The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1896-04-10
SING FOR A PIANO
University Students Give a Sacred Can
tata to Secure Funds to Buy a
Piano for the College.
F. D, Warner Gives His Impressions After
a Residence Of Six Months in the
Sunny South.
OPERA HOUSE Is NIT
SCheuer Wants to Much Guarantee From
the Citizens 10 Build Els Opera
HOuSs in this City.
OPERA HOUSE Is NIT
"UNDER THE PALMS.
This Beautiful Sacred Cantata Given at
the University Friday Night.

This Beautiful Sacred Cantata Given at !
the University Friday Night.
People who made their way over to
the University Friday evening, either
by walking or riding, were we'll repaid
for the trip by listening to the beauti-
full sacred cantata, "Under the |
Palms" as rendered by the University
students. The crowd, we regret to
say, was not as large as the merit OF
the entertainment warranted, and had
the people in town realized how good
the cantata was going to be more
would have taken advantage of the op
portunity and went over.
The improvised stage in the chapel
hall was arranged artistically with ref
erence to the character of the cantata
and the vicinity where the incidents of
the cantata occurred. Large, broad
spreading palms were placed on either
side of the stage and their long branch
es hung in graceful curves. Sprigs
of evergreens were used extensively
in decorating, while the whole stage
was enclosed in the form of a tent.
The costumes worn by the performers
represented, in measure, the styles
in the ays of the Children of Israel
The cautata is intended to illustrate
the jewish Feast of tabernacles and to
present view of the teachings of the
prophet Ezra. At this feast the peo-
pie dwell for one week in tents or
booths made of evergreens and orna-
mented with flowers. The cantata re-
presents the return of the Jews from
captivity in Babylon during the reign
4 of Cyrus: the repose OF the pilgrims
on their way to Jerusalem by the
Ahava river. where they prayed to
God for future direction to themselves
and ''little onesn After several intro
ductory numb bers by the Parlor Orches-
ira the curtain was drawn and the
scene opened with the pilgrims en-
camped on the banks on the river, and
the opening chorus was prayer for
deliverence from their captivity.
The principals Of the cantata were
the Misses Lee, Miss Boggs, Miss
Christie and Miss Chandler, Messers.
Ray, Tanner, Newberry, Bradford
Blanchard and McCauley, while strong
and efficient chorus added greatly to
musical strength of the cantata. The
work of Misses Monnie Lee and Myrtle
Lee cannot be spoken of too highly,
aud their duet and solo work was ex.
ceptionally good. Both of the young
ladies we're in good voice ard add ed
new laurels to their already long
earned wreath. In the several solos by
Miss Boggs she showed considerable
improvement in her singing, her high
tones being particularly clear anc
strong. The other principals &C
quilted themselves in creditable
manner. Although the music i
sacred it appeals strongly in its beaut.
and harmony to the sympathies anC
the audience was quite Drofuse in it
applause, the chorus sharing we'll will
the principals in this respect. Pro
DdDiy lu0 IIO6G otlihInS GuluS LII III
cantata was the quintet number b.
Messrs. Tanner, Blanchard, McCauley
Bradford and Miss Monnie Lee. |
was beautiful selection and the
rendered it faultlessy.
The responsibilities OF the evenin
: were devolved upon Miss Currens, VIII
directed the cantata and Miss Mabel
Adams. who presided at the piano i
so capable manner. Miss Adams is
paiustaking artist as al accompanis
and it was through her very intelligen
Interpretation of the music that tn
performers were enabled to do so vel
:. Miss Currens, the instructor of th
musical department in the Universit,
won new and additional honors for he
= self at this time. She has devote
several months in training the pril
cipals and chorus and this is tas
that is arduous in the extreme. Mi
Currens showed her ability to condu
an affair of this kind and she did
skillfully. Under the direction of b.
baton she carried her performe
through the difficult passages, al