St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-19

boy of six, whose flowing golden hair
and sweet, spirituelle expression have
made him the pet of all the ladies in
the church. AS one looks at the pict-
ure of the little lad, standing vested in
casSock and snowy Gotta. one cannot
help thinking of the boy in the Bible
story, who, ages agone, administered be-
fore the Lord. being child, girded with
linen ephod." and whose God-fearing
mother so eheerfully gave him up tn
the service of the tabernacle. Close be-
hind their little leader follow the rest
of the boys and men, keeping step in a
manner which betokens the military
discipline which governs the choir.
In the choir stalls there is total alb
sence of fusSiness and self-conScious-
ness. Everything passes off smoothly
and without apparent effort. Mr..
Wheeler leads with tranquil mien and
unruffied brow, and is evidently not as
sailed by any fears that his ''boys will
fail to acquit themselves creditably in
the work before them.
The music sung is invariably of the
highest grade and drawn largely from
the works of the best English COM
posers. Perhaps nothing more forcibly
lGpreSSes q casual visitor at st. Johns
than the steady precision, the fin
ished sDoothness and graceful ease
with which every portion of
the choral service is performed.
So perfectly is this done that, whether
it be intrOit or kyrie, offertory anthem
or antiphonal chant which is sung, the
listeners realize that choir and director
understand their work thoroughly, and
that both are in perfect sympathy with
each oJher. The constant aim seems to
be to make time and execution as nearly
faultlesS as possible, and the most
watchful attention is paid to every deli
cate detail of shading, etc. 1t is be-
lieved by those who have heard the
celebrated choirs of cathedrals and
chapelS royal in the old country that
the choral service at st. Johns pre-
SCENTS a truer Interpretation of the music
of the historic Anglican church than is
to be heard elsewhere this side of Chi
cagO.
A quartette. consisting of some of the
finest voices in this city, renders choice
and difficult compositions in a style
which would of itself be sufficient to
make church famous. The members
are
j. T. Merrill, first tenor.
A. s. Willoughby, second tenor.
3. j. Shepard, first bass.
+. FL. Garland. second bass.
These gentlemen have sung magnifi-
Gently on many occasions, and have
been the worthy recipients of unmeaS-
ured praise. All four are well known
in st. Paul musical circles, and it is
only necessary to refer to them very
briefly on the present occasion. MIR.
Merrill is conceded to be the hest tenor
singer in the city, while Mr.. Willough-
by'S reputation as a second tenor en-
titles him to place in the front rank.
Both gentlemen were prominent MEM
berS of the old MendelsSohn quartette.
Mr.. Shepard has long been favorably
known as a member of nearly every
important musical society in the city,
and he deservedly occupies
high position among first-class
BASES. With unusual versatility he
also sings an alto of rare sweetness
and power. Mr.. Garland is universally
recognized as the finest baritone singer
i'll St. Paul. Both Messrs. Shepard and
Garland are active, members of the
music committee and board of manage
men of the st. Paul Choral association,
and the former gentleman is the zeal
GUS and courteous secretary and treas
urer of St. Johns choir.
Another notable member of the choir
is III. Ii. WalpOle, the well-knOwn and
talented second tenor Of the Haydn
quartette.
A the work performed by the choir
of st. Johns during the first six
MOI IS OF its public life has been most
meritorious. and is worthy of more eX