Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04
have done heroic work throughout the

songs by Mr.. Retter, who accompanied her.
Mr.. Charles Davis Carter gave the final
organ recital, choosing Guilmants trans
cription of the prelude to Saint-Saens'
'Deluge," portion of Bach's second
sonata in G minor, and Guilmants "Marche
Religieuse." Mr.. Harry NJ. Mays, the
barytone formerly of Pittsburg, sang an aria
by Spohr at this recital. In addition to
these who performed was Mr.. Joseph II.
Cuttings, whose voice was inhuentially
raised in the discussions and business ses-
| sions.
After tabling the delicate question of Or
| ganizing a bureau of tuners and hearing
sundry reports from Vice Presidents and
specialist committees, the association pro-
ceeded without opposition to fix upon Pitts
burg as the place of the next annual
meeting. At the subsequent election
of officers, this city was duly and
properly given the lions share of those
openings for hard work and no pay. Those
chosen were the following: Charles Davis
Carter, President; Ad. NJ. Forester, Secre-
rary and Treasurer; Joseph H. Cuttings,
Charles c. Mellor and James P. McCollum,
Executive Committee; Carl Retter, DR..
Hugh A. Clarke (Philadelphia) and Ed
ward A. Berg (Reading), Programme Com
mittee; Beveridge Webster, G. R. Broad
berry and Theo. q. Wettach, Auditing
Committee.
Finances of the Association.
The only real shadow upon the meeting is
the S400 indebtedness it has left upon the as
sociation. After discussing various extra
ways and means to raise the amount, it was
finally decided, on Mr.. Cuttings suggestion,
to pay the debts with the first moneys COM
ing in as membership fees for the year just
beginning and to rely on Pittsburg's ability
to make the next meeting success with that
much less of funds in hand. Every men,
ber, active and associate, and every one
desiring to become member for this year
is urged to remit his or her 81 dues to Mr..
Forester Immediately. There is need of
every cent Just now; this promising young
organization must not be strangled in the
cradle by the serpent of debt.
While too much credit cannot be given to
| President Wolseiffer and mis- jealous coad-
| tutors for their arduous labors under many
obstacles, we may with propriety hope that
| Pittsburg's officers and Pittsburg's public
| spirit will be able to make the third meet
| ing next winter so successful as to leave a
surplus in the treasury and thoroughly es-
| tablish the permanent usesulness of this
most valuable and important factor in the
musical development of the keystone State.
The Mozart Club Performance.
Who says ''the people" do not care for
oratorio?
he should have been at Old City Hall
last Tuesday evening to see the large audi
torium filled-in spite OF several strong
counter-attractions- people applauding
to the echo the strong points in the Mozart
| Clubs performance of that noblest OF orato-
rios, Handel's messiah"
The work is, of course, too long for either
performers or listeners to undertake at a
single sitting. There are many "cuts" that
| have become traditional. Some think the
end should come with the 'Hallelujah"
chorus, emitting the whole third part. Con-
ductor McCollum took middle course,
making most of the traditional cuts-with
some few others not so advisable-and CIV
ing in the third part only the two best Sec
tions, the aria, 81 Know That Ny Re
deemer Liveth," and the final choruses,
"Worthy is the Lamb" and "Amen."
HandePs masterpiece is beyond all else a
choral work. Nothing could give our
much-p-ized chorus a stronger test; save,
perhaps, in the matter of shading, for which
the Handelan style makes less demand than
some others. The singers responded nobly.
There were few, very few shaky
spots, but the overwhelming mass of the
work was sung with notable precision, spirit
and earnestness. Though the BASES pre-
dominated slightly and the tenors showed signs
of weariness toward the close, the balance of
the voices we're quite satisfactory and the tonal
quality of the whole body of voices was of ex-
traordinary purity and richness.
Work of the Orchestra.
The orchestral work was, generally speaking,
the poorest heard in these concerts for some
time. The very simplicity of HandePs instru-
mentation (even with Mozart's additions, which
were used) serves to throw out into greater re-
lief every blemish, as 1t makes the correctness
| of every tone vital to the whole effect. The
violins were ''scratchy' and too loud the single
| cello was lost the basses were exasperatingly
rough and unstable and the wood was frequently
out of tune, The absence of the organ
| and the failure to suppy the essential har-
monies intrusted to it left many places bare
and effectless; the basses. rumbing away on
| the figured bass from which Handel expected
the organist to fill in the harmony, were totally
insufficient to support the singers satisfy the
| craving of the musical ear. To be sure there
were some brighter Substantially the Pas
toral Symphony" and the accompaniment to
the last aria-but these only served to en-
! phasize the general gloom that hung over the
| instrumental department.
| Mrs. Johnstone-B Bishop added largely to her
| already acquired local laurels by the power
| finish and feeling with which she delivered the
| soprano solos, Her rich, vibrant voice met all
demands, and only her inappropriate
| cism. Mr.. Harry B. Brockett achieved a
| genuine triumph in the tenor part From
many excellencies, the singing of the recita-
tive, Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart"
| and the following air, "Behoid and See," may
be singled out for their pathos and devotional
| ity, and the air. Thou Shalt Break Them" for
its dramatic delivery. If Mr.. Brockett had a
more powerful voice. such work as Tuesdays
would gain him high rank among the coun-
try's oratorio tenors. Mr.. John A
| Strauss, in the bass solos, displayed to
advantage his unusually smooth and resonant
| voice; he sang moreover, with most commenda-
Bile exactness and with no little spirit and dig
nity Miss Margaret P. Fraser the contralto.
| appeared for the first time in prominent part
and the nervousness, which at first affected her
| singing was both natural and pardonable.
| Later on more of the strength and quality of
her excellent voice was permitted to be heard
| and she proved her possession of good taste
and some appropriate feeling There was
abundant promise for the future in Miss
Frazer's appearance on this occasion.
Plans for the Future.
During the past week the Mozart Club has got
its plans for the rest of the season into more
definite shape. Three concerts of the regular
season are yet to be given. The customary
Ballad Concert" which has heretofore come
in the early spring, will this season be post
poned until the end of May, closing the season.
This programme will be made up, as usual, of
less extended works. among which will prob
ably figure Mr.. Ethelbert Nevin's setting for
chorus, soprano solo and four hand accompani-
mant, Of Eugene Fields charming Dutch
LullabY"-the work that failed to arrive in
| time for last years ballad concert.
The postponement of this miscellaneous pro.
| gramme has been decided on so that the club
| may now have a free field for the rehearsal of
Verdis Requiem. which will be given May /,
with one or more eminent foreign Sololsts and
the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The Requiem
will be given complete, without any Of the cuts
A., 81 (1..L