The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-09
June g 1895
aELPFUL RINTs.
What the Adjudicators Of the Jubilee
Say of Cur Musicians.

Musical Jubilee. published lin the
Hutchinson News Topeka musicians
are criticised and given advice with the
others
OF Miss Lucia wyatt, whose grade
was next to that of the soprano prize
winner, MT Root says HAS a re-
markanle timbre of voice. and, in GER
tam directions, large resources for sing
ing Her manner is as yet rather re-
served and even cold but there is a
corresponding advantage in the repOse
eff manner and control of ones facul-
ties which usually accompanies this
temperament She sings with a firm.
pure, even quality of voice, but this
quality never changes with the various
sentiments of the music Her high
notes are not always good at present,
put she seems IN a fair way to bring
her voice to high degree of a sort of
lnstfumental perfection throughout its
entire compass. The pOrtament0 is a
very necessary feature in the execu-
tion of With Nerdure clad and this
resource the young lady in question
useo st tunes very gracefully-'
Mrs. George W. Parkhurst was also
a soprano contestant. The criticism
Of her work is as follows: "In most
respects. an accomplished singer. one
VINO gives the nearer the impression
that she is master of the situation. and
that the music is quite safe ia her
hands. She knows how to hold her
music and to conduct herself gracefully
upon the stage. Her execution is ev-
lfelnely facile and her trill the best
1- eAAA -AlE Con ICES tr4lalS- she mas three
faults which bring her down to level
below that which she ouEht to occupy.
Lhe worst of these is that Very many
ct her notes are Distinctly above the kew
and q stiu greater number are slightly
So Some of her notes are too thin
to sound sympathetic and she makes
TOO much use Of what is popularity
called tranOlo.7 y
Of Miss Florence Townslev of Wash
burn college there is this said- 'svVas
the trsE to give the right trea tnent 10
lhe cloence which follows the first ex-
tended run i'm with Nerdure Clad but
ars and had not the Tight conception
81 certain ornaments in this melody.
The Old fashioned use of appogeiatura.
as found i'm the works Of Haydn's
time seems not to be generally under
stood This lady has many strong
points ln her singing although for the
Ter without warmth TO the music A
serious defect in her singing is i'm the
unsteaolness or many of her notes
which gives them an uncertain sound
and strikes the ear as entirely in
artistic and even affected. Tt lis only
just, however to absolve this young
lady from any conscious aGectation.
ne French nave q term for~this sort
of singing in the word sehevroters
Despite this defect this young lady re-
ceives high rank in the marking of the
Among the contralto soloists were
Misses EDNA Best and Nina Thomas
OF Miss Best's singing there is this
criticism; HAS g deep. fun voice, re-
markable for its power. but its quality
is very much marred by a pernicious
habit noticeable especially up0n close
vowel sounds Anyone who sings hab-
ltually with the tongue either drawn
back or punched up in the mouth uDon
certain vowel sounds must inevitably
eliminate sweetness, and in time the
expressive color from the tone. IF the
dlssonant Over-tOnes of a voice are
constantly made prominent the best
voice VIII eventually become tiresOrne
to hear even though the performance
be fun of graces ia other directions as
was that of this young lady"
Miss Thomas singing is commented
on as folloWs- Was no exception to
the rule OF beautiful voices which pre-
vailed at this part of the contest She
gave us some very impressive sfne-iner
remarkable in places for fine sOstenutO
ana shading Hers is exactly the voice
Tor such an aria as that by Handel
though she did not do very wen with
the reCitative. Her great failing is ia
occasional lapses from pitch. a. serious
failing that cannot be too carefully
watched by ambitious singers
Mr. H. p. OverhOlt who divided the
tenor prize with MIR. R a. Smythe Of
wichita. ELECTED this. "Has a refined
pleasing effects with it, as for instance
or MS treatment of the phrase sand 7
am alone In ms second number he
once OF twice made his tone of too con
Nersauonal quality, that is to saw
treated the piece at those places as
though the music were of little conse-,
Quence and the words a1l-important
Ihls singer, as well as several others
might be reminded that it is best to
maintain the position until the ac-
companist had finished with the post
Jude"
Mr.. Root said. 'NTr. smvtbe has
sympathetic voice subject to the de-
tects in the high notes of all the com
peutors- He sings i'm a quiet un-
demOnstratlVe manner, and is too much
confined to his notes. But all that he
does betokens Intelligence
The criticism of Mr.. H. S. Lawrence.
also of Topeka. is that he "sang with
much taste and a distinctly fervent ex-
preston, though in somewhat too ner-
vous manner. A singer should not
seem to see individuals in the audience
while uttering the sentiments of this
song, as a general rule"
Mr. w r. Carrie, according to the
judge, looked down at his music too
much and thus robbed his first piece
of animated expression. He makes an
effort to produces his clirnaxes with de-
sirable power. but in so doing he en-
tirely sacrifices pleasant quality at
times At times, also, his tone be-
comes somewhat nasal but those who
have attended the jubilee entertain
ments have had several opportunities
TO appreciate this gentleman's musical
Qualities
Mr. Edgar NJ. Smith. Topeka's comic
opera star, who was next to the prize
winner, Mr.. Root says lis a singer of
decided talent and evident experience