St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-02-01
A CHOICE CONCERT.


the Berkeley Beacon Concert Com
pany was one of the finest ever given
in St. Johnsbury. 1t included an ar;
ray of talent such as has rarely, if
ever, been heard together before in
this place The combination of a
male and female quartette of such
we'll trained voices made it possible
to produce musical effects such as we
are not often privileged to enjoy.
There was the Berkeley Ladies'
Quartette, composed of such we'll
known artists as Mrs. E. Humphrey
Allen, Mrs. Frances Dunton Wood,
Mrs. Marie Kaula Stone and Mrs.
Ella Cleveland Henderson; and the
Beacon Male Quartette, consisting
of George j. Parker, George w.
Want, Arthur B. Hitchcock, and D.
M Babcock, all well-known and es-
tablished favorites with our people,
and Miss Agnes Snyder as accom-
! panist. With the utmost liberalitv
they presented programme of four
teen numbers, of which three were
double numbers, making seventeen,
and each was of the choicest selec-
ton. With such able artists, who
not only sing harmoniously, but en-
| Joy doing so with full and free good
nature. how could they otherwise be
received than with equal freedom
and appreciation by an audience :?
| They are not only good singers, but
they are ladies and gentlemen who
have a warm place in the hearts of
St. Johnsbury people. The pro-
gramme was especially rich in a class
of music which we do not often have
opportunity to hear, and that was
concerted music, there being FIVE
numbers on the programme in which
the whole company appeared, and
the audience showed their apprecia-
ton of these selections by well-timed
applause.
The concert opered with a double
quartette, "Hunting Song" by Bene-
dict, followed by a tenor song,
Queen of Earth" Pinsuti, sung by
Mr.. Want, whose voice was particu-
larly clear and pleasing. He re-
sponded to an encore with a beauti-
full selection which we understand was
written for him and which was render
ed with exquisite delicacy. This
was followed by double number by
the Berkeley Quartet tie, "Lewie
Gordon" an old Scotch song, which
was finely rendered, the soft pas
sages being particularly we'll shaded
and "Ye Spotted Snakes" by Mac
farren Then followed choral
ballad, THE Miller's Wooing," by
Tanning, which received an encore,
bringing out what to our mind was
the gem of the evening, chorus by
Rheinberger. Mrs. Stone then sang
my Native Land" by Mattel, dis
playing a well cultivated contralto
voice This was followed by the
sextette from Lucia" by Mrs. Allen
Mrs Henderson and the Beacon
Quartette, and which was grandly
sung and received a we'll merited
round of applause which brought a
repetition of the number. This Sc
lection has Ut been given here for a
number of years and we think that
at least three of these same artists
sang in it when it was last given
Mrs. Wood then sang "Ecstacy," by
Mrs. Beach, and AT Parting" by
Rogers. She has a clear, true sopra
no voice of great sweetness and sang
the selections in a thoroughly artis
tic manner. She is former resident
f of Vermont, having lived for some
years in St. Albans, and we may
we'll take pride in her musical sue
cess. We hope to hear her again
: Mrs. Allen and Mr. Parker then sang
two duets most delightfully."-. Their
followed an octette, My Little
Barque," by Ford. Mr.. Hitchcock
sang, THE Vagabond," by Molloy
and in response to an encore "Tht
: Wanderer," by Schumann. He has
| very plea asing baritone voice under
most excellent control. The Beacor
Quartette then sang Italian Salad,
by Genee, followed by an encore
1 Lullaby" by Brahms, both o
t which were we'll sung, the latte
being softly and delica tely shaded. il
which Mr.. Babcock's low note
sounded like the rich pipes of an or
: gan. Mrs. Henderson is well ant
S favorably known by all and her Sc
lection, "Heart's Rest" was broadl,
and finely sung. Then followed "Ol'
King Cole" an old English al
r arranged by Archer and sung b,
e Mrs. Wood. Mrs. Stone, Messrs
e Want aud Babcock which prove,
e very jolly and taking and was re
d peated AS fitting benediction tn
r two quartettes then sang, For H
d shall give His Angels charge owe
l. Thee" from Mendelssohn's Elijah.
: 1t is not often that we hear oratori
selections in our concerts, and t
many this was the best thing of tn
evening.
q When next this company com
: here. and we hone it may be soor