The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-26
SALT

considered He was persuaded to in
clude them in the popular programme
simply because they had proven favor
ties al home and on the eastern trip;
his 'Hosannah" he regards differently,
and it has proved itself everywhere
| used; it has stirred the audience into
immediate enthusiasm, and, as one of
the critics stated proves him a master
of polyphone writing Even the criti-
cal Examiners writer, Mr.. Stewart,
without knowing the author-and with
out hearing the "Hosannah,' picks out
the sVales of Deseret'' (given as an
encore nunber) as the most interesting
chorus work of the evening, which, by
the way, included the prison scene and
4 the Traviata finale. Had he any desire
to have given the critics a taste of his
work, he says he would not have omit
ted the mantelle God of Israel but he
selected simply what was of most
characteristic interest in a popular
programme. Hence he is eminently
satisfied with the criticisms as he real
ICES that what praise is given is fully
meant.
MI. Stephens and the choir manage
ment desire to express through The
Herald their appreciation of the many
faVors they received ON this tour. The
Southern Pacific Railway company,
through Mr.. Gray, its local representa-
tive Mr.. Thurston, the special travelling
agent, and Mr.. Donaldson, the assist
aunt passenger agent at San Francisco,
extended many courtesies, not the least
! OF which was the generous rate given
for running the train to Monterey; the
Union Pacific Railroad and Rio Grande
| Western officials also Joined the South
ern Pacific in making the favorable
rate which rendered the tour possible
Professor Tanner, president of the Cali
fornla mission and his fellow workers,
extended the choir many courtesies
Mr.. WOOL, proprietor of the Metropoli-
tan temple, gave his handsome hall
free of charge for the Sunday service;
Mr.. Brandenstein, head of the great tea
house, entertained a large part of the
choir through Mr. Calder, his Utah
representative, one day, chartering a
tug for their accommodation To these.
and all others who assisted in making
the tour success the choir returns it's
earnest and heartfelt thanks
The closing concert in Sacramento is
4 thus eXcellently written Of by the critic
/ of the Record Union:
Those who attended the concert of
the Mormon tabernacle choir last even
ing will have something to talk about
| ana congratulate themselves about for
a long time. 1t was sincerely regret
! ted by music lovers that the Congre-
gatlonai church was not completely
! filled. Such a musical event was
worthy the largest audience Sacra-
mento could turn out. 1t was an en-
| tertainment such as falls to ones lot
/ only On rare occasions. Here were IT'S
! trained voices singing as one-the time
was simply perfect-under a leader
ship that was ideal, and singing with
such spirit, feeling, earnestness. hearth
! ness and refined taste as are met with
/ only on rare occasions in a chorus
body. 1t was q splendid concert, a
| choice musical feast, and as varied as
/ II was charming. The singers, too. are
hne specimens of womanliness and
manHness; not beauties, to be sure, on
the one hand nor Apollos on the other.
but vigorous, womanly and manly.
! There are some very superior leading
| voices that were heard in solos, quar-
tets and trios, and in part songs.
Notably did Mr.. Easton, the tenor i'm
press the audience with his fine taste
and deep feeling, as we'll as with his
exceedingly strong, sweet, silvery
tenor Miss Cooper, a mezzo-soprano.
Mr.. Ashworth, tenor, and Mr.. Ensign.
basso, in trio, won a perfect storm
OF applause for the delicacy and finish
OF their work. Miss Edwards, soprano,
ALL . <a1IloOlls SOiblTdllO, ana MI. Ryper.
tenor, were entirely successful also in
their numbers. The boy alto, Master
Pike, sang Angels Ever Bright and
, falr" IN remarkable voice, remarka-
! Die for its quality and strength, but
not less so for the feeling with which
the lad invests his songs, and the deli
cacy with which he executes. Mr..
| Weihe, the violin virtuoso, proved to be
an artist Of excellence. Miss Babcock,
the reader of the troupe, is one of the
cleVerest, most self-possessed and I'M
pretentlous. There is no flourish or
fiounces about her work. It. is the
beauty, charm and strength of natural
ness. But it was the chorus work that
most pleased the audience, and drew
the most persistent and pronounced ap-
plause ever heard in that assembly
room. The Hallelujah chorus with the
grand organ and the string orchestra
was loftily impressive and soul-upIift-
ing, and when, Immediately on its
close, the choir broke forth with '1The
Star Spangled Banner the audience
arose, and some cheered and some
waved their handkerchiefs, and manv
Joined in the National hymn and all
relt patriotic from top to toe The pro
Sramme was long, the encores re-
sponded to many, and though 1T
was nearly 1890 o'clock when the
concert closed, it was evident that
the people were 10th to leave TO
our taste the finest effect nro-
duced by the choir was in the "Dedi-
cation Anthem" and the best number
by select voices was the tenor Solo nv
Mr.. Easton, though the fine quartet
from "Rigoletto' by four superior
voices fairly divided honors with anv
number of the evening One thing no
'ticeable was that, save with one or two
soloists, no music scores were used
The l75 singers are note perfect in THEN.
memorized scores, and it is said that
'thls ability runs up to a very large to-
ta,l OF anthems, OratOrioS, acts and
scenes from operas and a host of
hymns and songs, SO that probably one
or TWO hundred numbers could be
sung by the choir without reference
10 written or printed score. Treat
ing OF the choir as a whole, we should
say that 1T is a combination of dis
creetly chosen forces, making Up a re-
markedly well balanced body of must
clans, whose enunciation is as near
perfection as trained singers in such
number ever reach, and whose work is
careful, precise and fun of enthusiasm
1t is deficient only in formahty and
primness, and for that the audience
was most thankful; it was so refresh
ing to face and hear body of highly
trained, fine voices, where there was
no affectation, no flourish, no red tape,
no futter and straining. 1t was all
ease, frankness, sincerity, earnestness
and perfect submission-glad submits
Sion-to the will of the leader, Mr.
Stephens, than whom we have never
seen one of just his peculiarities and
singular qualities; but for them let
the public be thankful. 1t was high