The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-11-28
SCHUBERfS' FINE WORK
Opening Concert of the Ninth
Season a Brilliant Sue
cess.

The members of the Schubert Glee
Club were more than ortuna last
night at their first subscription concert
of the ninth season. Not only had they
the great pleasure of a crowded audi
ence to listen to their music, but there
was a distinct absence of the genuine
old weather. These fortunate
conditions naturally affected the mem
bers, and as a result the singing was
in all points worthy of an organization
of the musical standing of the Schupert
Glee Club.
Just as the individual voice requires
relaxation and rest, so, too, is the erect
of a few months on a choir. Afterwards
they return to their duties with vocal
chords strengthened, energies invigor-
ated and their ambition assuming a more
definite trend to that musical goal only
to be achieved by "hitching your wagon
to a STAR All this was noticeable IN
the work of the club last night, ana par
ticularly in the piece, Simple as II was
MY Old Kentucky HOME" 1t is not
too much to say that the Schubefts
never did better work. 1t was artistic
and refined, touching and unsteady elo-
ouent. because of the unaffected style.
Although an entirely different class OF
work in 18th Sands O'Dee," with its pic
turesque, descriptive bass work, which,
by the way, was admirable indeed, there
were the same distinguishing traits, all
showing a high order of excellence and
finish.
The tenors had their turn in the ex-
ouisite gIee by Eichberg, while My Lady
-. :, -.,1 &c onothotia hafora show
ed the audience what can be expected
of them. The quality and timber were
unusually fine.
Both voices were not at their best In
Meister's 1.-THE Elf" The Schuberts
sang this as well as it could be present
ed, but even with all their ability they
could not add color to a tame, meaning
less composition in which the only re-
deeming feature was a rather cleVerly
written climax, accentuated by an organ
c"companiment
MUSICAL FUN.
On the principle of a little nonsense
now and then, etc, the club sang Dud-
two ~well-known melodies, Then You'll
Cradie Of the Deep" These were alter
nately sung by tenor and bass, and then
by an ingenious exercise of contrapuntal
art, welded in a sort of musical crazy
quilt.
Mendelssohn's Merry Wayfarer" suf-
fered because it was the first on the pro-
gramme and the voices had not had time
warm down or up to their work; but
this was amply atoned for in lsenmanhs
81 Love Thee" where a great deal OF
careful shading was observed. OF course
there was at times a soupcon of rawness
and oldness which may always pc
locked for on a first night. General
ly, however, the choral part OF the pro
gramme was superbly rendered.
ACCOMPLISHED ARTISTS.
There were two artists; one a soprano,
Miss Ina Lawson, and the other a cellist,
Carl Krell. In Miss Lawson's singing
there was much TO admire and much to
blame. Her finest passage were married
by the abominable, ridiculous, pernicious
use of the vibrato. While her upper reg
lister was clear and accurate in intona-
ton, there had evidently been little at
tentiom paid to Joining the head and
chest notes, and as a consequence the
"Charmant Oiseau' had only the adJec-
tive on the programme to recommend it.
Miss Lawson did better in a recall when
she sang the old Scotch ballad Mary of
Argyle In that song her fine quality
of voice, added to a finished piece of
shading, made the number one of the
most delightful on the programme.
Few players on that lovely instrument
Jersey City audiences, made SO good an
impression as Mr.. Carl Krell, whose
mastery playing of the Andante and
Finale from Goltermann's A minor con-
cGIIO, CdDllfdlCo GNCls oliC AooN fi5Alt. All
the graces of a scholarly rendering, a
vigorous and clean bow arm, Joined to
faultless information, made his playing
intensely interesting. As a proof of his
execution he played Peppers "Spinne-
He'd" which the audience warmly en-
cored. Preceding this he played Gou-
mods, or rather Nine. Carvalho's, medi-
tation upon the prelude to Baeh's first
fugue.
Among the good things given at this
concert was one, a new departure for the
club. It was the duett, "The Lord is a
Man of War" from Handel's Israel
in Egypt" sung by Messrs. John GiAies
and Varian Banks, two of the most capa-
BILE and gifted member of the Schuberts.
In itself the staid oratorio style is scarce
ly the thing to show off ones vocal
qualities. but lovers of the immortal
music must have enjoyed the accurate
singing of these gentlemen in a Duet
remarkable for its forid work and pre-
cision of rhythm.
Another member of the club. W. Stagg
Cerren, sang an Incidental solo in "The
Elf" and what little he had to do, did
tha fairly well. Mr.. Stagg Cerren has
a smooth voice capable of great things
when such points as clear enunciation
and coloring are made prominent fea-
lures.
The solos were accompanied by Mr..
Louis R. Dressler, a facile princeps in
that line, and Mr.. Victor Baier as usual
conducted.