The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-04-27
ARTISTIC MUSICAL WORK.
ST. PAUL GIVEN VERY FINELY BY
 THE GOUNOD SOCIETY.


 ing Which Each Member Had Under
 gone for the Past Three or Four Months
 No greater delight can be given to
 the musical critic than to listen to a
 perfect performance. In other words,
 to place in type those very impressions
 that are derived from a. performance
 that appeared faultless and therefore
 in accordance with the aesthetic re-
 quirements of the beautiful in art.
 The rendering of a solo, either in- strumental of vocal Is the duty of a
 single individual, for which he or she
 can prepare without any limit of time
 or restriction of manner of production.
 But not so with a large chorus, where
 different voices and natures participate.
 While each one must do his or her
 duty, the addition of the responsibility
 of others taking part in the work has
 to be considered. It is, in fact the
 highest aim of a chorus to sing and to | feel together, and to be subject to the
 intentions of their conductor. When | thus successful, in accordance with these conditions the artistic work Is ac- complished.
 ! Based upon these theories the per- | formance of "St. Paul' by the Gounod society, as given in the Hyperion last evening, mug be adjudged. Those who listened to This rendition must be the living witnesses as to the comment of the critic when he utters words of the highest praises and recognizes the la q 0f singers that have been recruited from the unprofesslonal classes of our city and who constitute the Gounod society. Such perfection of unity, both as to music and words; such crescendos and diminuendos, while under the stringent rules of musical rythm and time can hardly be expected to be found in chorus as above described, but rather finds it's existence in the established cathedral cholrs of Germany and in old England. Tie master hand of a conductor Is shown when he not only possesses the ability of drilling his choir for musical purposes but reveals that wonderful and nameless undercur- rent of peculiar technique which lends it's forces to the perfection and comple- ton of the art work of music.
 While at their former performances the Gounod society was perhaps sub- feet to the fault finding of those who always are inclined that way, 1t Cannot be admitted that the performance of last evening could be subject to such conditions. The society's rendition of "St. Paul'' demonstrated very clearly that every member of the Gounod so- ciety strove to his or her utmost abil- ity to make the performance a musical success, and last evenings work evinc- ed the rigid and thorough ordeal they have been subjected to during the past three or four months.
 The fine blending of these many voices together with a perfect intonation gave the chorus a solldity as never heard heretofore. The enunciation, the rythmatical accent endowed it with a perfect order. No flaws in an occa- sionally high pitched tone that unex- pectedly escapes some singers in the usual run of chorus work conld be discerned; everything proved to be in its right place and was directed to express its own special duty. The softest whisper of a "diminuendo' was easily heard, while in the "erescendo" passages the wonderful Gounod chorus faithfully portrayed it's greatness. The close attention and intentions of the l director were followed and carried out 1 in such an accurate and delicate man. ner that it brought forth the highest | enthusiasm from those present.
 After careful rendition of the over l ture the society rendered the opening | chorus, Lord, Thou Alone Art God" and the audience Melt at once the | of the occasion and received l 1t with joy and pleasure. Immediately | following this number came the won | derful chorale, ITO God on High" which was rendered with most relig- | ious fervor. And then came the va rious solos which follow each other to | the finale.
 It is useless, and 1t would tire the l reader to analyze critically each and every following number of that sub lime work as it was rendered by both chorus and soloists, and in reference to the latter it must be conceded that the singing of MT. Ben Davies gave evil Hence again of a true born artist, whose heart and soul seem to enter into all his work and which was heartily echoed by the well deserved applause which he created.
 Mrs. J. Patrick Walker, who possesses a clear and sympathetic soprano voice, Is an artist of the highest rand and with undounded energy carried her ex- .ensive and difficult work to a point hat enraptured and entranced her list aners. Miss Gertrude Stein's first ap- 1earance here in oratorio gave un- loubted evidence of a singer that pos iesses a great volume of tone and in- ensely dramatic capabilities. And it must be regretted that the work of "St. oaul' so sadly limits the scope of her powers, which left the eager audience lnsatiated. In Mir Watkins Mills. the genuine oratorio singer of England, vas at once recognized and reminded many who listened to him of the great 'antley. He possesses a powerful and onorous voice that gives emphasis to ach and every note and which carries with it an enunciation that equals in very particular the great compass of
 voice which he has completely under r-.