The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-28
OUR CHORAL SOCIETY.
n PERMANENT ORGANIZATIONS run
HIGHER MUSICAL CULTURE.
The Wednesday Club" IL Composo" VI
tho Very Beat Material In the 'i'y'
One Hundred and Sixty Members

IT would like to see a high order Oh
music developed in Baltimore" writes
an eminent citizen OF that city. in ie-
snonse TO an invitation to become mem
her OF the board of governors Of tne
choral Class. recently organized in con-
ncc,lon with the Peabody Conservatory
OF Music.
Tho desire for the best music, thus ex-
,,-aseaa with regard to Baltimore, mas
for some time been widely felt In hch-
nond and the movement In that direcuoh
,,,h,ch has been recently initiated by the
o-.,o,,zation Of '.The Wednesday CluD
g.. tho natural outgrowth of that desire
AS was pointedly remarked by one u
the active promoters Of "The Neohesu"'
c,,,,,o .rf with It's Oratorio Society Oh
roo trained singers. the Ladies Beethoven
Chorus Class Of $50 excellent VOICES 'Ne
Peabody Orchestra, and several olhe' ''-
s,cot organizations. all devoted TO classic
,,,,sic and the years Of work zone W
chem baltimore is still in neea u q
.hich order Of music what must be haiu
with regard to the need OF hi0 '' 49,;
until now without one permanent oto. q,
society for the study OF the best Sno' d
works p
Richmond undoubtedly possesses a good
deal Of musical talent, with but iittie OPP
portunity for its individual development
or for its crystallzatioa into the highest
and grandest form Of musical express
sion. which can only be realized in united
strength 1t is true that occasionally
large choruses have been hastily thrown
together for n temporary purpose ana
then as hastily dsbanded when that pnr-
nose WAS accomplished. The real need.
however. and which alone VIII prove OF
lasting benefit is for n permanent oisdnl-
cation embracing all OF the best talent Cd
tainable for the regular study, unner a
competent director. OF the very pest nv
steal productions, with view 10 euuca-
tional results as well as for musiCdi e.
fccts II is confidently believed that there
erists among orr citizens generally an
intelligent appreciation Of, and desire
for. the best artistic music, ana that a
,yell-directed effort towards establishing
q permanent choral society for the high
est musical culture will receive the nearly
sympathy and support OF the community
This need of the city seems destined 10
be supplied in the organization OF Inc
Wednesday Club"
The club was originally started in Feb
ruary last by Few members TOT theil
own mutual Improvement ana entertain
ment, and met weekly at the dweiiing OIL
one of its members II proved 50 sue
cessful that the interest and the member
shin rapidlv increased. and the club
closed the season by successfully singing
the music of Gluck's beautiful opera,
"Orpheus." at its last rehearsal in June.
The interest thus started continued ana
widened TO such an extent that the club
felt impeled TO take an advance step
and reOrganize on much larger scale IN
order TO meet the apparent demand lot
the study OF some Of the greater choral
works OF the great composers.
Consequently, at it's first meeting after
the summer vacation, the club formally
decided TO enlarge its membership, and TO
meet every Tuesday night at the rooms
of the Richmond Music Company, NO.
east Broad street. and elected an execu-
tive committee. secretary and treasurer,
and musical director for the coming
season.
At the rehearsal last Tuesday night
there were Us members present, and the
roll contained 100 members. The per
sonnet and talent of the membership or
the club are of the highest order, and
everything bids fair for a splendid sue
cess to crown its efforts.
Among the works procured for study
are Spohr's Last Judgment; Mendei-
sohn's Hear My Prayer" and other
lighter chorals of high grade.
The club has been invited to render
Stainer's "Crucifxion," in one Of the
city churches during next Holy-week.
and It may do 50. II II does the public
will have the opportunity Of hearing "A
beautiful religious work well sung. with
public sympathy enlisted in its behalf,
and with the cooperation and support
of all musical people. the club will prove
a. wide and lasting benefit TO the city.
There Is not a church choir but Will soon
feel its impulse and power for good, Tor
the dominant idea pervading the mem
bership is, that all really good music is
Divine. that It is not the work Of man but
the gift Of God to man, ana hence IL
becon es the duty, as well as the pleasure
of all. TO devote their God-given talents
TO the development Of the Divine gift
Therefore the efforts OF the club VIII
be largely directed to the study OF the
best sacred works though not entirely
so. because while the purely secular may
please the ear and sweetly entertain loi
the hour, the sacred enters into the SOU
| of the singer and the listener ana be-
comes part or the Immortal ti'''1 Hi'e''
live and sing forever in the very presence
| Of the Divine givcr.
The following members compose the
executive committee and officers for TINS
| season.
Executive Committee - Mrs. DR.. Hugh
| Taylor. Miss Nellie Rogers. Mrs. conway
II. Gordon. Mr. j. Harvie BAR Mr
| James Harris. Mr. Eugene Jones.
Mr.. Henry T. AielOney, secretary anc
! treasurer; Mr.. Arthur Serivenor, director
Professor Jacob Reinhardt. Miss Iell'
Minor, Mrs. II. A. Tabb. accompanies
| - w Il II