Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-08-26
a Mandelssohn Cleo Club Concert.

Nendelssohn concert is one OF the
hieh-water marks of orr civilization.
The pretty hall, admirably adapted to
display brilliant audience, IS filled
with brightly dressed throng. mntu-
ally acquainted, so that. unlike the
usual gathering at public concert,
there is certain air of refined sociabil-
| ity. The hum of general conversation,
the fitting of gentlemen from group to
group, and the minRling of the singers
with the audience during the interludes
between the SONGS, pleasantly fill the
eve and ear. Youth and beadty hold
! their evarescent court, and older ey es.
! touched with the sweet magic of mem.
| ory. see other scenes and other forms IN
the brigh panorama of the evening.
Suddenly the conductor enters upon
! the platform, strikes few chords upon
the piano. and disappears. 1t IL the
summons OF the chorus. The active or
singing members move from every part
of the hall, the audience adjusts itself.
seats are resumed, eyes furtively follow
Il manly form. perhaps, and even hearts
may hutter at a gay farewell. lead
the language of those wandering eye
beans: the heart knoweth." But the
door at the side of the platform opens.
and the thirty or forty gentleman who
compose the chorus enter, and range
themselves in "a double semicircular
line, while Moscnthal. the tield-marsh
al. who has thoroughly aud severely
trained these troops of tone, and whose
ear no dating or sharping. no Sinking
nor silence, can escape or deceive, steps
quietly and firmly forward to his stand .
and with ST. lid, forclble air. like that
of the older and original Strauss, gives
the warning tap, raises his baton, and
when there is perfect silence In the hall
begins. For it seems that 1t Is he with
his beating arm who plays upon rich
and delicate instrument OF beautifully
blended voices. He has drilled them
az NAPOLEON drilled an army. and he
Inspires them us N.pOleou inspired. A
prcfouud and conscientious artist.
thorough ami accurate, and full OF the
manly enthusiasm for his art which is
the spring ana secret OF successful
mastery, he hs produced very re.
narkable result. The sound is exquis-
itely shaded md graded, and without
losing its variety, Its melOdic sweetness.
and its rhyt,mical Charm, he subdues
aud softeus 1t to q whisper. nae ana
trse. almoe q shadOwy sound, fairy
tone by moonlight:
" That stran again; it had dying fall
On! i, cam DER my ear like the sweet south,
That brea hes upon bank Of yiolets,
, Stealing md giving odor."
, Their. is a whole realm of part-songs
, which is revealed by such clubs and
societies rs the Mendelssohn. ano
which il exceedingly delightful. Glees
and concerted pieces have always been
, pec,liarly agreeable to the musical tasi o
of England and Germany, aud the cul
!. ti'ation OF part-singing IN this country
las developed some excellent aud
PROMISING composers among US. The
: IMendelssohn Glee Club lately offered
\ three prizes, we understand, for snch
songs, and upon trying and comparing
and deciding, three compositions were
selected for the first, second, and third
awards; and upon opening the sealed
envelopes with the names OF the au-
thors, the three uccessful compositions
were found to be the work of the same
composer, Mr.. Gilchrist, of Philadel-
phia. They have all been sung ny the
club, to the great delight and approval
of the hearers, and thu eye of expecta-
ton may he shrewdly fixed upon the
young composer. Part-music of this
kind is fascinating, and it IS very hard
to believe that in any other city there
is better singing than that of the Men
delssohn. The charm of it is that it Is
the skilled and patient training OF
chance voices, so TO speak. the voices
Of those who are not professional sing
ers, but who are devoted to business
and to professions.
Perhaps the musing listener. CRATE
full for an enjoyment SO inspiring. as
he watches the quiet conduct OF the
leader, and observes the American faces
of the singers, seems TO see visibly and
audibly typified the gracious influence
of the German musical genius upon
American life. Some future poet will
say that of all the good fairies who came
to the birth of the free nation mono was
more generous than Teutonia. who
brought the refining, elevsting. human
izing gift of Eusic.- Editors Easy
Chair, in Harper's Magazine.