Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-12-12

One of the writer's In the Contributor
Club of the atlantic Monthly asks the
question whether Boston Is a musical city.
He answers in the negative. aud 20 sup
port his answer. says that Thomas Orches-
ira played the finest music TO thin houses,
and that artists of the first class, like Es'i.
pom. get but little encouragement. lie
thinks that the only reason why most Of
those who do go to the best concerts there
are, is that they think it 1.-The thing" for
cultured people TO be seen there. or At the
most that they 20, not so much out of love
for music iiselt. a. from conscientious
desire "a add knowledge OF music TO what
they already know. | think the writer
failed 10 make his point good. for On hi.
theory Thomas and Es.ipoT ought 10 have
with -epu'1''oHs s'rnpg rnough Tea draw not
only The genuine lovers OF music. bat IDat
larger class of would-be lovers OF whom
he speaks
But la one Kind of music Boston criIain-
~ has no rival ia thi, counfr, .-!n that
which /. given by many voices. The city
j. remarkably rich in choral societies.
First OF all comes the ancient Handel and
HAYDN. which has no peer in the country.
Even New York had 10 borrow 1t n few
years ago. II confines itself 10 massive
works like oraiorios The Cecilia" i a
smaller society which aim, 10 render light
a
tas. The Mendelssohn Choral society i. "a
recent organization, Of which do not
know the object. Mr.. Eugene Thayer. the
organist, has iu.t collected "A Church Mu-
SIC Society, whose purpose i 10 improve
the taste for music in our churches. and
the Episcopaians have union OF parish
| choirs for the same good end. These so.
cieiies admit both ladies aud gentlemen.
/ But beside them are the rival clubs II male
voices alone. the Apollo" aud the '.Boyl-
! stou." sud the German ''Orpheus Society. =
I The 'Cacilia," the .,Annlln '' o. -
''Boyiston give no public concerts They
{ are supported by associate members. -
who pay certain sum yearly and have
/ tickets furnished them 10 al concerts and
| final rehear>als. The Apollo" has five
/ HUNDRED OF these members, though only
, sixty active members, aud the yearly as
ssssInent is fifteen dollars. which secures
/ given during the year, and two to each
monthly rehearsal He is con idered a
/ lucky man who can become member, or
even get ticket 10 the concerts
| Certainly. then. Boston i. a lover OF cho-
raj music. If not OF other kinds.
| The Handel and HAYDN gave the frs,
concert Tor the winter on Sunday evening
Nov. -. The Music Hall was crammed,
aud the stage was gay and lively with the
SIX hundred singers and the hundred play
ers. The music Is NerdI's Requiem
Mass" Tor his friend Manzoui. Verdi has
hitherto written only opera music, aud the
! opera runs through even this solemn pro-
ducti"n. But in parts il is really startling,
If not grand. IL vas magniticently rem
dered by both orchestra and voices
vas fortunate enough to bear the "Ce-
/ ella" the very next evening. There could
not be greater contrast than between the
Mass. with its weird, iunereal strains, aDC
the delicate and sweet music Of the cautats
| and part songs OF the "Cecila." Mis-.
Ita Welsh, young Catholic lady, distin
gushed herself as all alto soloist, and is to
sing in the Messiah at Christmas time. Il
is safe to predict brilliant future for her
The following Saturday. several OF Mr.
Carlyle Petersilea's pupils gave a concer
to invited friends at Union Hall The play
ing did credit to teachers and pupils. Ga.
could not help protesting inwardly, how
ever. at the introduction of two little girl.
to play Duet. their feet not touching tn,
floor. and still more at the girl OF perhap.
nine or ten years who sang solo from IN,
opera Of Faust in Italian with a noticeabl,
lack OF teeth and an equally noticeable dis
play OF garments not commonly mad,
prominent by soloists. The pushing for
ward of children into public notice is get
ting to be too common. There is little tC
be said for il and much Of the 2ravest kline
TO Ice said against il. There are wise par
ents who let their children be children
while they can, and are not SO eager tC
display their talents as to spoil the rarel
graces Of mOdesty and anconsciousness.
But the music of the young ladies wa.
really OF high order, and prominent
among them was one well-knowp to many
of your readers. Miss Carrie Mcdonald
Her selection. the "Rhapsodie Hongroise'
of Liszi, was loudly encored. MS it deserved
TO be. for to my ear, partial As it may have
been TO former parishioner. 1t was finely
done. The good wishes of many friends
| am sure. follow her IN her efforts after
| the highest culture. ELDER BERRY.
Boston. Dec. 6. 1878.