The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-05-19
THE MAY MUSIC FESTIVAL
SESSIONS OF THE SIXTH ANNUAL EESTIP1L BEGAN YESTERDAY.

Connecticut Music Teachers Association
 -Business Meeting-Fine Concert at Calvary Baptist Church-Promenade
 Concert Last Evening-In Every Way 1 Successful-LargeIy Attended.
 | The sixth annual festival of the Con- necticut Music Teachers association opened at o'clock yesterday afternoon with business meeting held in Cham | pion's foyer. The attendance at the business meeting was rather small, on- ly about thirty persons being present. A. J. Wilkins of Bridgeport president of the association, called the meeting to order and after few preliminary re- marks delivered his annual address, which was rather brief, giving a re- sume of the history of the association from it's organization to the present time.
 At the conclusion of the address the report of the choral societies was read by Rev. o. o. Wright of Sandy Hook, Conn.,, chairman of the committee. The | iSpOlt lllSIlllblltd lllc CuOIdl SO- cieties in the state and gave a brief history of each. The various musical festivals held in the state during the years were mentioned and commented upon and also several musical festivals now contemplated, among them one to be held in Danbury in the near future. In concluding the report Mir Wright stated that the committee considered that it would be advisable if possible to in some way incorporate the various choral societies in the association.
 The next busness on hand was the selection of place for the meeting of the association in the annul festival l of 1897. On motion of J. S. Camp of Hartford who spoke of the pleasing | way in which the association has been 1 heretofore entertained in this city, it was voted to hold the next festival in this city,
 On motion of Thomas G. Shepard it was voted that a committee on the publication of reports be appointed by the president The committee was ap- pointed as follows: Thomas c. Shep- ard, F. A. Fowler and the secretary for the ensuing year, yet to be elected
 The following gentlemen were then appointed by the chair to compose a nominating committee which will re- port this morning, when the annual eection of officers will be held: E. c. Lord F. E. Isbell, w. F. Haesche. Rev. G. T. Prentice and ". F. Disbrow
 The annual report of the bureau of information was next submitted by the I chairman, Alexander s. Gibson of Dan bury. The report was accepted and 1t was voted that the committee be con- tinued another year. The report of the committee on competitive compositions was read by the chairman, w. F. Haesche After the acceptance of the report, on motion of MT Haesche vote of thanks was rendered to the judges of competitive compositions during the past year. On motion of MT. Shepard it was voted that a committee of three be appointed to consider the advisa- biity of offering prizes for the success I full compositions. The committee will be appointed later. After the reading of the report of the committee on pub lished compositions by the chairman, Willis H. filling, who stated that in so far as the committee had been able to ascertain, forty new compositions had been published in the state during the past year, the business meeting ad- journed.
 The special train which brings the Oratorio society to New Haven We'd nesday evening will leave the station at 6:50 returning leave New Haven af- ter the concert about II o'clock.
 THE ORGAN RECITAL.
 For the lay members of the associa- ton the festive performances that are to last until Wednesday evening began with the organ recital given by Mr. R. Huntington Woodman of Brooklyn at the Calvary Baptist church at o'clock. To judge by the assemblage present this years festival is to be as popular as it's predecessors. The afternoon was warm and the women wore pretty summer frocks, and the place was all flutter with fans. At first the good people seemed to feel that they were in the meeting house at a sacred service and piously withheld their applause. After the second number a few brave souls beat their palms together in quiet de- corous manner. That seemd to break the spell, and there was proper man. Hesitation os the enthusiasm exhibited from that time on till the close. Dur ing the last numbers the audience be- gan to remove itself in quiet, unob- trusive way, like the Arabs in the poem For you know that the multitude really does not love an organ recital Even if St. Cecelia herself were to step down and out of a frescoe or a stained glass window and advertise an organ recital there would not be a corporal'S guard to hear the dear lady, unless, of course, it were free. Then everybody would go because the public loves free show. But the twelve and one-half cents that yesterdays recital cost was enough to send people home before the program was finished. However, this is philoso- phy, perhaps dangerous cynicism, and not criticism.
 It was good organ playing that we l heard yesterday, not brilliant or phe- nomenal in any way, but playing of a good standard. It was the sort of play ing that we hear too little of nowadays from concert organists. They are so apt to forget the instruments limita- tions or rather it's best characteristics. We have so much showy, brilliant play ing, astonishing and awe-inspiring from the executive standpoint, but lacking the majesty and dignity that belong to the king of instruments. Mir. Wood mans performances of the B minor prelude and Fugue of Bach and the i first movement of Handel's R fiat con-