The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-06

of four such programmes as thousands
have listened to in the past few days
is itself immense; but it is as nothing
when we think of the study, training
and rehearsing which has been going
on all around US for the past several
months in preparation for the event.
The class OF music has been high,
without verging into the ultra classic;
Welsh composition had the prefer
ence. and all of the selections have
been of striking beauty. The execu-
ton by the various contestants showed
a high degree of efficiency, particular
~ in the chorus work; the sight and
sound of 120 male voices singing ITO
Arms on Thursday evening and or
500 mixed voices rendering The Wales
of Deseret'' in Fridays session, are
memories never to be forgotten The
dainty and delicious shading of the
Denver choir, under the talented Hous-
ley (not less capable as a composer
than as a conductor) the fresh, youth
full, we'll drilled voices Of Ensignfs
prize winners, the sonorous volume OF
Thomas fine body of singers, and the
surprisingly good work of Ogden's
new chorus under Squire Coop "a young
man who will be heard of all spoke
volumes for. the progress of choral
work in the three main cities Of the
Rocky mountain region. The three
ladies' clubs and the four male chorus
es, particularly the Cecelias, the Bill
Cantos, the Orpheus and the Harmony,
showed admirably what beautiful eff
fects smaller bodies can accomplish;
the small choirs also told tale OF
gratifying advancement, and though
Mr.. Daynes' Twentieth ward organiza-
ton naturally led, Malad and Lehi did
choirs. The solos were generally on a
par with the choral work, excepting
the tenor solos. Mr. Ashworth is the
only one who should have been allowed
to sing; one or two of the others
proved a positive blight on the pro-
gramme. 1t is one of the unaccount-
able things of the Eisteddfod, that in
the preliminary examination these
singers should have been allowed to
Slip through and others we know of
barred out. The harp solos we're not
all that could have been expected of a
Welsh festival, and it is yet a, grave
question: whether the prize went where
it justly belongs. The gentleman was
guilty of the objectionable sin in mu-
sic-playing out of tune. 1t should be
said for the young lady that she only
entered on the day of the contest, at
the personal request of Elias Morris,
treasurer of the Cambrian association,
who wished her to appear because
there had been only one entry made.
The brass band contest was a most in
teresting event, and there is general
regret that Butte's fine organization
should feel itself wronged by the de-
cision giving the prize to the Denial
ters. The claim is made in their pro-
test that the latter is not a military
band,' but it is difficult to see lhow this
can be upheld. when one consults the
best authorities on what constitutes
a military band. The Butte boys claim
too, that the Denhalters have not kept
Within their own organization in maxi
ing up their band; this may have bro
ken no rule, but we trust it is not the
fact. The Lehi choir makes the same
complaint in regard to Malad, and
these points the committee will pass
on at the meeting Monday.
The Judgments.
Not less beneficial and interesting have
been the adjudications made by the
gentlemen Selected to judge of the
merits of the contestants and to award
the prizes. The choice Of these judges
was one of the most particular duties
the committee had ITO perform, but they
performed it with wisdom and care.
They sent direct to the heart Of Welsh
MISUNDERSTANDING, Pennsylvania-and
picked three capable and experienced
men. That district is a hot bed of
EfSteddfod; Scranton, PIttsburg and
Wilkesbarre are constantly competing
for musical prizes, and the occupations
of the average in'ha bitant of those
towns might be set down as coal min
ing and taking part in Eisteddfods. 1t
was a choir from that district 1T will
be remembered, which carried off the
Worlds fair prize of $4,000 aided, it
was said by some of the prize winners
from Wales. The leader of this
chorus, Hayden Evans. was first en-
gagged, then Mr.. Watkins the baritone,
who won the prize in the Chicago
Eisteddfod, and next Mr.. r. J. Davies,
a we'll known composer, who had the
novel experience of passing on his own
quartette, Ieonora, Friday night. All
three gentlemen have given thoughtful
VerdICtS throughout, and their rulings,
with the reasons therefor, have been
among the most interesting features Of
the festival. Their tribute to Salt Lake
their praise for the talent they found
here, and their statement that this
Eisteddfod was the largest held in
America, with the single exception of
that ait the Worlds fair, were all re-
ceived with intense qualification by the
audience. Only one fault could be found
with the adjudicators-if they object
ITO its being named, let them remember.
the injunction Judge not, lest we be
judged" Some of their findings were
unnecessarily harsh. or couched in
language unnecessarily rough. We
sincerely think justice was not done
Mr.. Thomas mixed chorus; granting
that they forced some parts in their
zeal, they included many admirable
voices. and certainly did better work
than the judges credited them with
neither do we think Ogden's mixed
chorus was praised sufficiently for its
rendition of the first piece. But the
main trouble was not with the judg-
ments, but in the manner of pronounce
ing them; the truth could have been
told just as effectively in language less
bruSque.
The Prize Winners.
Following is full list Of the prizes
awarded during the three sessions at
the Eisteddfod:
First Session.