Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1884-05-22
THURSDAY,
THE MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
Petersburs's Preparations for the Grand
Event,

Petersburg's Preparations for the Grand
Event,
Special Correspondence of the Sentinel
PETERSBURG, Va, May 1.-THE
musical convention and festival to be
held in this city on the 26th, 9th,
28th, and 29th of this month, promises
to be an occasion of rare interest and
attraction. North Carolina as well as
Virginia will be represented. The
circular issued by the committee states:
"It is planned to benefit the cause of
music in every city, town, community,
and home in Virginia and North Car
olina." The leading musical societies
of the two States blend in effort to
make it a grand success. The liberal
cooperation of the community of Pc
tersburg with the efforts of the Musi-
cal Association speak eloquently OF
the appreciation, interest and indeed
pride the Petersburgers take in their
Musical Association and its festival.
The citizens of Petersburg subscribed
guarantee fund of ten thousand dol
lars to protect the Association against
loss, and the Association promises in.
its circular: "No expense will there
fore be spared to make the Festival
one of the grandest and most attract
i've musical events that has ever taken
place in the South" Delegates will be
present from the Mozart Association,
Choral Union, and the Gesangverein
Virginia, of Richmond St. Cecilia
Society of Norfolk; Mozart Associa-
ton, and Concordia Glee Club, OF
Lynchburg Musical and Dramatic
Association, of Fredericksburg; Han
del Association, of Farmville Beeth-
oven Association, of Danville +; Arion
Association, Wilmington, n. c.; Phil
harmonic Society, of Salem, n. e.,
and perhaps others. There will be
three grand concerts, an organ and
vocal recital, and piano and vocal
recital The solo singers and instru-
mentalist are selected from the best
musical talent in the country. The
chorusses have been for months in dill
igent practice. DIR. II. III. Palmer, OF
New York, has been engaged as festi-
val constructor, having general charge
both of the chorusses and orchestra.
Lynchburg is expected to furnish not
less than fifty voices Norfolk seventy
or eighty; Richmond forty or forty
five, these united with the Petersburg
chorus of sixty-five Voices, making a
grand chorus of more than two hun.
dred trained singers. The united cho-
ruses will sing: Old Hundred; Fai1
Ellen March and Chorus from Tam
haeuser; 95th Psalm, and the Halle
lujah chorus.
Ample and elaborate preparations
have been made by judicious and en-
ergetic committees to make the entire
affair brilliant success.
One very important topic for dis
cussion by the Convention will be tht
teaching Of vocal music in the public
schools. An effort of the Convention
to awaken in the two States an inter
est on this important subject, which
would bring about this additional fea
ture in the public schools "is consu
nation devoutly to be wished SOM
very able articles have been written set
ting forth the advantage of this i'm
provenent, and the theme is prolific Q
thought. "Let me make the songs o
a nation, and care not who may max
its laws" is often quoted i'll proof Q
the power of song. The elevatin g, re
;; fning influence of music in the school
room can never be computed, awaken
ing the noble nature and finer feeling
Of pupils and teachers soothing rut
fled spirits, refreshing weary brains
throwing into the dull routine of al
+, duous tasks and irksome discipiin
thoughts and emotions of gladness an
beauty. The love of music awakene
: and cultivated in childhood, is see
sown to bear oftentimes a wondrot
: harvest of noble and beautiful deco
: in the life work of men and womel
e Many wild boy has found anchor
good in his love for good music, an
!. the pure, hallowed associations int
J which it led him. Only when tt
e records of eternity are unfolded, can
8 be known how often the waywar
and even wicked, drifting far out u
7 on the current of life, have found
guardian angel in some half forgotte
}, fragment of beautiful song learned
o childhood, which hoated through tt
$ soul wooing it back to right. 1t is d
|, sired that the convention will urs
n the teaching of music in the fir
schools of both States, at least the n
n diments of musical notation, and ella
5 singing.
e The committee of receptions al
Is homes has met with cheerful respons
II from the community at large, an
p pleasant hours have been provide
&c for the delegates, with the express
le hope: "that ties of regard and frien
d ship will be formed between the vi
st tors and their hosts which will maj
le the last week in May pleasant ol
e in the memory of all" Specially Il
IS rates have been secured OH the ra
O- roads in Virginia and North Coroh
D. for visitors to the Festival, and spec
er trains will be run on the various lin
m All the indications promise crowd
Dt attendance. ERICA.