The record-union., 1891-04-28
THE BOY SOPRANO
The Phenomenal Boy Singer, Master
WflliamS-His Concerts Yesterday.

The Phenomenal Boy Singer, Master
WflliamS-His Concerts Yesterday.
Master Frederick Williams, of the
Westminster Abbey choral, gave two con-
certs yesterday in st. Paul's Church. In
the afternoon he sang Haydn's recitative
and aria, with Verdure Clad" and
Sullivan's song, "The Chorister." At
night he sang Governs 'The Children's s
Home," Mendelsshon's Hear My
Prayer" and for an encore, angels Ever
Bright and FAIR
| On both occasions he was assisted by G..
a. Il. Harriss, organist to st: James
| Church, Montreal, who played in the
afternoon Overture to Sampson" by
Handel; Variations on Christmas
Themes" Guilmant; "Barcarale," Ben
nett; "Triumphal March," his own COM
position. In the evening he played one
| OF Auber's overtures, three movements
from Haydn's Seventh Symphony, Dud-
ley Bucks Transcription on Home,
Sweet Home," and Sullivan's "Silver
Wedding March," At the evening con-
cert Miss Ida Clinch, in excellent voice
and with fine taste, sang Beethoven's
Song of Penitence;'' Richard Il. Cohn,
with good effect, gave tenor solo, and
Haydn's score. He played with delicacy,
and never better. For the local talent
Miss Lizzie Griffin was organist, accom-
panylng with the tact that distinguishes
one accomplished in the art.
Mr.. Harriss is an organist of superior
| ability. He plays with great feeling, his
touch is faultless and his execution brill
liant. In many years we have not had here
more accomplished organist.
OF Master Williams, handsome lad of
| probably IL or Il years, with spirituelle
| face, modest bearing and teStifying to long
training in choir work, it is to be said
that his voice is human flute. He sang
far better at night, evidently having re-
covered from fatigue. His voice is pure
treble, limpid as a crystal stream, flow
ing as easily as the brook along gentle
slopes. All his tones are flute-like and
sllvery. One can, by turning away
and listening as he makes runs and
cadenZas, easily fancy he hears a skilled
flutist. He sings without effort-it is not
| effort concealed, there is actually no
strain whatever. In the higher register
his tones manifest no more of physical
energy behind them than in the middle
register, and in neither case does there
seem to be more eXertion than is attend
ant upon breathing.
His precision is almost faultless, his
attack distinct, unhesitating, and his
phrasing remarkably good for one so
! young. His singing was, in short, a deli
cate and beautiful bit of vocalization
without brilliancy. The boy certainly
has comprehension of what he executes,
for without it his singing would be de-
void of feeling, which it is not, though
there is little OF glow or fervor about it.
He sings, in short, as lad trained in
sacred music by severe masters, and i'm
pressed and spiritualiZed in a great de-
gree by churchly influences.
There were those who were free to ex-
press their disappointment because there
was not adult strength in the tones of
the child. All these admitted the limpid
purity of the boys voice, the chastity of
| his tones, their remarkable fiute-like
and that they easily filed the audi
torlumln the upper register, but these
| critics appeared to be unable to consider
the singer child, and that in such a one
the strength and vigor that are the attri-
| butes OF maturity only, would be more
than phenomenal, really miraculous.
| Those who came to hear a child. who did
not forget that they were listening to q
phenomenal male soprano of pure quail
ty but Juvenile capacity, were not at all
disappointed, but were charmed by the
fieXibility and purity of the voice, its ex-
quislte innocence, so to speak; the real
power OF one so young, the volume of
musical tone from such tender youth
and with the perfect control the lad
has of his voice.
Some esteemed it thin voice. That is
a mistake thinness relates to quality of
course, and certainly the quality of Master
Williams voice is that of the pure
soprano, of fullness with no essential
missing, except that his is the tone of
juvenility.E
He lacks the power of touching the
sympathies deeply, though his voice is
not devoid of feeling, for the ability to
stir the sympathetic nature rarely if ever
is manifest except in physical maturity.
Master Williams voice is cast in wond-
rous fine mold; no male child has ever
sung in Sacramento possessed of such a
gift. Those who heard him can reflect,
however, upon the inevitable; his voice
must leave him it is possible that when
the change comes he may develop fine
musical qualities in another direction,
but as child soprano, his limit is but
matter of a year or two more at the out
side.