The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-09
News and Gossip of Old Wales.

The most prominent and influential
Journals OF Wales are opposed to COM
petitive singing and are In favor of festi-
val performances. The proposed Welsh
musical festival, which arose out of sug-
gestion made by Sir Joseph Barnby. has
been advanced another stage by a confer
ence of the leading musicians Of Wales.
The movement has the warmest sympathy
OF the musical fraternity. 1t will be re-
memh- l that Sir Joseph Barnby, when
msc sps Of the opening aa Of the Ca Cardiff
preston which the singing at the last
national ciSteddfod had left upon his
mind. Such singing as he heard then had
never been equalled not by the supposed
had the credit of producing the finest
male voice choirs. but Sir Joseph seemed
inclined to give Wales the first place, and
in order to show what can be done, he
proposed that there should be held in
Wales yearly or triennially. as should be
decided upon afterwards, a grand musi-
cal festival, with q choir of 1000 picked
voices and an orchestra Of 200 performers.
THIS was to be the beSinning of what he
believed could be developed into the great
est singing festival in the whole world,
There Is no modesty about the claims Of
the festival. but We presume that Sir Jo-
seph knows what he Is speaking about
the Card TINES mes, IN writing e the mat
part, are confident that the material exists
In Wales for the making of as fine festi.
val of its kind that the more musical IA
tions canproduce: We have the voices, ard
ences can be induced to follow. The one
question after that of organization is, Can
the singers In the Welsh hills and valleys
be persuaded to give the same attention
and time to the practicing. Of complete
upon choruses for the purpose OF winning
prizes? To! the average Welshman the
mention or a choir suggests an eisteddofd
and struggle for prize, with the conss-
quent rivalry-the local jealousies and the
glory, of the prize winners. Certain cir
cumstances have brought about these
conditions, and We shall watch the pres
ent movement very carefully and with
considerable tSrsit h,,. amount Of syppathetic in
often asserted that no Welsh choir can be
got to practice without the stimulating
aid of prize and struggle for the honor
of beating other choirs. We hope and
trust that these critics completely over
estimate the power of the prize and the
inducement of the competition. We hope
to. find that Welshmen can be got together
for the sake of musical art and the ad-
vancement OF choral singing In Wales
we have referred. The conditions Of train
ing for competition, where one or two
choruses are taken, and for a festival,
where one or two complete works will he
performed, are certainly very dif aren't
and require greater care. far more prac-
tlce; but the object to be attained Is we'll
worth all the extra trouble. 1t Is one
thing for a choir to be note-perfect in two
choruses which have been hammered at
during the year. but this will never make
musicians. It Is very different thing to
sing through two complete works in
massed choir and with big orchetra."
Comments are unnecessary, but the Car
ments, against competitive singing than
It has done In this case before 1t can we'll
XII the ancient institution of old Gwalia
The cisteddfod is sometimes prostituted,
but, as rule. II has been an institution
that has accomplished wonderful work.
-:lI:-
The Late Kiisby Jones.
The late Rev. James .Rhys Kilsby Jones
was born at farm called Penylan, near
Was. n carmarthenshre 1s,s South
years OF age he went to school at Nenadd-
lwyd, very popular preparatory school
at this period. After he comm@ced TO
preach he added his fathers name to his
own. From Neuaddlwyd he went to the
guished himself greatly. Leaving Car
marthen he went. to Blackburn to study
Greek under DR.. Alexander. and after
wards to Edinburgh, Scotland. He settled
first as a minister at Leominster, in 1884,
at which plaor arried his wife, who
survived ,st-4 % over so years of
age. Fro.a1 1-eofnIhster he went to Liam
dovery, in Northampton. While on a visit
TO Llandovery, ,Archdeacon Williams,
Of the college at that place. as
Kiisby Jones, and Br.,tus. Of the Haul, a
periodical unrivalled for wit and sarcasm,
whenever ne had occasion to refer to the
writer and divine, always
wrote him 'the eloquent Kilsby JONES'"
hence the name. and the master spirit Of
Welsh wit adopted the name. His next
movement was to Bolton. but he did not
remain long at the latter place, having re-
turned to his own native country. and
taking charge OF the Independent church
at Rhaiadr-ar.Wy. Receiving call at
England again. but not for long, as his
beart was at Glenciey, house he had
built for himself at Ilanwrtyd. Having
returned TO his home in Wales. he built
"Kilsby ChapeP at 1.landrudod. which
was able to offlciste) till his death, which
took place in 1889. He was the Dean
Swift Of the Cymry. He was one Of the
stan. writer's OF the Blackies, of Eding-
burEh, the greatest religious book pub
lishers OK the age. AS writer he stood
the greatest men Of the age.
%r -:ll:-s.
=. -vicsr.Apostolic Of Wales.
Recent DIR. Mostyn, the vicar-apostolic
series Of Ecclesiastical functions at the
franciscan .morfastery Of st. Asaph, near
North Wales, this being practi-
cally his lordship's first public appearance
In Wales since his .consecration. The oc-
casior was the celebration Of the death of |
unff n h. Ia