Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-09
THH PHILHARMONIC.
A SIX etch of the Oldest Musical Organ
fxAtiOn In the District.

fzAtion In the District.
SOCIETY - pfsTYfoTfSffsD soLoDVs wHe
HAVE sUNe WITH THIN IN ohAToR1oITHE
DIFFIREH7 DIRECTORS OF THE ASSOCIATIONS
SOM INTER EsTINo INcIDENTs.
The Philharmonic is probably the Oldest
singing society in the District, its existence
dating far back al 1854. In the tall Of that
year all the church choi1s were invited to
meet in the basement Of the New York avenue
Presby terrain church and unite In the foru1a-
ton Of an organization which should have for
its object the presentation Of oratorto music.
Its aim was high one, for oratorio Is In many
respects the most difilcult species Of musical
composition, and its successful Interpretation
requires the most careful and lAborious prepare
ton. The response to the invitation referred to
was quite general and the Philharmonic society
was formed with membership which speedily
increased to ever . hundred. In the selection
of its leader the society vas peculiarly FORUM
ate In choosing Dr. ]. +. Cauldsld, who had hut
s'tuT ho ed rs:
Che members with ardor and enthusiasm. 1t Is
eastor Of the New York avenue ciureh, was tie
first president OF the society. pr. Gurley tsck a
deep in terest in its welfare and contributed in
every way in his power to its prosperity. The
rehearsah were for years held In the basement
OF his church, and hen the society moved from
up Il tes fn
harfnontcs were the first to give an oratorio in
the District, and their initial appearance was
in the fall OF 1855.
THE FIRST oRAToRIo PREVENTED
was st. Paul. which was given ut Metzerott hall,
the society singing chorus OF $50 voices. The
soloists were Mrs. 81. NJ Smith, Of Boston, so
prano; Mrs J. P. Caulheld, contralto; Mr.. w. a
Simpson, tenor, and MIR. J. r. Thomas, the we'll
known composer, bass. The success Of the rep-
resentstion was pronounesd, AID the society
gained great praise for their excellent rendition
the, attendance at rehearsais betty large
sash
i ns h:s s:1s
to dag and AZ he s.ei.ty va. F rt 81 hissrnst
ing condition. This were Oh. tl,sre was new
life infused Into the organization. AID egain the
to heir assurance sense of the most rsnownsa1
sOleisis in the country. The trouble was that
while The msmbsrs were earnest In their prac-
efforts to increase their eHadeney, while they
brought forward distinguished aoloists, the ex-
was
no profit to the organization, and very fire.
quently the attsndahue was not such as the
reason to expect. Nevertheless the organ.
ization REMAINED intact and continued its
work. Perhaps Its most prosperous sea-
i ste Mr. e. Ewsa xso s a1dlS Ss
to being thorsugh musician, also possessed
good business capa Gty. and handled the affairs
Of the f'hiiharmOntcs With skiil and discretion.
1t was while be had the management that the
Phili,r,poniss. after giving the Messiah" here
in nun halt Went the nsSa night to sa
and taking with them the same solo quartstts
that had assisted them here viz; Clara Louise
Kellogg, seprano Antoinsste Sieriing, con-
| tTAltO. w. III. &fmDECfl. tenor. and Mvruu W hit
ney. bass. The audience in Baltimore was as
large as had been present in Lincoln hall the
the trip.
WHO HAVE BERN ITS LEADERS.
For seventeen years Or. Caulfleld was the
leader Of the Philharnonics, sharing In all their
vicissiiudes, and still preserving his interest In
their welfare. Then at one OF the periodical re-
organizations Mr.. Anton Gloetzner was selected
us director, and after brief term of service he
succeeded by DR.. E. q. Klmban. The society
has sung In Metzerott hall, Carroll hall, Lincoln
hall, the Congregational church, and the
National theator.
THB TWO DAYS MUSICAL FESTIVAL
given at the theater In the spring of 1881, is
well remembered. Rossinis "Stabat Mater
was sung, as were several selections from ora
torios, and an orchestra LED by Mr.; John P.
Sousa, aided the society. The soloists were
Miss Imogene Brown, sig Campanini, and j.
+. Winch.
Among the works presented BY the Philhar
monic. may be meption:d at! The ,, Creation Great.
cient Mariner" Mendels.ehn's Hymn Of
Praise" "Christus," and Hear Our Prayer;
9adi's "Crassders sulliyqns ..Pr ROD Son "
song" and Bennetts inlay Queen" Several OF
these have been many times repeated.
THE PROMINENT soLOIsTs.
Among the soloists who have sung In these
various compositions are Madame Titiens
Madame Parepa, Mrs. II. NJ. Smith, Miss Hous
I Ioas S Mr.. Zelda sssain Mr. Helen 1ms: 81
iines, Mrs Butts, Miss Eva Mills, Mas Imogene
brown, Mrs. Daniel, Mrs. Jennie Busk, Miss
Bat:r Mrs. E. True Miss Eliza Barad Mss
bradley. Mrs. Nellie ncCArtes, Miss jennie
Lasar, Mrs. Camp, Miss Clara Baker, Miss An
toine Henne, signor Campanini, DR.. Rudolph
Franz " Simpson My1on
Theodore Toedt: Christian Fritsch, ]. r. Winch,
W. Fl. Fessenden, W. II. Burnett L; p. Cannon,
HcaId, Warren s Young, VIM: r. Pruett. Chas
Read, n e. Fugitt, Frank A. Chase, samuel G.
Young, Fred Harvey, F. Knoop, and Frank NJ.
CaulfieId, James Caulfeld, Geo. w. Walker,
Carl Richter and VIM. Waldeeker.
Perhaps the two most notable representations
given by the Philharmonic society were those
OF the "Messiah.'' with Nine. Parepa Rosa ~
soprano, Miss Zelda ssgufn oontralto, Nord-
blOm tenor, ana Lawrence pass: ana the "Cr0A-
Ever tenor, and Mr.. s. G. Young baritone. The
interest, Of course, In each performance osn-
tered In the soprano. Both Parepa and Titisns
were peculiarly fitted for their respective roles
and those who heard them will not seon forget
the enthusiasm each aroused. Titiens paid the
Phiiharmonics q very high compliment after
she left this country. While in Ireland she was
interviewed by reporter OF the Dublin Irisi,
Times and In the course of her comments upon
Creation" with the Philharmonic society at
Washington, and said that this was the finest
and best trained organization she had sung
with on this side OF the Atlantic.
SOME INCIDENTS.
At the representation Of the "Creation" at
which Tftiens sang, she looked up at the organ
during the intsrlnission and saw George Walter
perchsd upon the bench with gray sack coat
on, perfectly oblivious to every one around him
and thinking only of the score. Every other
man who particiI ated In the performance was
ance struck her as rather comical, SO she leaned
forward to DIR. Cauf1eld and said, pointing up at
the organ, ais that tho Philharmonic untfbrln?''
The doctor said that they never bothered about
Walkers attire, and even allowed him to hang
well. "That's true said Titiens, The plays d.
vinely." When Parepa came on to sing in the
Messiah she brought Geo. Colby with her to
play her accomplishments, intending to use q
| piano in her solos, but at the rehearsal she
sang with the organ.
"Anothsr amusing incident happened when
Parepa sang" said Dr. Caulfeld to STAR rs-
porter II went into the retiring room Just
Parepa and dudish Englishman with her. He
appeared under some excitement, and Parepa
asked me where the refreshments wer0 mean
| Ing wine and a biscuit, which 1t IL customary