The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-05-27

Ing prORIdIlIHe. fTluay evening, bne ClOS-
ing of the festival, the congregation was
swelled to nearly twelve hundred. The fol-
lowing was the programme rendered;
soloist, Miss Emma S. Howe.
l. Chorus. As the hart pants
g. {Recit. Ny tears have been my meat
had gone forth abo %O; gsd
SsG God within E Pyt ,Og Es, SUSS
l. Chorus".......why my soul, art thou so vexed?
1NTERMIssIoN.
l. overture-Wiliam Tell ..................R ossini
Orchestra.
2, Aria-From 1.-THE Seasons. .......... HaydR.
Mr.. IL l.. Cornell
3. Instrumental Trio. Mrs. shepard, pianist; Mr.
Blaisdell, violinist Mr.. stockbridge, cellist.
A. Aria-A fOrs Nil. Howe
5. Cello Solo, Airs Baskyrs Piatti.
Mr.. A. Il. Stockbridge.
8. See, the Conquering Hero Comes-From Judas
Miss Howe, Mrs, briggs, Miss Phinney' ''''''''
and Chorus.
I. Dance DIES sylphes- From "Damnation of Faust"
Orchestra. Berhot.
s. song-The New Kinggdomii i,...........T Tours.
9. Haelujah Chorus-From The Messiah 49,,
Chorus. Handel.
The quintette, in the rendering of the
Forty-second Psalm, was made up of Miss
Howe, soprano; Messrs c. III. Bigelow and
G.. ID. Wheeler, tenors; G. #. Dudley and II.
L. Cornell, BASES. To give the details of
this concert would be to repeat, in a large
measure, what has been said of the previous
performances. There was, perhaps, higher
degree of skill displayed than at the other
concerts and an improvement in the smooth
ness and finish of the chorus singing. The
Overture to William Tell was encored
with so much earnestness that the tired
musicians obligingly repeated the martial
passages with which it closes. The eXulting
strains of Halelujah" sung by the chorus
and accommodated nv the orchestra with
thrilling effect, the assembage rising during
its performance, ended the concert and the
festival. For these concerts Mr.. Blaisdell
had brought with him large addition to
his orchestra, both in the numbers and the
quality of the Instrumentation, and to this
liberality of the management the success of
the festival, in one essential feature, was
due. Great as has been the success of this
enterprise, the management will gain by ex-
perience and will, another year, prepare
far more popular festival, which will, we
predict, also eclipse the first in success and
glory. 1t has been perceived, among other
things, that grand piano alone can meet
the requirements of the Golden Fleece audi
forum The management will also get
little nearer the public heart in the choice
of music The popular will be more lib
orally interspersed with the classical. In
such an assembly as gathered at the con-
certs, Thursday and Friday evenings, the
performance of any one of a number of I'M
minds of hundreds of hearers would have
swept the heart-strings of the congregations
and kindled fervor of feeling which it is
not in the power of the productions of the
old masters to arouse. A judicious
sprinkling of the former greatly assists to
appreciate the latter.
"QUITE good"
AN excellent beginning. Let it be fol-
lowed up.
IT is gratifying to note that the festival
was a success financially, as well as mu-
sically.
If" Old Prob" had been asked beforehand,
he could not have furnished more favorable
weather
THE surrounding towns were well repre-
sented, both in the chorus and the audiences.
More will come next time.
WHEN the chorus sang double-double-
Observation-Disclosures" 1t seemed as though
the building would fairly tremble.
MANAGER GUPTIL received many letters
Saturday from residents of the village, con-
graduating him on the success of the festival.
Mr.. ZERRAHN left by the midnight train
after the concert, Friday night, and sailed
Saturday from Boston for Norfolk, Va.
where he is to conduct large orchestra.
AFTER the rendering of the Forty-second
Psalm, Friday evening, beautiful boquets
were pTtSeHltu W MIS- OutDdTu anu MISS
Howe, and to Mr.. Zerrahn, Mr. Blaisdell and
Mr.. Cornell.
MR.. ZERRAHN remembered distinctly be-
ing here thirty-fve years ago and leading an
orchestra in a concert given in what was
called the Free church, which stood on the
site of the present Village hall.
IT is probable that quite number of the
chorus will attend the festival at Wers, n
H., July 4th. Mr.. Blaisdell is president of
the association under whose auspices it is
held, and Mr.. Zerrahn will be present as
conductor.
THE enthusiasm Of our local singers was
largely instrumental in making the festival
a success. Among those whose unselfsh
devotion to its interests was conspicuous II
is but just that apprecative mention shotld
be made of Mrs. w. A. Briggs.
MRS. SHEPARD's rare ability renders hei
the favorite of every chorus she accom-
panes. Her pleasing manners win hel
friends, and in her specially she is without
a peer in the country. The singers at the
recent festival will wish to see her here
again, next year, with a concert grand on
which to display her powers The happies
relations were established, also, between
Mr.. Zerrahn and the chorus, and these were
manifested in many ways. The singers and
the public will pleasantly remember both
and hope to renew acquaintance twelve
month hence.
convention were two-Mrs. f. II. Skinner
and Mrs. II. S. Looms-who attended the
convention forty-six years ago. They were
then Laura Wilson of Chelsea and Amanda
living of Barre, two ruddy girls in theil
teens, but all-absorbed in the church choii
and singing-school. Mrs. L. r. Merrill QIiz
zie BoutwelD, lifelong contemporary in the
same high and holy cause was also mem
Der of the chorus in the recent convention
These estimable ladies actually grew gray il
ArxriaA nd fhai fri lad m
recognize them, crowded in among thu
singers and players on instruments" enter
ing with such zest into the work of the re
hearsal and the concert room. AS pupils
they learned rhythm, melody and dynamic
thoroughly long years ago, and as choi
singers they have all done loyal service il
later years, principally in the old Bricl
church, Montpelier Mrs. Skinner and Mrs
Merrill " remained in the ship " to sing thu
last song in the old Brick and join the exc
dus from that ancient edifice to the represen
tatives' hall and Village hall, back to tn
spacious church where the society now woI
ships. Another face which il was pleasan
TO see about during the festivities of the oc
casion was that of the veteran teache
and singer, n. l.. Phillips of Barre. who wa
in the hall but not with the chorus. MI
Phillips has served faithfully and long an
brought to his work a fair share of INTEL
gent enthusiasm. He should have had a
honored place among the basses, where hi
presence would have been felt to advar
tage. 1t cannot be that his harps hav
been permanently hung upon the willow
though he has turned the three-score-and-te