The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-08-25
THE JUBILEE.
Prof. LeslIe's Big Concert at Bismarck
Grove q Grand Success.

Prof. LeslIe's Big Concert at Bismarck
Grove q Grand Success.
Wednesday morning of last week the
largest crowd ever seen in the West began
TO pour into Bismarck Grove; by night
special and regular trains from the west
and the east had brought most of the
choruses from the seventy-eight towns in
Kansas which were to take part in the
concert on the morrow. All the solo
singers and special artists advertised to
be present had also arrived, and at eight
O'Clock in the evening, when Prof. Leslie
took his place before the chorus assem-
bled in the tabernacle, he looked upon
between five and six thousand singers.
1t hnd been thought that such vast
multitude of voices, drilled in SO many
separate classes, when brought together
for the first time would scarcely produce
that harmony and unison essential to
perfect music, but on the very first num-
Der it was plainly seen that everything
was in perfect unison. AS the music
from those six thousand voices rose and
swelled into one grand harmonious tone,
the audience was hushed with breath
less rapture, and all felt that the
concert was to be the most
brilliant success ever seen in the west
During the rehearsal eight pieces were
sung by the chorus, all save one under
the leadership of Prof. Leslie, who, dur
ing one number, withdrew to hear the
effect himself.
The electric light was turned on to its
utmost capacity, and the effect was truly
grand. Every face of the entire chorus
of 5000 could be easily distinguished as
in the broad daylight, producing a most
beautiful and brilliant effect
So at 2 O'Clock on Thursday the vast
crowd who assembled on the grounds to
hear the first regular concert were not un-
certain as to what they were to hear, but
everybody came with the most lively
expectancy, assured of grand musical
treat. It is estimated that fully ten
thousand people were present in the
audience and that the chorus was swelled
to almost seven thousand strong. The
Jubilee was formally opened by an elo.
quent and appropriate address by Hon
d. c. Haskell, after which the regular
musical programme was proceeded
with. The first number on the pro-
gramme was the chorus, "L.et the Hills
and Wales Resound," and no description
Of Its grand effect can be transmitted TO
paper. And so with the entire pro.
gramme. Everybody was delighted and
those who were present pitied their
friends who renamed at home. The
solo singers-Chas- Knorr, a magnificent
tenor, Marie Litta, with her clear, pure
tones, and all the others, really first class
artists. seemed to be vieing with each
to see who could do the best artistic
work and give the audience the most
] pleasure.
The chorus singing is remarkably
good. The class Of music attempted is
not of the most difficult, it is true, but
the programme as a whole Is very much
cOmplimented, and it is much better as
it is than if the chorus singers were to
come up with halflearned music of the
highest grade. The artists from
abroad. who have Of course heard ehO.
rus singing in many lands, express them.
selves as very well pleased with the
work of ibis chorus Mile. Litta her
self says she is perfectly satisfied with il
and could hardly pick ont fault