Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-01-26
The County Musical Convention.

The Musical Convention, held at New
port last week, was much the same in
character as the last two conventions.
II. G.. Blaisdell, leader, is well known by
everybody in this vicinity as an excellent
musician, a wonderful player on a violin,
and a good drill master on such music as
he selects. The class of music that he
by Palmer, Lawrence and Emerson in con-
ventions held in the county. Music of
easy and ordinary character, such as the
younger musicians of the county might
master well in short drills seems to be
discarded and the classic, difficult and
Enlightened" is used in its stead. Mr.
Blaisdell brings out such pieces as he Sc
lects in the best of style and taste and his
instruction and drill is acceptable to edu-
Gated musicians. The other talent" so
called, consisting of two lady singers and
two men singers, was good-perhaps no
better than could have been found in the
county, except that they are educated mu-
sicians. They performed their parts well,
but with no extra success. We belong to
a class of old gone-bys who think that
third heaven, and that instruction needed
in our county sings should be given with
reference to these two regions. AS
rule, these star singers, while they may
have superior voices and be able to soar
up into the skies in beautiful trills
and tremendous modulations, do no
better singing than some of our owo mu-
sicIans, nor does their singing give more
general satisfaction. The reader, Miss
Hadley, is really talented, and whether
she reads the solemn or the comic, it is
exceedingly we'll done. Her part was
most acceptable. Mr.. Blaisdell never
showed better through his violin than at
this convention. We noticed that none
of our own musicians, and we have not a
few whose skill, voices and talents de-
serve opportunity and praise, appeared at
all in the concerts of Friday. Mr.. May of
st. Johnsbury, popular on account of his
character and his ability as singer, whom
everybody delights to hear, did not ap-
pear on the stage on Friday evening
possibly from his own choice. Mrs
Shepard, the pianist, has a host of friends
here, as she has everywhere IN musical
circles where she is known, ann she is a
power and an inspiration in any conven-
tion.
So far as we heard, the convention was
satisfactory to the musicians. The re-
ceipts more than covered expenses, and
the attendance of singers was large. Most
of the more prominent musicians of the
county were present, and the convention
was declared a success.
The committee selected to draft set Of
resolutions took very sensible view of
the matter and decided that list of resO-
lutiOns was unnecessary. Mr.. Camp, COM
mittee on the matter, thought it proper
for the singers to vote appropriate thanks
to the leader, to the organist, those pres
ent from abroad, who came to assist as
professional musicians; but did not see
the necessity of thanking the railroads
for ''the courtesies'' of reduced rates
when no reduction had been made; or the
people for generous hospitality, when
they did not publicly announce that sing
ers would find free entertainment. A
reasonable conclusion to arrive at. The
fact is there have been from time to time
some silly aud taffy resolutions adopted
that might with much propriety have been
omitted.
1t is but justice to the people of New
port to say that to a large extent the
latch string was hung out, and very many
entertained friends and acquantances
with kindness and hospitality.
The following officers were chosen
for the ensuing year; President, J. L.
Dwinell of Glover; vice president, M. M.
Taplin of Irasburgh; secretary, +. w.
Baldwin of Barton treasurer, Fl. S. Green
of Newport; executive committee, NJ.
B. Thrasher and g. III. Prouty OF New
port and Robert French of Glover.