Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-12-01
The ORPHEUS SOCIETY.
Tenth Concert Given at Blacks Opera
House Monday Evening,
November 80.
Au.picious Opening of the soeiety's Firm
Musical season-Fine Entertainment
Given to "A Large and Cultivated Au-
di.pce-A Two-Part Programme,

MUSICAL Stibbh
Given TO n Large and Cultivated Au-
di.pc.-A Two-Part Programme,
After the perfect deluge Of broad farce
and shallow melo-drama with which this
has been recently afflicted our
people have looked forward with considera-
HI. interrstto the initial entertainment open !
ing the 5th season Of the Springfield orpheus
Society under the new leadership of Prof. /
". l.. Blumenschein. A large and cult
waited audience. which was in itself fine
tribute to the society and an evidence Of the
growing appreciation of the community for
higher class music. gathered In Blacks OPP
era House last evening 10 hear the tenth
concert of the above organization.
Certainly no one acquainted with local
musical matters will be disposed to under
rate the faithful and conscientious work OF
Prof. A. NJ. Burbank. the former cnnduc-
tor Of the society. To his labors are due to
a great extent the conditions necessary to
the success of such an entertainment As
that given last evening But Prof. Blumen-
schein. the present conductor, has brought
forward to still higher pitch of excellence
an already good musical society. While
many of the familiar faces and voices of
former years were recognized in the chorus
last evening, there were also many new and
valuable additions comprising some of the
younger singers, who are destined II be
come. if indeed they do not already form,
very substantial basis for the society,s
chorus.
The programme of last evening was di-
vided into two parts with an interlude Of
more varied music. The bulk of the pro
yramme consisted in selections from Men
delssohn's Oratorio of Elijah. and contained
some Of the best and most popular choruSes
and solos OF this grand composition. Men
delssOhn. perhaps. more than any of the
other great composers. wrote rather in the
full view Of the people than in the secluSi"n
Of the study. His productions, therefore,
possess much of that sturdy force which
characterized his own personality. In Eli
/ iah he gave To- the world an oratorio which
/ has always been popular. and the excellent
/ arrangement prepared for the concert last
evening prevented that SENSE 0t heayineSs
which often accompanies the production OF
/ the oratorio in its entirety.
Without specifying the various numbers
given BY the chorus, il is but just 10 say
that the society has never done any more
F IN, this lime than il did
last evening Prof. Blumen>chcln has the
faculty of inspiring his chorus and Is also
able Ia secure that attention to time aud eX-
preSsiun which is 81 essential To good chorus
singing. A feature of the chorus singing of
last evening which deserves particular men
ton and praise, is the excellent enunciatlon
of the singers. in which every word was i'll
telligible to the audience. Especially good
in this respect was the ladies chorus Lift
thine Eyes" in the second part. The unic-
companied chorus Cast thy burden upon
the Lord" was also particularly well done.
and merited the encore which it received.
The choruses "Baal we cry to thee, and
Then shall your light break forth, also
deserve special commendation.
OF the vocal soloists it can be said thai
Mr.. George Frankenbers in the air III
with all your hearts We truly seek me, - gave
that perfect satisfaction 10 the audience
which his singing never fails to afford. In
the bass solo Lord God of Abraham" Mr..
W. S. Putnam did well in selection which
does not in itself afford much range for a
good bass voice. Miss Belle Williams in
the soprano solo Hear We Israel, was very
pleasing both in voice and manner which
conspire to make this lady a favorite when
ever she sings. In the contralto solo 20,
rest in the Lord. Miss Alice Nose, who is
also favorite with Springfield audiences a
was eyinced by the hearty applause received
last evening. had a selection of that steady
and majestic character SO well adapted tC
her voice and bearing on the concert stage
The musical interlude consisted of the
following numbers: \ violin solo. vel
rendered by the youthful and very promis'
ing violinist Master Willie Bauer. compris-
ing variations on the ''Carneval de Nenise;
Schubert's Twenty-third Psalm. effectively
and sympathetically given by the Ladies
Chorus; piano solo. ''Rigoletto," and re
sponse to an encore, by Miss Marie Miller,
exhibited fine but firm touch. accompanied
by that unconventional manner and Indi
viduality of execution ALWAYS characte
ristic of her playing. Costa's inspiring
.Triumphal March," by the chorus, full!
concluded the interlude.
The exacting. fatiguing. and too Offer
uurecognized work of the piano accom-
panist, performed last evening by Mis-
Mary Nelson deserves special and unquali
fed praise for its excellent quality. whicl
was supplemented in the use Of Knab'
grand piano of fine tone and power. Low
rey Jackson, the organiSt. played well. a
he always does. using last evening Palac,
organ of large size and good power.
From first to last the concert was thor
oughly excellent, being a credit Ia the or
pheuS Society and its conductor, Prof
Blnmenschein. and was an honor to the
musical taste and talent Of the city. The
chorus suffered no dimlnution III interest oi
vigor from the opening to the closing
chorus. the last-named beilg rendered viii
as much wide-awake force a, the one which
opened the concert, II is understood that
il is the intention of the Orpheus Society Il
produce Handel's sublime Oratorio of The
Messiah some time during the coming
! Christmas holidays. on which occasion II
should have the liberal support of the com
munity. especially of all interested in the
cultivation OF the musical taste of Spring
field
Lodge Elections.
At the regular meeting of the Loue StaI
lodge. No. 732. |. q. q. f., Lagonda. last
night. the following named persons Were
elected officers for the ensuing year: Noble
grand. W. +. Nunberger; vice grand, John