Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-02

PRESENT, ETC.
The Choral Society justly stands at the head
Of the vocal musical organizations of this city.
1t includes in its membership the best voices,
both male and female of our local singers, and
those who are generally heard only as soloists,
in this society form part and parcel of the
chorus. This organization inherits its name,
however, from one which has now passed out
of existence, but whose excellence is pleas
antly remembered by all lovers of music. The
old Choral society was a male singing society,
and was the first attempt in Washington to
gather together in one body the American male
singers. The Germans had already formed the
M@nnerchor, the S9ngerbund and the Arion
clubs, and few gentlemen believed that a
similar association of Americans could be eff
fected. Principally through the efforts of the
late Mr.. G. g. Ever, who was at that time a
prominent tenor here, a meeting called at
Metzerott hall September Is, 1879, at which
Mr.. ). r. Bond presided and Mr. d. l.. Burnett
acted as secretary. The matter was discussed
and a committee was appointed. The next
Kirkwood house, which stood on the Site of the
present Pension office, at the corner of 10Th
street and Pennsylvania avenue. at which the
attendance was much larger, and considerable
enthusiasm was NANTES ted. An association was
formed and the name of 1.-THE Choral Society"
was adopted. 1t was decided to hold rehearsals
In the then new Congregational church and Mr..
Harry c. sherman was selected to temporarily
direct the society.
THE PERMANENT ORGANIZATION
Of the society was effected on October 9Th by
the election of the following officers: President,
Franklin Philip; vice president S. r. Bond; sec
rotary and treasurer, Lewis j. Davis; librarian,
DR.. Frank T. Howe; musical director, Harry C.
Sherman; directors, d. L. Burnett, F. W. Jones,
and DR.. Z. S. Kimball. The growth of the So
ciety, both in active and passive membership,
was rapid and under the efficient leadership OF
nr sherman it soon attained high degree of
irCf civ N
January %, 1870. in Lincoln hail. and was a
brilliant affair. both as to the character of the
standpoint. On that occasion the Chorals were
assisted by Mr.. George Felix Renkcrt, pianist;
Mrs. Ed. Droop and Mrs. c. Y. kretchmar, So
the Beethoven octettee The Beethoven oc-
tette were all members of the Chorals, viz:
W. H. Burnett and :: H: Witherow, first tenors;
Samuel q. Young and H. A. Kohr. first BASES:
+. \. Chase and w. A. Widney, second BASES.
Three of the sololsts at that concert are now
dead. The rooms at the Congregational church
became too small for the rapidly increasing
membership OF the Chorals, and they moved
first to Masonic Temple, and then to large
hall over the store of Dir. w. S. Tell.
IT COMPLETES IN THE slENGERFEsr
This society reached the height of its glory
when it went to New York in June, 1871, and
participated in the German sRngerfest, entering
into competition with the German singing
societies, singing in German, and winning the
prize for the class in which it competed. Their
success reflected the highest credit upon their
own musical intelligence and the effective work
OF their leader; and all the New York papers
were warm In their praises of the first Ameri-
can singing society that had ever competed at
sRngertest. Washington came in for its
excellent, both as to its members and director.
The reception given to the Choras when they
returned with their priZe-a Cycloid piano
valued at S7OO-was the most enthusiastic that
had been known in this city up to that time.
After an existence of about five years, however,
the members began to drop away, and finally it
ceased to live Us an organization. During its
life, however, 1t gave many enjoyable concerts,
at one OF which it was led by Franz Abt, the
celebrated German song writer, who composed
song especially for the Chorals it first brought
to this city Dr. Leopold Damrosch, who APP
peared Us u violin sOloist, and it gave Wash
ngton, by its success in the s9ngerfest, the best
musical advertisement that the city ever had.
THE PRESENT ORGANIZATION.
Several attempts were made to revive the
Choral society on its former basis, but all were
unsuccessful. 1t was resurrected in its present
form under the following circumstances In the
summer of 'S3 number of ladies and gentle
men, all thorough musicians, went to Baltimore
to hear Gounod's Redemption" given by the
Oratorio society Of the Monumental city. They
were greatly pleased with the performance, and
wished that an organization similar to the Ora
torio society could be effected here. The mat
ter was canvassed among the musicians, both
being sent to all the leading vocalists to meet at
the residence of Mrs. John ]. Knox on Nov. eth.
The attendance was large, and all pledged them
selves to enter heartily into the scheme. In
seeking for musical director, it was found that
no one in this city had ever acquired such 81 =
nal success In handling large body Of singers
as Mr.. Harry Sherman, and he was promptly
selected to direct the association. When the
question Of a name came up, it was decided to
call the new society the Choral society,
IN COMPLIMENT TO MR.. SHERMAN,
hoping that his efforts with them would be
crowned with as great success as with the soci-
ETY. of 1871. A complete organization was per-
fected by the election of Hon. John j. Knox as
president; H. D. Cooke, vice president; @. A.
Pearson, secretary; d. w. Middleton, treasurer
B. U. Keyser, E. Szemelenyi, w. A. Widney
and &. E. Rice, directors. Mr.. Sherman entered
into the task of drilling the new society with
first concert was given February %, 1854, at
Lincoln hall. At this concert the excellence of
the society was fully appreciated and ii re-
cert, on May 4th, 1884, Mackenzie's cantata
1.-The Bride" was given, showing that the soci-
ETY. was becoming more ambitious in its selec-
TONS but the excellence of its work showed
that its ambition was a laudable one. Rhein-
berger's cantata, g Klarchen of Erbershein,
was given at the last concert, month ago.
The society has introduced as soloists in the
four concerts it has given Mr.. y. l.. King, tenor
Mr.. Jules Jordan, tenor; Miss Hattie l.. Simms
soprano; Mr.. Justice Bitter, basso; Mr.. Whitney
Mockbridge, tenor, and Miss Agnes Hunting
ton, mezzo soprano 1t has always had the aid
of an orchestra, and It's pianists have been Mrs.
Q. A. Pearson and Mr.. Z. Szemelenyi. The
Choral society has now regular attending ac-
tive membership of about 125 and about 1 80
contributing members. The latter, of course,
IL is desired to Increase. If a passive member
ship Of 300 could be obtained it would place
the society in far better position, and they
would feel that they might make greater efforts
in the selection of soloiStS or other assistance
at their concerts than they have yet done. AS
the Chorals have not been in existence two
years yet, their progress has been most COM
mendable and their efforts merit encourage
ment
THE PRESENT OFFICERS AND SINGERS.
The present officers as follows: President
Hon. John j. Knox; vice president, B. T. Key
ser; musical conductor. Harry C. Sherman; sec
rotary, Henry w. Olds; treasurer, @. a. Pear
son; librarian, Lewis ]. Mauro Its active
membership includes only those who are
deemed competent to participate in its rehear.
sails and concerts, and the list is as follows:
Mrs. L.. X. Camp, Miss Lulie Campbell, Miss
Annie Carter, Miss NJ. T. Clifton, Mrs. II. D.
Cooke, Miss Emily Coyle, Miss Cornela Coyle,
Miss H. L. Erni, Miss Matte Fristoe, Miss Lot t,
tie Gibbs, Miss Lillian Hunt Miss Annie r.
kaspar, Miss n. r. Kearon, Miss Hattie Keen,
Miss b. E. Keierstein, Miss Florence Kidwell,
Miss Mamie Livingston, Mrs. E. NJ. Marble,
Miss Eva Mills, Miss Ella Morrison, Mrs Nellie
McCartee, Miss Cora Noyes, Miss Minnie Noyes,
Mrs J; D. Parslow, Mrs: W. E. Parson, Miss ".
Pond, Miss Jennie Prall, Miss Clara Ramsdeli,
Miss Erna Rodenstein Mrs Julia Schayer. Miss
Bessie Settle, Miss Alice sherman, Miss Matte
Van Kswiek Mrs H. Dayton Ward, Miss Addie
Alti.Miss Rosalie Blocker, Mrs. 8. H. Bod
Miss Stella CauIfeld, Hiss Helen Carrier, Mrs.
ii cIw- n