Evening star., 1896-07-18
IN MUSICAL CIRCLES
The Choral Society and Local Singers for tbs
Messiah"
Action of the Finance Committee
Quartet Choir for the New York
Avenue Church.


Messiah" on the 2sth and Both Of De-
cember. Two performances are neces-
gary to accommodate the public and to
secure sufficient revenue TO justify the
presentation of the work Mr.. Ericsson
Bushnell has been engaged the bass
soloist. and he is the only singer that has
thus far been secured. Ii is contcm-
plated to have local singers take the other
parts and at the last meeting of the
finance committee resolution, presented
by President Paul, providing that different
set he secured for each night was adopted,
and committee. consisting of President
PaUi, Chairman Pfeiffer Of the finance COM
mittee and Miss Leavitt, appointed TO
consider the merits of the local people.
The experiment made by the society ia
distributing solos in the Redemption two
years ago was not happy one. but then
the distribution was made upon too ex-
tensive a scale. and there would have been
much less difficulty if there had simply
been two full sets of soloists, one Tor each
night. That is what is proposed now. 1t
is the Idea Of those of the directors who
favor this plan that IL will give to local
singers an ambition TO pay attention to
cratorio work II they know that there is a
possibility of their being secured to sing
with the Choral Society. There should be
no personal jealouses or chickering's, for
these soloists should be decided upon with
the same cold-olooded Indifference as to
individual preference as would Ice employ
ed in engaging outside singers. There are
in this city many sopranos who could sing
that role in the Messiah better than
some of the pr pfessonals whom the society
has engaged and paid big money 10. The
number Of good contraltos Is not so large,
hut still there are some worthy 10 rank
with some OF those VINO have sung with
the society. Unfortunately there are buC
a limited number Of tenors in this city
available for oratorio work.
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church
is to have a quartet choir next September.
and it is understood that Mr. john Porter
Lawrence Is to be the organ.st and direc-
tor. Mrs. Nellie Wilson Shir-Ciif will he
the soprano and MIR. W. ID. Hoover the
bass These are understood to be the only
ones actually engaged, although it is said
| that Mr.. Melville ID. Hensey viii probably
be the tenor. The contralto is not yet de-
termined upon The change from congre-
gationai singing to that OF paid quartet
Is due 10 the expressed v ish of sHey. Dr.
Radcliffe, the pastor, though there are
many in the congregation who will regret
to lose Prof. Caulfeld who has presided at
the organ In that church for so many
years, and they will also miss the familiar
figure of Mr.. Paul, who has made such an
efficient precentor. In Mr.. Hoover the
best bass in the city has been secured
With voice rich. powerful, musical in
tone and quite flexible Mr.. Hoover sings
with great expression and feeling, and Il
Is a regret TO those who know his abilities
that he Is not heard in concert, but con-
fines himself TO church work. Not since
John Dawson AID Frank Chase has there
been local bass equal to Mr.. Hoover. Mrs
Shir-Cii1s s voice is we'll kr own, both from
fer church and concert work. Her going 70
the New York Avenue Church v i'll make "A
vacancy in the Epiphany Church choir. Mr..
Hensey is young tenor who only requires
earnest work under a good tea cher to soon
reach a point when his services will be in
demand by other than local circles. OF
Mr.. Lawrences ability as an organist
there Is no need to speak, for IL is known
to every lover of music in the District.
Conductor T. p Brooke has made an.
other great sensation in I'hils sdelphia Wed.
nesday was Odd Fellow day at Lincoln
Park. where the Chicago Marine Band is
playing for the season. 1t proved TO he A
great occasion, nearly 30,So people being
IN attendance. Conductor Brooke of
course. arranged an appropriate program
of some very fine music, three link marches
and descriptive railroad pieces. As a sen
sational feature he gave them Nerdi's IA
nous Anvil Chorus" with the assistance
OF corps OF blacksmiths ieatirg tine an
Wis and famDeau club with torches to
Initiate the forge fires. The whole piece
was punctuated by the firing of artillery
In the distance IN exact time with the
rusic, ny means of wires running TO an
electric key board on he stage. The eff
iect On lh- anC!enca was really wonderful
the "teei ing beirg something more hoaster-
ons than was ever heard in the park be-
fora
Mr.. Henry Xander has been elected must
cal director of the Washington Saanre-.
bund. Mr.. Nander is well known az a
pianist of exceptional ability and a musi-
clan OF high attanments. He was educated
abroad. and while in the conscrv atory
studied the voice well the piano and
harmony. He is thoroughly equipped for
the position to which he has been chosen.
and will undoubtedly keep the bund np To
the high standard IL has already attained
Personally Mr. Nander is quite popular
easy and affable in manner. but Yet firm
and persistent IN his musical work. and ths
members will find that rellearsals VIII be
rigidy carried out and attendance strictly
enforced
Mr.. Herndon Morsen the well-known
tenor and director of st. Andrews Church
choir, has just published sacred solo for
soprano, entitled Il Heard a Sound Of
Voices. The melody is devotional in SEN
timent capable of gr' at expression. and
the composition VIII make effective
church offertory or sacred concert solo.
4 movement is on foot to form a club to
he known the Columbia Glee Club. which
shall he in fact two clubs ore Of male voices
and one Of female voices. the object heug
for Improvement in singing and for a
pleasan time socially Ii is proposed TO give
six concerts during the season compliment
airy to the friends of the men. bers who will
furnish the program numbers. and ii is in
tended at the end of the season to give
some light opera, The chorus to be furnished
by the club well as such of the solo parts
as can be advantageously taken by them.
Mr.. Chas. r. Bell is the secretary Of the
organ "a ton. to whom, at 1881 Vermont
avenue northwest, all applications must be
addressed 1t is hoped 10 enlist many OF
the younger singers of both sexes and to
commence the meetings in September.
THE Fire Brigade March, written and
dedicated TO the Washington fire depart
ment by Mrs. Kate Thyson Marr, was
played in Central Park. New York last
week by the famous 9TH Regiment Band.
urder the leadership of MIR. Walter II.
Rogers Mrs. Marr was present at the con-
cert and was personally complimented by
Director Rogers upon the swing and go"
OF the march, which he said he should
make a prominent number in his repertoire.
He suggested a drum corps accompani-
ment, and will introduce that when he
again plays TIE march.
Mr. II. Klingenfeld. a musician of Tor
onto, Canada, has been in the city for some
days, the guest of Rev. Mr.. Doermann. and
SO we'll pleased is he with Washington that
he may conclude 10 remove here. Mr..
Klingenfeld studied in Munich and gradu-
ated at the LEIPZIG Conservatory, receiving
a special diploma, pronouncing him to be
one of the most talented and worthy pu
pills of that institution. He Travelled
solo violnist in Germany, Sweden and Den
mark and also took part in the orchestra
of the LEIPZIG Gewandhaus concerts and .n
the celebrated Bayreuth Wagner festivals.
He mas acquired high reputa ton as a
solo violnist and also an orchestral con-
ductor, and his residence i'm this city would
he le1 gain tn