The Sunday morning news., 1891-12-20
S0CIBTY'S FESTIVAL,
Christmas Recognized AS
a Season for Cheer
and Music. /
SUCCESS OF FOaINIGHTuY NusCALEsf
A Large Amount of Excellent Tall
ent Available for the Pur-
pOse-0ther Social
Events.

Events.
From time immemorial. the genius of
| Christmastde and the spirit OF music
have gone hand in hand. 1t was carol
| that ushered in the first Christmas day.
and down the long line of the centuries.
| our joyful feast has been always accom-
panied by the sound of singing. The
very name OF Christmas calls to mind soft
voices of choristers in mellow chant
or joyful carol. while the mighty heart of
the organ throbs ceaselessly through
psalm and prayer. 1t recalls the Christ
mas waits, singing in praise Of Noel. in
the frosty air of the evening It rings
with the songs of wassail. jovial and roll
licking choruses, that breathe no spirit
of silent fast and prayer, but praise of the
brimming punch bowl and exc the
sturdy meat pie. 1t is time
for song, for twenty centuries woven
and interviewer with ancestral melody.
At this season. therefore, it is not un-
fitting that we should turn our attention
to new society that seems destined to
work a revolution in our city's musical
history. Despite the fact that we boast
of two operate companies, Jersey City
can In no sense be called music loving
community. We have musicians, and
true ones too. in large enough
numbers, but they are isolated
individuals. or at the best. groups of three
or four. We have amateur orchestras.
choral societies and concert courses, but
for the purpose of u deSultory rendering
Of disconnected compositions. and EN-
bndying no systematic musical study
For years Jersey City has felt the need
of an association which should unite its
scattered music lovers into society for
the organized study of the worlds COM
posers.
THE FoRTNIGHTLY MUsICALES
Such society has at last been founded.
The Fortnlghtiy Musicsles, although its
history extends over period or very few
months, has already won the appreciation
which it deserves. 1t fakes for its obj ect
the systematized study of a series of COM
posers' lives and works, from Bach aud
Wagner, including in its course such
names as M zart, Haydn, Handel,
Beethoven, Spohr, Schubert and Schu.
mann. Limited to membership
of twenty-five. it embraces some of the
most noted of our musicians and music
lovers. Miss Lucy Nelson is the Presi-
dent, Mr.. William Adams. Secretary and
Treasurer. while Mr.. John A. Holland,
Mrs. Robert G. Lyle and Miss Lucy Mel
son compose the Music Committee.
Every other Thursday evening a pro-
gramme is rendered. whose plan might
serve az a model for any musical club.
A critical and analytical essay on
the life and work of the selected author
is read, and illustrated by prominent
numbers from his works. interpreted by
piano, violin, voice, tries and qnartettes.
The society may select its soloists from
| II H., 6.,A Nf tnla
among which all Jersey City music
lovers will recognize the names of Miss
Lucy Nelson and Miss Florence Turner
soprano; Miss Katrina Green. contralto;
Messrs. VIM. Hunter Brown and Wm. f.
Brown, bassos; Mr.. John Arnold Ho-
Burt. cello, and Mrs. Hunter Brown,
Mrs. Hood Fem and Mrs. r. q. Lyle.
pianists.
A SPECIMEN PROGRAMME.
A specimen programme was that rem
dered last Thursday evening The meet
the life ana work of Handel and Haydn,
composers for the evening, delivered by
Miss Smith Haydn's Trio No. 6 WAS rem
de1ed by Mrs. Hunter Brown. piano; Mr..
John A. Holland, violin, and Mr. Burt,
cello. Miss Katrina Green's mellow
contralto next rendered the aria HE was
despised," from the Messiah. A Haydn
sonata for violin and piano was inter-
preted by Mrs. Hood-Fenu and Mr.. lie
Reitte. Mr.. William F. Brown. sang au
aria from Judas Maccabeus in his well
known style. and an exquisite rendition
OF HandeIs famous Largo" by Mr.. John
Arnold Holland completed the pre-
gramme.
The last named artist may well claim
our attention. This young violinist has
just returned from Germany, where for
three years he studied under the most
e.. ..f l.
Connoisseurs of New York and Brooklyn,
Chicago. Boston and Montreal have in
this country met and recognized his tai
ent In purity of tone and technique he
has few rivals, while in double-stopping
he is almost uuapproachable: 1t requires
no great prophet to predict the future of
this young musician.
Miss Lucy Nelson is too well known in
Jersey CITY and Newark to need more
than mention here. AS leading soprano
in St. Johns Free Church some time
since, her success was unquestioned, and
when last week it was announced that
she was to sing at an uptown church, her
admiring friends crowded the building.
Miss Katrina GREEN'S rich voice, both |
in soprano and contralto parts, has |
charmed the audieuced at Melopoia reci- |
tails. and Miss Turner is the Tabernacls's |
leading musical attraction. Mr. and Mrs. |
William Hunter Brown have held |
prominent place in society and musical |
circles for several years, and nothing but |
praise can be said of Messrs, La Reitte |
and Burt. Miss Jessie Smith is the con-
tralto of the Park Reformed Church and |
a pupil of Federlein, who also taught |
Miss Nelson.
One of the youngest and most promis-
ing members of the clnb is Mr. Jerry |
Meyer. who pursued his studies in Ger |
many in company with Mr.. Holland. and |
now ranks high among our panists, COM
blning remarkable technique with a
breadth of comprehension remarkable |
for more mature musician.
''The Fortnightly" has passed the ex-
perimentai stage, and entered upon Gu
reer which it is to be hoped will not soon
terminate.
SOCIAL N01E EC