The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-01

AAO WA ~ oSoiotN ~ HiioS q q. lIillH II III Ii
most pleasing of our American sopranos, and Miss
Marian A. Marmon, an accomplished pianist. Signor
de Braz2i, the harp soloist, is also with this exceed
lngly strong association of artists.
A Paris Salon Conversations" has been organized
with a membership of about twenty-five or thirty
young people. Their first meeting VIII be held the
latter p art . fthe week on North Tennessee street. and
among other OF its purposes will give some attention
to the culture of vocal and instrumental music
-Four targets will be selected from the membership at
each meeting. who will be given some topic of general
interest and one weeks time Cor preparation. On the
appointed night tie society will be divided into four
groups, in each of which shall be an unknown per-
SON, appointed by the chancellor, to act as critic.
The several groups. thus ready, shall proceed to inter
rogate and cross-question its respective target con-
corning the question under consideration, for thirty
minutes or an hour. as may be agreed. At the end Of
this discussion, each critic must rise and make such
remarks and suggestions as he may deem proper. to
all OF which the target is permitted to reply. The
chancellor, who is master of ceremonies, then con
cludes the evening by offering his observations and
decisions regarding the various questions ar d dis
putes that may have arisen. This method of turning
the winter evenings to intellectual account is admi-
rable. and numerous strong literary organizations in
other cities, who have thus commenced, are pointed
to as examples OF what may be accomplished.
A second of the much -talked-of grand concerts oc-
Cured on Tuesday evening and was given under the
auspices of the Mendelssohn Society to a small audi
ence. This organization, though a consolidation, is
practically new alike in the personnel of its orchestra,
solo and chorus singers. 1t, therefore, does not pos
sess the advantage of long drill and musical associa.
ton so es sential to a high degree of perfection. In
$500 ~ ~ Sohoiol n WO1 pclAio dioSCAh iOl Ii
it's initial performance. Ora Pearson, as a chorus
drill master, needs no comment. His successes of
the past in this special field of work give him high
rank as a director. The entertainment of Tuesday
night. however, was not the artistic success expected;
yet. all things considered. it must have been satisfac-
tory to those who knew of the disadvantages under
which it was given. The orchestra consisted
of twenty-six pieces of efficient musicians,
who unfortunately had met as a whole
the concert. This circumstance did not tend to es-
tablish confidence or even permit a finished execution
they received, and probably expected, no encourage
ment from the audience. A chorus of fifty female
and thirty male voices sang Spirit Immortal with
Miss Nettie johnson, Mr.. S. L. Morrison and T. F.
Porter in the solo parts. Of the chorus and it's work
little can be said except that it contains ample talent
and needs ampletime in which to render, with accord
and expression, the concerted compositions under
taken oylt. lit possesses numerous voices of iDdivid-
ual culture and strength, and, as a whole, is as capa-
bic as any collection of singers in the city; yet on this
occasion they lily displayed their possibilities, and
johnson sustained her excellent reputation and was
we'll received, while Mr.. s. l.. Morrison was in splen-
did voice. and performed his part with an intelligence
and accuracy that always characterize his sing.
ing. His voice is sympathetic and well
e mGaalased' s1iobt MIR. ner rorters tenor though s1es1
even quality. Schira's "Boatman's Goodnight, by
the chorus, and Waldteufel's 'Barcarolle Waltz, F" by
the orchestra, concluded the first part. At this
j%uncture. MIR. Pearson stepped to the front of the
stage and performed the rather embarrassing task Of
making a statement" He said, in substance, that
NAfo 'N' ShO . AiSc SODSCA - oh0 GibO an
had taken a great deal of pride in it's success, as its
leadership had come unsolicited; that he was especially
anxious so see the permanent establishment of an
American society in the midst of two German organi-
zati ons OF the power and culture of the Mennerchor
and Lyra, for whose continued success he wished a
God-speed; that 1t was an easy matter to get a large
body of singers together, but it became quite a diff
ferent thing when they were compelled, in addition to
their time and services, to go down into their pockets
and pay for the privilege; that they were willing to
endure the labor and Inconvenience of preparation.
but the citizens who wished to hear them sing, and
were DESTROYS of encouraging such an enterprise must
pay for it. The Mendelssohn Society seeks to defray
expenses by charging an admission to its
concerts, which an old member of
the MannercEor, who was present, declared
to be impracticable. and added that a membership of
two or three hundred, with an annual fee of $5. was
the only manner in which to sustain such an under
taking. Following the foregoing welltimed remarks
on finance came the second part of the regular pro-
gramme, which consisted of Costa's very intricate
Serenata, with the recitatives and airs assumed by
Mrs. S. L.. Morrison, Miss Emma Grooms, Mr..
Charles Parker and Mr.. Morrison. Mrs. Morrison, as
she always does, sang sweetly. Her part, however.
attractive vocalization. Miss Grooms has a good
soprano voice, and rendered her part creditably, as
did Mr.. Parker. The entertainment closed at an early
hour, and as the audience made it's way homeward
there was probably no one who entertained a less ex-
allied opinion of the society, though there were not a
few who volunteered the opinion that iii had fallen
tar short of its possibilities" Itmay be said that the
Mendelssohn could not be in better hands. and that
through the skill and untiring efforts of Mr., Pearson
its next effort will show that degree of perfection
which time only car accomplish.