Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-23
SOCIAL.

most capacity, ard the audience was
refined, cultured, quiet and in thorough
sympathy with the impressive occasion
and the season of goodwill. The night
was clear, calm, and bright. The stars
shone as they did upon the shepherds.
The full moon arose with a golden halo
around it such as the masters painted
around the head of Christ. The soft
light glowed through the stained glass
windows and lighted up the grand gothic
arches of the church. A flood of music
poured out into the still night air. 1t
was a scene in direct contrast to the
noise and hustle OF the city below, with
its hurrying throng of Christmas shop
pers and exploding fireworks.
An oratorio differs from an opera in
that 1t is sacred, and the sentiment is
expressed altogether in music without
acting. Handel completed his oratorio
of the Messiah in less than three weeks.
He was so thoroughly absorbed in his
work as to lose all consciousness of
earthly matters. His composition was
the work of inspiration. In the midst
OF 1t he was so overwhelmed with the
grandeur of the theme that he burst into
tears. AT the close he was so spiritual
lied that he saw q vision of the heavens
opened and all the heavenly hosts sing
ing around the great white throne. No
grander music will be heard in heaven
than that in his oratorio. The strains of
music seem to fall down about US as the
angels shower flowers of song in their
grand procession before the throne
Handels @Messiah" embraces the He
bfaic idea of Christ. The name Messiah
is OF the Hebrew tongue. Handel in his
ovatorio bursts into great flood of melo-
dious joy, such as that embodied in his
familiar song, Joy to the World, the
Lord Has Come" In the oratorio there
nevez was composed grander and sweeter
music than the aria, But who may
abide" the chorus, For unto US child
n fn OI hn
aria, HE was despised and rejected of
men," the chorus, Lift up we heads oh
ye gates" the aria, II know that My
Redeemer Liveth," and the chorus of
choruses, "Hallelujah"
When the ushers had finally seated the
audience and all eyes had rested upon
the tasteful decoration that the ladies
had entwined around embrasure and
chancel, Mr.. Guckenberger, the director,
stepped forward and with wave of the
baton the grand overture Swelled forth
on the air The full chorus and each So
loist were en- rapport with the senti-
ment of the composition and in SYM
pathetic touch with the wave of the
baton OF the director. Mr. Edward How
ellis, OF Cincinnati brought forth from
the organ grand peals of melody. Mrs
E. G, Chandler, soprano, has not been at
all well for days, but her correct voice
and thorough mastery of the music won
all hearts. Mr.. C.>P. Orr, Of Newcastle
perfection. Upon Mr.. C. C. Washburn,
besso, rested the burden, for the strength
OF the oratorio lies in its deep and pro-
longed notes. Mr.. Washburn acquitted
himself as a master Those who have
heard him during his brief residence in
birmingham expected much, and were
mob disappointed. Mrs. Guckenberger
alto, has never yet failed to please the
most exactlng critic When it was re-
Quired to render the most difficult mus
ical composition she has been called on
with the assurance that it would be well
done. Her pure sweet, highly cultivat-
ed voice was never heard to better adj
vantage than in the aria, HE was de-
spised and rejected of men," AS to the
chorus. it is only necessary to give the
personnel, which is a surety that the
highest expectations were more than
realized:
Sopranos-tMrs. e. G. Chandler Mrs.
T. c. Thompson, Mrs. James Bowron,
Mrs. r. Chadwick, Mrs. William B.
Catchings, Miss Clara Maxim, Miss Elinor
Meyer.
Altos-Mrs. B. Guckenberger, Mrs. Jas.
Vinson, Miss Margaret Meyer, Miss Berte
Hays, Miss Lucy Beal, Miss Edna Goo
KEEL.
Tenors-,Mr. C. P. Orr, Mr.. Harry Ly-
ons, Mr.. John Cartwright, Mr.. G. T.
Stafford, MIR. A. Thomas
Bassos--Mr. c. C. Washburn, Mr. Fred
Stowe, MIR. James Bowron, Mr.. Fred
Shepperd, Mr.. e. G. Stevens Mr.. B. II.
Dillon.
The performance marked the culmina-
ton of musical advancement in Biz
mingham. The oratorio was the cap
sheaf that crowns the sheaves that have
been gathered heretofore.
At the close, Rev o. P. FitZsimmons
thanked the press especially, and all par
ties interested, for the great success that
the ora torio had achieved, and announced
that 1t would be repeated at the Church
of the Advent tonight.
Miss Constance Cox, of Columbus,
Miss, came home with Miss Kate Meade
to spend the holidays,
Mrs. Weaver is the guest of her sis
ter, Mrs. Eugene Brown.
The Sunday school of the First Metho-
dist church will give an entertainment,
consisting Of tableaux, on Thursday
night.
An expert is tuning up the big organ
of the Methodist church. and getting it
ready for the Christmas carols.
A Birmingham matron, who still re-
tains her love for country life, desired an
unbleached homespun dress for house
wear. She seached all the dry goods
| stores i'm the city but failed to find I'M
bleached homespun cotton goods. The
IA ct lis these goods are not made now.
= "a. mills make only the finer grade of
goods. Yet the old style of goods con-
tain four times as much cotton as the
new style and will last four times as
long.
Following are a few examples of tau
tology commonly heard: Hoarse in the
throat, shower of rain, job of work, ap-
petite to eat, unforgetful memory. where
you going 30, as was coming long back,
where am at, read after, tune of music
we'll of water, blaze of fire Georgia
ma jor, Kentucky colonel, coming on.
| Miss Lula Johnston, who has been at
tending the Woman's college,, of Balti-
more, is home for the holidays.
The following invitations have, been
sent out
The Chesterfield Club
requests your presence at their
First Annual Reception 4
on the evning
of the twenty tn of December,
eighteen hundred and ninety-slx,
at MIR. and Mrs. l.. Rogan's,
No. 2213 Seventh Avenue, y
eight-tkfrty O'clock