say that the singing was excellent
Mrs. James always sings well. Jas. NJ.
Lively made very solemn-looking High
Priest" Mr.. Lively is one of our best
singers. Quin Branson, as Scribe, and
George W. Miller as Harbona, went
through their parts with the precision of
clock-work. William Vaughns imperson-
alton of Hegai was very impressive, while
Roe" johnson made stalwart and
handsome Herald"
But the grand, the crowning feature of
these entertainments, was the chorus
singing To drill a large number of
voices to sing in chorus, is no small task
But in all these choruses the training Of
master was apparent.
We trust that our home musicians will
strive to perpetuate and enlarge the en-
thusiasm they have aroused, in this COM
munity, for good singing. We believe it
would be well to have musical entertain
ments, from time to time, during the
coming winter. We believe such enter
tainments would tend to elevate the
standard of music in the community.
would furnish harmless amusement for
our young people, and would 60 far to-
ward destroying the taste for the vulgar,
one-horse exhibitions that are constantly
travelling about the country.
We believe such entertainments would
be pecuniary successes, and would cause
our children, and our children's chill
dren, to remember with pride and affec.
ton, in the great hereafter, the
names of Eben Jones, Chas. A. Lackey,
j. w. Hank, and others of our musicians
who have exerted themselves to create a
taste for music in the minds of the chill
dren of to-day.