The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-10-29

Risley of Piermont.
Alison Sawyer, only son of John A.
Sawyer of Allston, Mass, formerly of
this place, died last Thursday in his
; twentieth year, of consumption. Mrs.
Geo. Peters and Mrs. M. l.. Bicknell,
aunts of the deceased and Annie Pc
tiers cousin, of this place attended
the funeral which took place at his
home. Mr.. Sawyer was very prom
ising young man and his death brings
a sore atilictiOn to his parents.
The second annual Musical Festival
opened at the Village Hall on Tuesday
evening the Goth, with II. G. Blaisdell
as conductor and Mrs. Shepard as plan
list. The small attendance at the OPEN
ing was very disappointing to all who
are truly interested in the progress of
music, and the persistent rain of
Wednesday was another cause for dis
appointment. However, the numbers
increased most encouragingly at every
session on Wednesday and in the even
ing a good sized chorus was present
and they did excellent work. If its
quantity equaled its quality it would
number two hundred. Thursday
morning saw goodly number of new
ones, chief of whom was the popular
musical leader, d. A. French. The
chOruses sung are from Carl Zerrahn's
collection. The Index, and every one is
gem. Mrs. Starkweather, the So
pranO solOist, was present on Thursday
morning to rehearse with the chorus
her solo parts, and the few spectators
present were fortunate to hear in adj
vance some of the chOruses that are to
make the concerts so delightful. The
critics say that it takes more culti-
waited musical taste to appreciate cho-
rus singing than solo performances
and it is so. The volume of tone heard
when seventy-five voices sing jas one
voice is more uplifting than the most
brilliant efforts of single performers.
Mr.. Blaisdell certainly has a genius
for directing, and his work for the
past three years with vocal societies
shows him as efficient there as in or
chestral work. Indeed his orchestral
experience has been invaluable to him
in this new departure, for there is an
exactness about him that comes purely
from that experience. Those who
sometimes feel that he is too exacting
with the voice have only to remember
that he has been used to dealing with
an instrument that is tireless, but such
training, though hard, is invaluable.
Happy are those who can avail them
selves of such discipline for four days.
The concert opened on Thursday
evening with chorus by Shaw, "The
Lord is My Shepherd" Too much
praise can hardly be given to the cho-
rus for their fine rendering of an an
them requiring such sustained tone
throughout. 1t was grandly done as
was all the other work of the chorus
through the evening. 1t is quite i'm
programme owing to the short time
given us before going to press.
Mrs. Starkweather is a genuine ar
fist and her voice is soprano of much
brilliancy and power. The Air Varie
which she sang gave an opportunity to
Judge of he fine execution and the
flexibility of her voice. Her stage
manner is all that could be desired and
she made the best of impressions.
Mrs. Shepard's solo was received
with all the enthusiasm that she is in
the habit of arousing when she plays
for the public. II would be an I'M
grateful people indeed who did not get
enthusiastic over the ability, the accu-
racy and the faithfulness of such
woman as Mrs. Shepard has proved
herself to be through so long period.
She is everybody's favorite aad justly
so.
Mr.. John Thomas made a great hit
last year and he is funnier than ever.
A good laugh brightens an audience
wonderfully and Mr.. Thomas has great
powers in this direction and he never
makes mistake in his selections. His
encOres are as sure as the moons
changes.
Messrs. Scockbridge, Wheaton and
Nevers are so tremendously associated
together in Blaisdell's orchestra that
they will not mind being mentioned to-
gether in the praise of their fine solo
performances, since what is true of
one is true of each. There is absolute
certainty that all of these gentleman
will give thoroughly fine, artistic
rendering of whatever they undertake.
The concert was great success in
every detail and we bespeak for the
remaining two concerts the most ear
nest patronage of the public. Go to
them both if possible, for there will be
no such musical treats for year at
least and not then if this festival
proves financial loss to the manage
ment. Let it not be said that Brad
ford cannot sustain these gatherings
because of any narrow notions of II