Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-20
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
The Mozart society RehearsaI.

The Mozart Society Rehearsal.
To the Editors of the Appeal:
Being devotee at the shrine of music,
and Watching with intense interest every sign
and indication of progress in the study and
culture of this divine art, the writer was
favored with an excellent opportunity to
| Judge what progress Memphis had made in
being one OF the favored few who was in
vited TO the rehearsal of the Mozart Society
last Thursday. The progress made by this
society under its new and able management
was SO striking and apparent to all that the
writer is constrained to request place in
your columns 10 pay tribute TO this highly
meritorious society, known as the Mozart
Society. This society having for its aim and
object the development and cultivat of
home talent is composed of the leading anna
teur and professional talent of this city,
united in one harmonious whole under the
leadership of Prof. NJ. s. Downs, of New
York, and being backed by phalanx of
associate members drawn from the ranks of
the selid business men, the leading Front and
and Main street merchants, who at length
realize the advantage and necessity of such
an organization, have come forward in con-
spicuous numbers 10 its support and patron
age, thereby stimulating its active members
with determination 10 rival any older So
ciety in a much larger city. In appreciation
of the exhibition of their work on last
Thursday seventeen additional applications
for associate mem bership were handed TO their
worthy president Friday. The choruses were
rendered in an artistic style, and when we
remember the very short time they have been
in training, the finish and fine phrasing were
marvellous and gave foretaste OF their fu-
ture attachments. What this society is ae-
complishiDg in the awakening and develop
ment of talent in this city was especially no.
ticeable in three new members who began
their first lessons in voice culture Just ten
weeks ago. They had never appeared on
the concert stage before, yet in this short
time evidenced the wonderful advantage of
high artistic schooling. One of the most de-
lightfu features of this charming entertain
ment, in which all acquitted themselves with
credit and distinction, was the piano solo of
Mrs. r. Wayne Wilson, the accomplished
pianist of the society. She captured her su-
dience en- zasse, and the writer may safely
cay hat only Krebs and Carreuo could render
Hoffmans Dinorab as 1t was done on this &C.
casion. The audience was enthused and
clsmored for an encore, but SO Prof. Downs
was 10 leave on the night train no encores
could be accepted. A very noticeable feature
was the marked attention and silence OF the
audience during the performance, showing
thereby the culture and refinement of taste
10 the present audiences far in advance of
former days. The writer we'll remembers
the time when piano solo was signal for
general talk, 10 the great annoyance OF the
performer and disgust of the few who were
we'll bred enough to keep silent; even il they
could not understand they would try to listen.
The floor management by the directors was
an agreeable innovation upon the profess
sional usher. and we were glad to see it, and
predict for this society the highest success
under such able and efficient directors.
:" VISITOR