Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-25
IN MU SICAl CIRCLES.
Encouragement in the Formation of a
Permanent Chorus
Many business Men Commend the
Movement-The Choral Society
and the OratOrfo.

The steps taken toward the formation of
a permanent festival chorus in this city
will. no doubt. result In the organization of
a body OF singers that will be a credit to
the musical ability of the District, and If
the project Is carried out to the full extent
contemplated by those who are most active
in the movement, II will result in holding
annual musical festivals in Washington
that will attract people from all sections of
the country. Prof. ". d. Coward. who was
the director-in-chief of the centennial cho-
rus that did such excellent work at the Gel
ebration last September, Is the most active
spirit and IS having the assistance of most
OF the assistant directors of the former
chorus. As has been stated, Anton Seidl
has agreed to accept the leadership of this
chorus and IL Is intended to commence the
work Of organization at once, so that the
chorus shall sing at the concert which Mr.
Seidl and his orchestra Will give here next
month
Prof Coward has been greatly encour-
aged In his work in this direction by a
number of prominent business men. who
have written him commencing the enter
prise and wishing it the fullest success
Commissioner John W. Ross says:
Il am very glad to learn that you are
encouraged by the success of the chorus
at the late centennial celebration to consid-
er the question of a permanent organiza-
ton While l am not an expert In such
matters. as citizen 1 was very proud of
what was accomplished by your singers
and / certainly believe that a permanent
organizatiO would be a success We have
city which contains perhaps as large a
number OF people of musical tastes and
training as that of any community of like
size. These. believe. would give you every
assistance possible. and certainly would
do all in my power"
Commissioner Parker, who is himself a.
lover OF music, and in former days was a.
member of the original Choral Society says:
1t gives me pleasure to say that / am
in favor of every effort that has for its OBJ
ject the bette-ment of Washington. That
your 'Seidl Festival Chorus of Washington
ID. c. will add to the attractions of the
city there is no question, and / will speak
for 1T every possible success"
MIR. George G. GOrfam writes:
i wish to express emphatically my opin-
Ion that your project for permanently main
with the great addition of Anton Sedl as
director. is exceedingly desirable, and sure
to be supported"
Mr.. Simon Wolf thus expresses himself:
Il am heartily in favor of your contem-
plated feStiva chorus. / was more than i'm
pressed with the admirable manner in
which the chorus sang, under your able
leadership, at the time of the corner stone
celebration. 1 am sure there is no obstacle
in the way to make this city as celebrated
in that direction as it justly Is in many
others, and nothing is SO elevating and
leads to so much refinement as thorough
musical education.
Assuring you of my hearty support and
cooperation, as lar as Is possible on my
part, am, etc
Mr.. NJ. l. Weller says:
Il beg to say that L shall be well pleased
to witness a successful denouement OF
dab -
will undoubtedly reflect credit on your IN
dividual ability, as well as enhance the
reputation OF our beautiful capital as
musical center. Wishing you prosperous
career / remain, etc.
Mr.. Edward F. Droop not only commends
the project, but makes suggestion he
says: .,.,s,,
myself with all musical organlzat lions
formed in Washington, and have lived 10
see several of them attain success II VIII
be a hard task Qf You will pardon my frank
ness TO establish permanent I, le IS VA
thing with the usual spirit shown every
novelty. Many organizations nave Deen
started here, but few have been successful.
However, with your varied experience, you
may have found the means of keeping a
large body of singers together. The idea Is
a capital one. and L shall always be Wiling
to assist such an enterprise. Could not the
Choral Society be made the nucleus OF
the Festival ChOrus%
Mr. j. w. whelpley says:
Your success with the Centennial Chorus
musical organization. We have ample IA
clities for great audiences and have a
music-lOving population"
Mr.. &. II. Warner says:
Your letter is at hand. If chorus OF
the dimensions of the one you had at the
centennial celebration can be held together
] am ii Will be great benefit. not only
10 the individuals themselves, but also TO
ha piry IL my
make a large contribution to sustain so
worthy object. You certainly have my
best wishes. which are all that your letter
indicates a desire to possess"
With such a feeling among enterprising
business men it seems that the movement
should be success.
The opera OF the Three Dukes" by Percy
Harris. OF which mention has already been
made, is being actively rehearsed, and Mr..
Harris hopes to make its presentation the
finest amateur performance ever given in
this city. All the work will be by local
people, and it is understood that only one
of the cast has ever had any professional
experience. This exception is Mr.. Chas.
Skerrett, who is a Washington boy, and
who led the boy choir at the Church of the
Incarnation AS his voice matured he
studied with Mrs. Harriet Mills. and then
secured an engagement with the Duff Opera
Company, with which he sang an extensive
repertoire and gained much valuable stage
experience. He will sing the tenor role In
the Three Dukes" and will undoubtedly
do II full justice.
Henry Smart's cantata. king Rene's
Daughter, is in active preparation, under
the direction Of Miss Katie V. Wilson, and
will seen have its first production in this
city. The solo parts of the cantata will be
sustained by Miss Wilson's advanced pu-
pills, while a chorus of seventy female
voices will attend to the heavier concerted
work Regular rehearsals of this can
tata are held at one of MetZerotts small
halls and those who have had the privilege
of being present have been delighted with
the music. which is unquestionably in
Smart's happiest vein.
The Choral Society is making good pro-
Gress in increasing its membership and il
Is anticipated that when II gives the Mes
siah" in Convention Hall IL will sing in
largely increased force. BY taking Conven-
ton Hall the society will be enabled 10
bring its prices within the reach of tHe
people OF moderate means and give them
an opportunity of hearing Handlers great
work OratOriO has heretofore been rather
a luxury. 1t is expensive to secure good
sOlOists and a large orchestra and with a
hall Of limited capacity the price of tick
cts has necessarily been high. But the
CHORAL Society has wisely determined to Sc
cure a hall sufficiently spacious to allow
the middle class to participate in the pleas
Ure Of hearing the highest form of devo-
tiOnal music. II is believed that the effort
OF the Choral Society to educate and popu-
larize Oratorio will meet with pronounced
success.