The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-03-09
GoUNoD REHEARSAL TONIGHT.

GOUNOD REH HE1RsAL TO-NIGHT.
The rehearsals for the Gounod society
are coming on apace. The time for the
festival will be here before we are
aware that Lent is over. Only about
six rehearsals more will be held and 1t
will be necessary for every member of
the chorus to apply himself to the bar
barrie dissonances and heathenish inter-
walls of the "Arminius" score If the
standard of the previous performances
is to be maintained. The "Arminius"
still sounds pretty crude although the
purely mechanical task of learning the
notes is pretty thoroughly accomplish
ed. The tenors have shown themselves
a noble company. They sing the high
notes that are constantly falling to
their share with the most reckless aban-
don, and the second basses growl out
organ tones with with ursine sorority.
Mr.. Agramonte is much pleased with
the present seating arrangements. He
finds it much easier than ever before
to distinguish the parts and single out
and .execrate the offending member.
AS has been noted previously in these
columns Mr.. Agramonte in the might
of his wrath shattered his baton at the
last rehearsal, and a new one is there
fore to be presented to him this even
ing. The "Stabat Mater" has not re-
sceived very much attention yet, the
choruses being so much simpler and
more sanely written for the human
voice and lungs than those of the other
work
1t was announced recently to the
chorus that Prof Horatio W. Parker's
Harold Harfarger" will be sung at one
of the performances, probably the same
evening as the "Stabat Mater" This
work Of Prof Parker's is a short bal
lad for mixed chorus with a short alto
solo and takes not more than ten or
twelve minutes for its performance. The
words are those of Walter Scott's bal
lad Of the same name. The rendition of
the work will gain additional interest
from being conducted by the composer.
This Prof. Parker has kindly consent
ed to do, being urgently solicited thereto
both by the society and Mr.. Agramonte.
The chorus work in Harold Harfar-
GER is quite difficult, the intervals be-
ing almost as startling to chorus
brought on q, Mendelssohn- Handel diet
as those of "Arminius." Mr. Agra
monte will teach the work and Mr..
Parker will conduct it at the last two
rehearsals, one at Harmonic hall and
one at the arrnOry
1t was hoped that the announcements
of the soloists and the general arrange-
ment of the programs could be made to-
night, but 1T has been thought best to
defer this little. The advertising
will be done on an extensive scale.
Large illustrated circulars, similar to
those used at Springfield and Worces-
ter will be issued and distributed all
| over the city and also in the adjoining
| towns. The prices of season tickets will
be extremely reasonable and easily
within the reach of everyone The sell
ing of tickets will be done through M.
Steinert & Sons of this city. The plans
for soiotsts are ambitious and ought
to make the affair a brilliant success.
No public rehearsals will be given this
year At the weekly rehearsals at Har-
monte hall a few guests can be accom-
modated. The price of admission Is a
mere trifle, and many people are glad
to embrace the opportunity offered to
gain familiarity with the works. Last
Monday the stage was quite full of visi-
tors.
! Mr.. Parker Brown, the president OF
the Handel and Haydn" of Boston
has written that he intends to come on
for the festival, and is extremely in
terested in the effort the Gounods are
making to do something unusually mer-
/ itorious. The society has accordingly
extended him an invitation to come, as
the society's guest.
! The seating arrangements in the ar
mory have not been decided upon yet
The chorus will sit on raised platform
at the end of the building. This stage
will probably be so fixed as to make i,
possible to utilize the seats in the real
gallery for the last rows of the chorus
Some kind of false roof will have to be
erected as sounding board At the
opposite end draperies will have to be
! hung to prevent an echo. Everything
possible will be done to make the. audi
| torium artistically perfect. With an or.
chestra of fifty or sixty men and g
chorus of three hundred voices the stage
ought to present a brilliant appearance
1t is to be hoped that the soloists
names will not be withheld long. Curl.
osity has been aroused, and hope de.
ferred, ETC., therefore let the mighty
minds apply themselves and may al
success reward their deserving efforts
1 Thirtv-three New Members.
Thirty three persons were admitted tt