The Portland daily press., 1891-11-12
WHITE RoBEp SINGERS.
The EestIva, of Vested cholrs at
ST. Luke's Cathedral.

mn ,ob anticipated FESTIVAL OF the
80. Cho,rs of the Diocese of Maine,
80 nIace at st. Luke's Cathedral last
evening. and despite the heavy rain, was
| attended by an immense congregation.
IL was grand success. The choruses
were splendidly rendered, phenomenally
SO. remembering that several of :the choirs
were but recently organized, and that only
one rehearsal of the combined choir was
had. The music was of high order and
and was rendered In manner which wonld
do credit to an organization of trained
voices who were in the habit of singing To-
gether constantly. The choir entered the
church from the chapel. and the process
Ion presented most imposing appearance.
First came st. Luke's choir, Gardiner
choir, Lewiston choir, Bath choir. Bruns-
wick choir and Waterville Ichcir. followed
by the Bishop, Canon Sills and severa
visiting clergy. Each choir carried its ban
ner st. Luke's choir took their seats in
side the chancel rail and the visiting choirs
took their places on raised platform lust
outside the chancel. Forward. be Our
Watch Word" was the professional bymp.
and was rendered in excellent time and
tune. Mr.. W. Fl. Carter, the organist of
the Cathedral, conducted and Mr.. Harvey
Murray played the organ.
Following the professional came the ves-
icles OF special psalms. sung to English
chants by MacFarren, Woodward and
Humphreys. Tnen followed Tours Mag
nifcat. a difficult composition, which was
finely sung. The Nunc Dimittis of the
same setting followed. The. first anthem
Of the evening was Stainer's "What are
these that are arrayed.in white robes ?"
splendid thing and spendidly given. Barn
by's beautiful hymn, "For all the Saints
never sounded more sweetly than last eve
ming.
Bishop Neely delivered short address
appropriate to the occasion, In which he
dwelt on the subject of the choral ;service,
which the Bishop described when we'll
given, as the grandest, most spiritual SER
vice in the world.
C"Holy offerings. rich and rare" sweet
little hymn, was sung with much taste dur
ing the offertory. Then followed the gem
of the evening, Banby's anthem, so Lord,
how Manifold are Thy Works." The har-
mony of this anthem is simply grand, and
the rendering Mr.. Carter's choir gave it
was almost faultless. tThe attack was ex-
cellent, the time perfect. and the tone and
volume of tone very fine. This anthem
was by all odds the best work of the even
ing. Saviour, Blessed Saviour" was the
recessional, and made pretty close to the
evenings service.
1t Is no exaggeration to say that the
whole service was as fine service as ever
was rendered In the State of Maine. As
we said before. when the short time for
drill is considered the result was simply
wonderful. Mr.. Carter should receive the
| warmest congratulations and is entitled to
| the greatest credit for the character of the
music rendered and for demonstrating to
Maine people what boy choirs can do, and
that there is no sweeter or more worship
full music on earth than the boy choir. Mr..
Murray accompanied the difficult service
faultlessly, and that, too, on strange or
gan, and the Episcopal service is study in
itself to any organist. There are but a
few organists in this country who could
have excelled Mr.. Murray's WORK under
similar circumstances.
Lack OF space iforbids more extended
notice of the beautiful service. Portland
people will look forward with great inter
est to the second annual festival of the
Vested Choirs of Maine.