Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-02-21
A WORD RETROSPECTIVE.

About the Advancement of Oratori0
Work in New Haven-A Most Credit.
able Record-Notable Work in the |
Past-Well-Known Names-Preze-
cessors OF the Gounod Society of To- ;
day.
In 1860 some of the most prominent |
singers of New Haven took it upon them
selves to form a society whose object |
should be to produce the different famous
oratorios to the music-loving public. The
society was daily formed and organized
under the name of the Mendelsaohn 60
ciety. It was for years famous society
here. DR.. Gustave j. Stoeckel was chosen
conductor. After his resignation the
Office fell upon DIR. William D. Anderson
The society was then led by the latter for
few years, and he, in turn, was succeed
ed by Professor ]. L. Ensign. The organ.
izstion Aourished for about eight or ten
years. Finally the removal of different
members from New Haven and other cir
cumstances led to it's disbandonment.
The chorus numbered from 1876 to IT'S
voices. Among the many members were:
Mrs. Kimberly, nee Nellie Bucknall, the
Misses Sarah and Nettie Eastman, Mrs. DR..
Gaylord, Mrs. William Pratt, nee Hattie
Peck, Mrs. DR.. Winchell, nee Miss Shepard,
Mr.. F. R. Bliss, Mr.. Edward L. CLARK. Mr..
B. Jepson, Mr.. William Jepson, Mr.. Elliott
Kimberly, Mr.. Thomas g. Shepard and
many others. The rehsarsals were held in
the lecture room of the Third Congre-
gational church, now the free pubic
| library. The different oratorios presented
by this society to packed audiences were
'sEBish," est. Paul." "The Creation.n
1.-THE Seasons" Hymn of Praise" and
'eEn." At least one of these great works
was produced each year, intersperssd with
miscellaneous concerts. The concerts were
given in Peck's music hall, accompanied
by an orchestra of picked musicians from
New Haven and New York.
The year 1859 brought before the New
Haven public q new society, called "The
Hsrmonic society" Prof ]. 81. Wheeler
was conductor and Mr.. Thomas g. Shep.
ard pianist. The chorus numbered about
| 100 strong and 1t was their object to sing
| detached choruses from oratorios to minele
| with other ohoruses at the Boston jubilee.
| The solois,s were Mrs s. S. Thompson,
Miss Mary Kirechner and others. The re-
heareals wer. held on Orange street in the
place now occupied by Phelap, the oostum-
er. Various concerts were given by this
1 IL.
The New Haven Oratorio society next
| organized in 1876 This was the largest
socisty ever organized in New Haven, mum
bering 525 to SIS members. The popular
and well known musician, Thomas G..
| Shepard was chosen director. Rehesrsals
| were held in LOOMS Temple of Music.
| The society presented "Naaman, )" ''Eliiah, I"
"Woman Of Ssmaris" and 1.-THE Prodigal
Son" R.hesrsals were commenced on
THE Messiah" and "The Creation" but
owing to illness Mr.. Shepard was obliged
for four years. A concert was given each
| year at Peaks music ball. At the produc
| ton of "Elijsh" the chorus was acoompa-
MED by Theodore Thomas full orchestra of
sixty pieces.
| Every seat for the performance was sold
fully week beforehand. Those persons
who purchased tickets, at 81 each. before
the concert could command almost any
price at the night of the production One
member remembers paying $40 for single
| admission. The soloists at all the concerts
were Mrs. 8. 8. Thompson, soprano; the
late Miss Carrie Adelaide Phelps, alto; Mr.
Cornelius Cheney of Boston, tenor; Mr.
William Cassel of New York, tenor; Mr..
W. Fl. Fessenden of Boston, tenor; Mr.
William G. Baird of New York, basso, and
Myron G.. Whitney of Boston, basso. The
chorus was made up of all the prominent
singers of the city.
Professor William E Chandler was di-
rector of the New Haven Choral union in
local singers. who presented Bucks "Don
Munio." The rehearsals were held in the
lecture room of the Church Of the Re-
deemer.
In 1885 Mr.. Warren Hedden, who re-
Gently resigned from the position az organ
ist Of Trinity church, organized the
Church Choral association. The society
numbered about $50 strong. The rehears-
ais were held in the parish building of
Trinity church, Two concerts were given
by this society at the Hyperion Mrs. He'd
den, zee Smedley, was the soloist. The
work consisted of detached c7atorio cho-
ruses and g1ees.
The next great musical organization that
was placed before the New Haven public
was the well-knewn "Gounod Society" of
to-day, which started in the year 1887.
They were about thirty charter members.
The honor of starting this chorus belongs
to Miss Martha Wurts, through whose I'M
firing efforts the society was organized.
Sig Emil Azramonte, the renowned and
, well-known conductor, Was chosen to pre-
side over the society; and through tine in
terest and efforts he showed in his work,
the society has developed at the present
. date into one of the finest oratorio chorus 8
in the United States
Among the original members were: Mrs.
s. s. Thompson, Miss E. L. Allen, Miss NJ
E Bassett, Miss E S. Demin9, Mrs. Eltz,
Mrs> William Everett, Mrs. John s. Fow-
May Mansfield, Miss May Sullivan, Mrs.
DR.. Brown, Mr.. Frank Corb,n, Mrs
Charles Dsforest, Mr.. Arthur jackson, Mr.
Paul Heinig, Dr. Brown, Hon David Cal
lahsn, Mr.. Dickinson, Mr.. Charles Mann,
Mr. B. HARDWOOD, Mr.. Rubert Hofer, Mr.
Max Kastner and Mr.. Ericsson Bushnell.
At first the rehearsals were held at the
Church of the Redeemer, but as the mem
bership gradually increased the place of
rehearsal was changed to the Presbyterian
chapel on Elm street, and finally to Har-
monte hall. In 1887, 1888 and 1889 the
concerts given consisted in madrigale,
glees and choruses, with the addition of
out of town soloists. Among the soloists
were Mrs. Dutton, Mrs. Jennie Patrick
Walker, Mr. Victor Herbert, cello soloist,
and the Beethoven quartette of New York.
As the attendance increased yearly in
1891 it was thought best to attempt giving
| an oratorio, Gounod's grand work, ''The
Redemption" was chosen, and it is cafe to
say, both from comment and attendance at
the productions of THE redemption" the
New Haven public was more than gratifed
| with the efforts of the Gounod society.
But not stopping here, after achieving
such grand success, the society commenced
work in 1892 upon Saint Saens' "Noel"
and Mend-lssohn's "Hymn of Praise"
This concert, which was given about Christ
mas time, completely took the audience by
storm, SO that when the society presented
"Elijsh" later on packed houses at both
the afternoon and evening performances
were the result
| For 1898 the society has chosen Haydn's
grandest work, 'The Creation" One can
not laud the praises of this work enough
It ia 80 simple that the untutored ear can
enjoy the different passages; go grand and
majestic that the critic drops his pen in
silence and listens. The Gounod society
has always selected the best soloists, and
the New Haven public can only extend
their deepest gratitude to this society,
| which has done 30 much to keep up in our
| "City of Elms" the grand work of oratorio.
8. L. s.
Fire In Turn Hall.
Shortly after noon yesterday the bowling
alley at Turn hall was damaged by fire to
the extent of about 500, fully covered by
| insurance. The fire was put out by means
| of extinRuishers, and it Is supposed was
| caused by spontaneous combustion.