St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-11
THE CHOIR.
Pedigree and Accomplishments
of the Quartette and Organist.

AAsc
of the Quartette and Organist.
The choir of the Peoples church is
wonderfully well-balanced, and strongly
individual in many respects. Mrs. Net
tie G. Fuller, the popular soprano, is
the director; Mrs. c. B. Yale, alto:
James Swift, tenor, and Frank Garland,
bass. j. Hanson is the regular organlst,
but during his illness his place is filled
by volunteer service. Yesterday, Mrs.
Fitch, an English organist, who has but
recently located in st. Paul, played.
Not only are the voices of the choir
exceptionally well balanced, but so is
their personal appearance. They vary
but an inch or two i'll height, and it is
congregation. and endowed with the
uniform good looks they possess.
Mrs. Fuller is charming little woman,
who came to ST. Paul about six years
ago. with an exquisite voice that lacked
nothing but cultivation. Under the in-
struction of W. Nelson Burritt she has
developed sweet soprano, whose SYM
pathetic. bell-like tones have won her
an enviable place in public favor. She
has sung at different times i'll the choir
of st. Faul's, Plymouth and Park Con-
gregational churches, and at present is
also singing at the Jewish synagogue.
Her pronunciation is remarkably dis
.tinct, as indeed is that of the choir as a
whole. To s.sing before the Lord with
q loud voice. does not. as with the ma
jority of cheirs, enlbody their. concep-
Ssion of their duty. Tliey seem to- con-
slider it a reasonable method to let Him
and the congregation know what
they are singing about. Mrs. Fuller
has appeared in concerts before st.
Paul audiences SO often that her ar
tlstic merits are fully known and ap-
preciated. Her stage presence is easy
and graceful, and in private life she is
one of those bright. magnetic little
women who are popular whether they
want to be or not.
Mrs. G. B. Yale is the possessOr of a
adapted to oratcrio work. She studied
under the best masters Chicago affords
before coming to st. Paul, and during
her residence here has studied with w.
Nelson -Burritt. Another feature in
common of the Peoples church choir is
that their voices have all been brought
to their present degree of perfection by
Mr. Burritt. Mrs. Yale was heard to
excellent advantage yesterday morning
in the solo parts of Schilling's arrange
ment of NEARER. My God, to Thee"
Her pretty, piquant face is apt to set
one wondering, while she sings, who
went without some needed charm that
she should have more than her share.
James Swift is an Englshman
who has been in this country only
three years. He exhibits all an En-
glishman'S natural reserve. and had
even kept his voice to himself before
coming here. He has high tenor that
is very clear. strong and sweet, which
under the direction of Mr.. BGrritt he
uses with ease and skill. He is also
member of the choir of the Jewish
synagogue.
Frank Garland is blessed with bari
tone voice of such splendid quality he
should take it into opera. Like many
another person greatly blessed, he is
Indifferent to the value of his gift and
Dudley Bucks ''Te Deum'' in L minor,
sung by the choir at the morning serv-
ice yesterday, displayed the ability of
the members and demonstrated their
right to the honor of being acknowl-
edged one of the best quartette choirS
in the West.
j. Fl. Hanson, the organist, is one of
the oldest musicians in st. Paul, and
has been associated with the principal
musical societies of the city.
He received his musical education i'm
Boston, and by musicians aud lovers of
music has always been considered an
organist of merit. Until the organiza-
ton OF the Peoples church he was Or
ganist and director of the First Metho-
dist church, and the congregation and
choir members speak of his abilities in
the highest praise. When DR.. Smith
formed the new congregation Mr.. Han
son resigned from the First Methodist
and took charge of the music for the
Peoples church. A few months ago he
was forced to abandon his work tempo
;rarily, owing to a very severe illness
which has confined him to the house.
His musical friends hope to see him
around soon, and occupying his place in
the new Peoples church at the grand
new organ, which will be ready by Au-