Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-10-13
THE CHURCH cH0IR FESTIVAL

The fourth annual festival of the Yer
mont Church Choir association which hes
been held in Brattleboro this week proved
success in every respect The object of this
association is the improvement Of church mu-
sic in the Episcopal churches Of the state. At
this weeks meeting the choirs of the church
es in Burlington, Montpelier, Middlebury,
Vergennes, Island Pond, Windsor, Wood
stock, Chester, Bellows Falls, and Brattle-
boro were represented. The clergy men pres
ent were the Reyerends Hopkins OF Burlng-
ton, Ketchum of Nergennes, Cowper of Is
land Pond Goddard of Windsor, Roberts of
Bellows Falls Tompkins of Keeue, n H.,
and Collins OF Brattleboro. Prof = b. Whit
ney, organi6t ut the Church of the Advent,
Boston, acted as conductor and j. II. Hop
kins organst at st. Pauls church Burlng.
ton, was the Orgaui,t. Through the courtesy
of the trustees Of the Centre Congregational
church the festival was held in tie large au.
| dience room of that church, the use Of it,
fine new organ adding not a little TO the en-
joyment OF the occasion. Orch tral accom-
panimeut was furnished by knapp q Bur
netts orchestra. The visiting delegations ar
rived on Wednesday afternoon and the first
rehearsal was held Wednesday evening, the
chorus of some 40 or 80 voices being strength
ened by the attendance of numerous volun-
teer Brattleboro voices from lac several
churches. Another rehearsal took place on
Thursday morning, and in the afternoon a
| public rehearsal was given the enforced alb
sence of the Rev. Mr.. Dawson, no was to
have given an address, having nC-ussitated a
| change in the programme AS ann need last
week. On Thursday evening was given the
| principal and final service of tie occasion,
consisting of Evening Prayer rendered Choir
ally with TIE Deum and Anthems. The sew
eral clergymen named were present and took
narfi IN tha ha nrda Of ha MOI
cal programme was the following:
Professional Hymn-"Hark! bark! the organ loudly
peals"
| Versicles, Responses and Antiphonal Psaler
After the First Lesson, Cantate in F by Burnett.
After the Second Lesson, Benedic by Whitney.
! Creed, Yersicles and Prayers.
| Hymn-"see the Conqueror mounts in triumph"
Anthems descriptive Of the Christian Year,
prepare ye the way Of the Lord Gdrrea
"Let now go even unto Bethlehem" Hopkins
"Turn thy face from my sins" Au,rooi
| TIE Deum Laudamus. Sir John GOss
| Recessional Hymn-"sayiour, blessed Saviour"
The whole service was admirably rendered
and was the occasion of a rare uplifting and
true enjoyment on the part of the congrega-
| ton which filed the church in every part
| The chorus comprised many fine voices, their
drill and precision under Mr.. Whitney's in
struction was very admirable, and the rem
dering of the choral parts of the several an
thems was exceedingly satisfactory. The sew
eral solos and duets were also admirably rem
dered In the Benedio the sole was given
by Miss Maynard Of Walpole, N. H., and the
duets by Miss Maynard and Mr.. bancroft of
Montpelier, Miss Church and Mr.. Barber of
| Bellows Falls. In the anthem, "Prepare ye
| the way of the Lord, the recitatve was Civ
en- by Mr.. Bancroft. Miss Brooks of Brattle-
boro gave the solo in the anthem Let us
now 20 to Bethlehem, and the same lady
gave a solo from the Messiah during the of
fertory. In the anthem, Turn thy face, >" the
first solo was given by Miss Hunter of Bel
lows Falls, and the second by Miss Maynard.
The offertory amounted to about S40-a
larger sum than has been contributed at any
previous festival. Before pronouncing the
benediction, Rev. MIR. Collins suitably ac-
al church in placing their editice at the dis
posal of the convention.
immediately following the festival, a recep-
ton was held at st. MiehaePs reCtory. The
invitation was general, and a large number Of
people awaited themselves of the opportunity
to pay their respects to Rev. and Mrs Collins
and the visiting clergy. Coffee and cake were
served, and a pleasant social hour was passed.
On Thursday afternoon at o'clock, in
compliance with urgent and repeated requests
to do so, Prof Whitney gave an organ recital
which, it need not be said, was a source OF
the highest enjoyment to all who were pres
emit.
At the business meeting of the association,
held Wednesday, Rev. W, II. Collins acted as
chairman, and the following named gentle
men were elected as the committee for the
ensuing year Rev. F. S. Fisher of st. Johns
bury, O. E. Allen of Burlington, @. e. Parker
of Vergennes, f. W. Bancroft of Montpelier
j. H. Williams of Bellows Falls.
It is entirely within bounds TO say that nc
previous festival has been more profitable OF
the source of more enjoyment and pleasant
remembrance to those in attendance.