The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-16
DIR. PALMER's WORK.
An Unusually Brilliant Musical Pro-
gramme at Chatauqua, N. z.


The music presented at the great
Chatauqua assembly held at Lake
Chatauqua, n. Y, during July and
August was unusually fine and gave the
highest enjoyment TO the throngs in at
tendence. Some very able musicians
have in years past made Chatauqua's
music most interesting feature, but the
great work done by DIR. H. R. Palmer
since 1T was put under his sole charge in
| 1888 has placed it squarely in the front
rank at Chataqua's leading attractions.
| 1t is indeed diticult for one who has not
| been right on the ground to realize what
! an important part music plays in the
! Chatauqua programme and what superior
| opportunities are there afforded musical
students at comparatively small COST
| To those who attend the assemb bly, simply
| for enjoyment, the grand concerts given
twice or three times weekly in the vast
ampitheater, seating 10000 people, by the
Chatauqua choir of 500 voices with grand
organ and orchestra and the leading So
loists of the country, and with DIR. Palmer
at the baton, affords the keenest enjoy
ment. Large audiences also gather twice
a day to watch DR. Palmers marvellous
drill work in the rehearsal of the great
chorus. Every evening thousands gather
at the free chorus class, where the art of
reading music is taught in a most wond-
erful method by Mr.. l.. S. Leason, who is
DR.. Palmer's most able assistant,
and in this special work has no superior.
The Sabbath service, song service and
vespers are all made delightful with the
graudest and most appropriate sacred
music, given with mastery effect. And,
best OF all, back of all this, DIR. Palmer
has organized and patiently built up, year
by year, complete and large school of
music, in which instruction in all
branches, from the primary to the high
est, is given daily by the most competent
instructors of this country. William H.
Sherwood, Americas leading pianist is
at the head of the piano department, and
gives several recitals each week: J.
Harry Wheeler teaches voice culture and
and gives daily lectures to teachers in
this science. Prof. l. V. Hagler, the we'll
known great organist who visited Savan-
nah some years since, instructs upon the
great pipe organ, and gives most
entertaining lectures upon the great
music masters. DR.. Palmer teaches
the advanced classes in harmony
and composition, and Mr.. Leason
has the primary and. intermediate
classes. The violin, guitar and orches-
tral instruments are all provided for.
Hundreds of musical students are al
ways hard at work. Pianos are scattered
everywhere throughout the grounds, and
everywhere throughout the vast grounds,
from the pier building on the lake, from
cottage and tent, hall and grove, can be
heard from morn till night the echoes of
piano scale practice, arpeggios and runs,
interminRled with vocal pyrotechnics
songs, and oratorio seleCtions-until one
wonders if all creation is not taking
music" at Chatauqua.
The grand concerts this season were
made specially interesting by the mag
500 g2F =
oratOrio The Creation, - in addition TO a
great variety of other fine music of a diff
ferent order. The "Trovatore Miserere."
with it's thrilling tenor and soprano solos
and wonderful chorus, which gave such
pleasure at our first musical festival in
Masonic nall, was enthusiastically re-
ceived Among the favorite soloists
none were more popular than Mrs. Marie
AntOuette Summers, who will be recalled
as the charming little lady who sung
her way right into the hearts
of Savannah music lovers at
our last festival. She has been the
soprano soloist of Chatauqua this season
and given unbounded satisfaction. not
only in her superb, artistic singing aud
pure, true voice, but as well in her pleas
ing unassuming manners and delightful
personality. Chatauqua has had no So
loist for years who has so generally
pleased. DIR. Palmer is there, as every
where, the same genial, wholesouled gen
teman who makes and holds thousands of
friends, and is an inspiration to each and
all He wears well. This is his sixth
year at Chatauqua, and each year his
popularity and usefulness becomes
greater. Musicians and music lovers who
visit Chatauqua have good reason 20 feel
grateful to the management for putting
"the right man in the right place" and II
is the hope Of all that for many years yet
his great choir the devine music that
rings through Chatauqua's green groves
and stirs the hearts Of so many thous-
ands, and among them your correspond
emit