New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-12
WELSHMEN'S DAY OF SONG.
OPENING OF THE wILKEsBARRE MUSI-
CAL FESTIVAL.
MINERS PROFICIENCY IN CHORAL MUSIC sTRIK-
INGLY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IN THE
COMPETITIONS

COMPETITIONS.
wilkesbarre. PENN ia music festival
given under the auspices Of the Orator0 Society. OF
this city, began here to-day All Of its Characters
tic features were those OF an esteddfod, with the
literary or bardlc features left out To those who
know what the Welsh gathering. with the name
composed Of such singular congeries OF letters
means, II will not be necessary to explain that to-
days affair. like many predecessors held here and
in Scranton In the past, aroused a great interest
in this community. but especially in the MIN
ing towns in this vicinity. Neghborng coleries
were shut down to enable the miners and their
friends to indulge their traditional and unconquer-
able prediction for these artistic competitions ana
the town is full of them For the visitors from
New-York the festival served the purpose Of dis
covering how pervasive and vital element music
Is in the life Of the Weshman wherever he Is
placed The sessions lasted to-day from 10 O'Clock
in the forenoon until II o'clock at night, with
scarcely an nermission for refreshments, yet no.
body seemed to think the physical and mental strain
excessive, unless 1t the committee OF adJuoi-
Gators from New-York. who. though pretty well
seasoned TO similar work by the experiences OF the
last six months, nevertheless. did not seem quite
able understand devotion to musical perform
ance which Knocked at the ordinary demands oil
body and mind. But these gentlemen propapy
found something Of a reward in this knowledge
which they acquired of the proficiency IN chorai
music which distinguishes the Welsh people inc
world over. They learned. II they did not already
know II, that among the miners Of this region the
cultivation OF part songs for mems voices Is pur-
sued almost diligently and enthusiastically as II
Is among the Germans. who carry their love FOR
mannergesang wherever they go. and that the
mixed choirs of this inland town have points OF
excellence which looked for In vain IN the
amateur choirs Of the large cities. which MI
much larger place in the annals OF music IN this
country.
There two important contests In the course
of the day. one for mixed choruses. participated IN
by cholrs from Wilkesbarre and Scranton. ana one
for male choruses in which the events. OF Ed-
wardsville: Cambrians, Of Scranton; DR.. Mason
Glee Club OF Wilkesbarre; Druid Glee Club. OF
Scranton: the Glee Club OF Scranton, and the
Haydn Male Chorus. OF Utica were the contestants
The adjudica tors-W. J. Henderson, Henry Holden
Huss and II. r. Krehbiel, all OF New-fork-touhd
little difficulty in deciding in favor OF the Scranton
mixed choir but the mems clubs were very evenly
na,cbed and It required n close calculation OF the
ratings made By the individual adjudlcators on inc
points which enter into snging such as d un,y
ton and STYLE to determine where the greatest ex-
ccllence lay Their decision was IN favor +, he
Edwardsvile events. miners. second one OF tne
most delightful Ieanres o, 'e y G ths enfre audience
unler the leadership Of William APP Ma'ipc, o, IN,
cago who presided At both forenoon anu AFTERNOON
In the evening the wllkesbarre Oratoro Society.
which ont If courtesy does not enter into the choir
c,rnreti,ions under the direction OF Dr. d. j. D.
Mason, and assisted by Miss Kathrne Hike. Leon
S,ru.J Uaydn's sea sons' in a creditable manner
The festival will continue to-no,ro|. ,.,,,
The following awards were made by the aiJudi,
Gators: Panoforte playing. children under fourteen
years prize 80 and present M1stsr John - MAR ~
scranton; composition four.part song for womens
Voice words and music s. william K tc a sd
Stevens Of Scranton; chorus singing by MIXED
cholrs Of not less than thirty nor more ' Gih -
voices prize $50, the Or Mason Glee C'uo' OF
Vilk.sbarrc