Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-13

/ UucUs programme which had been ~
RANGED, AID with which Il was intended
I 70 iIaugurate a May festival" Mrs.
Gcrrit Smith and Nj Ericsson Riahuell
were selected as tho so,oists upon this
occasion, ana a fun orchestra was on
ruEed from Washington and Baltimore.
The conspicuous features Of the pro-
eramuo were several selections from
Sfohrs last judgment" and .ien-
cciseohr's Inotct, Hear NJ Prayer"
CHDCIFlNiON AND MAY FESTIVAL
Tho society continued - incre1sa IN
str'nSt4 and ability, ana IN Young
Mons Christian Association Assembly
hau was engaged for rohcarsais during
tEn stuou ls9!-9J, tae former quarters
being found entirely inadequate. The bri!-
I h-nt success which marked the clubs
efforts during that season scarcely needs
10 be alluded to. On Aprll l2th last
: S.Hi.ers "CrOciNNion" was sung at Holy
.n'y church Oeior" an immense audi
cHce. Mr. George l.. i. Butter, tenor, and
Nr. Thomas =. Baker. bass. were spc,
ca!ly engage. for tie occasion. and the
work OF the club showed taAt a Won
oer.Gl advance AaI lecA made, and tEdt
tht.r aFo"ca ambition was neither futile
nor far distant.
The May ftstival took place on the
l',a n. 1';h of thai month. IN the Aca4c-
Inf Di Music, and was ole of the most
brilliant social events of The season. ii
ln.rke! new era ia tnc musical affairs
a. tA.S city ana tranSc.I4el anything
tai, had been attemI,eu boy a lgcli c.
3, l.1ttlon up 10 that sane.
+. Emma JICl. NJ. Lecgt't T.. Nuty,
and br. j.. ". LOpk.uson were the so4Jists
on t-- occasion. and tAe programme in
Clgte4 WrcatA OF admirable features An
incident OK the musical EtIsJ IA Was the
concert gVen by the Capital Glce Club
aui the Eubcnst4.n C..b, under the
auspices of the society.
This fei son, 0lihpu. only two meetings
have been held. forty-C.sHt names have
been a-Ici to the list. The o.d officers
have 0sen :e-electca-Mr. "a. r. MclOney
as president. Mr.. Arthur SoyNehor as d.
rector, and Mr.. Eugene Jones a. secretary
aUI tres surar.
The liosaIy Of the club. which has al
ready assumed very considerable dimen-
s.oHs. is IN the charge Of Mr 4. q. Las
cchcs. y Executive Committee is com
posed as follows: Mrs. y. Il. Thomas,
Miss Claire Guiilaumc, Mrs J. IiarYe
Blair, ana MCssrs. G. II. Read, Jr, john
Tyler and Walter Mercer.
Mendalssohn's hymn or praise is now
ia rehearsal. and S,ainer's "CrucilXiOn'
Will be- taken Up later. with a view to
thc singing Of 1t on G0oG-FIiday
\ programme for the May festival has
not yet been composed bat it viii un-
douttcI.y marx a great advance IN the
onward march Of the cup.
SIR. SURETTE TO LECTURE.
Under the auspices of the club. Mr.
Thom-s Whitney Surcttc. the well-known
lecturer on music Tor TIE American Uni
vor.!ty Extension Society, will deliver
a course OF lectures here ON the develop
mcut Of music
This course Of SIX lectures is designed
10 present music as an art, to show the
evolution Of its forms from tie early
folk-song- tune 20 the modern
symphony OF opera, and TO show how
muse, 10y that natural development
which may be seen in all art, has GrdGu-
ally broadoned and deopenod, guided at
all times by the prevailing conditions Of
civilization, until 1t has become In its
structure, as organic and consistent as
architecture and capable Of leading US
ly us spirit 10 the highest planes Of
thought and feeling.
1t is obvious that study Is necessary II !
one is to acquire the power of appre- |
Ci4tiug 81 at art in any form. Alu- !
sic requires this study most because its !
Impressions ara 50 hccLug. Unless one /
knows something OF the form and struc- |
ture OF a Ereat piece OF music only the I
most confused impressions can be OBJ
taincd from listening 10 il: except when
some agreeable tune asserts itself you
have but a series OF dly-diss0lving
views of which you retain nothing de-
finite so that 1t is common 20 hear poo-
pie say that they DO not Ike classical
music; that they 90 not understand it.