River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-08-13
Reception and Musicale.

with the delights promised by the
program, that they could give them
selves up, with the utmost abandon,
to an hours revel with the god Pan
nor because the young people who
played the gods pipes did so with
appealing grace and appreciation.
1t was significant not because there
were features upon the program
rarely witnessed outside of college
Conservatives or grand conce It's;
nor because many of the pieces were
distinctly classical. 1t was signifi-
cant then, almost exclusively, be-
cause it was an assurance that there
have lately grown up among US,
under a cultivated and responsive
hand, a goodly number of young
people who not only appreciate,
but are able TO perform with a touch
of mastery elegance, some of the
grandest bits of music that the mas
tiers have left 10. When one con-
templates lat he neel not 90 be-
yond the pale OF this green-hilled
burg of ours for the choicest strains
of Merdelssohn, of Weber, Grieg,
Spohr and Beethoven, he is very far
on the way to becoming an ardent
optimist in regard to our musical
future.
As a fitting prelude to this pro-
gram of musical delicacies, recep-
ton was rendered to a large number
of guests by Mrs. Powell and Mrs.
Tozer. After an exchange of greet
ings in the hall, the visitors were
directed to the music room where
refreshments were served by Misses
Amy and Miriam Powell. Fruit
ices and assorted cakes, accompanied
by lace-paper napkins, each pune
tured by pansy, were passed to the
guests, who stood about the coy
room and chatted with their neigh
bors. A bowl of nasturtiums
crowned the refreshment table, and
an armful of splendid gladiolas lay
upon the stand in the hall. Add to
these material bits of comfort an
atmosphere of ease and cordiality
and further description of this
little affair of taste and elegance is
not needed.
When the audience-for the
guests were primarily auditors
were seated in the dining room and
parlors. in such way as to face the
two pianos in the library, the pro-
gram began. The first number was
a duet by Misses Nelson and Jensen
which gave sprightly picture of
the delights of scamp life" and
proved happy introduction.
Beethoven's "Last Composition
was played very appreciatively by
Hattie Flint, whose technical exc
cution was said to be without a
fault. Cymbra Daniels followed
with Thome's "Papillons of Roses"
and performed the melody with SO
sensitive touch as to bring out Ill
its richness and picturesque beauty.
AT this point the entertainment was
given a new turn by the introduce
ton of Miss King of Hudson who
interpreted upon the violin Spohr's
sweet composition "La Rose"
Godard's "Barcarolle" with its
sweeping fluctuations and the regu-
lar lift and fall of the theme as it
leads the listener into an almost
seasick realization Of a gondoliers'
sculling, was the subject which En-
ma Jenson next drew out upon the
keys with a very easy touch. The
only boy fortunate enough to get a
place on the program was Archie
Shepard. In the 1.-TWO Larks" of
the Russian composer Leschctizky,
he found an opportunity to show to
peculiar advantage his rather indi-
vidual style of playing. For GER
tain suppleness of motion in the
running notes and trills gave his
performance distinct touch of per-
sonality. But up to this point moth
ing had been given of 50 striking a
nature as the Norwegian Bridal
Procession" which Immediately fol-
lowed. The theme as outlined by
Miss Powell was exceptionally pic
turesque, and Constance Haugen in
her Interpretation of it, showed a
serious sense of its excellence. There
was in her playing, as she sum
moned the distant time beat of the
drum and drew out the sweet strains
of the approaching violin that set
the bridal procession on its way, a
certain reserve and delicacy that car
ried with it a suggestion of mastery.
As the procession moved on, the
cymbals beat weird time to the mer-
riment, and Joy ran riot among the
heavy chords. Then the foot falls
of the bride tinkling along the
light notes and hushing the crowd
to silence; again the wild enthusi-
asm of the rabble thro' vista of
40 measures, with the melody of
glad bells ringing and the diminish
ing drum beat in the distance.-The
whole was emphatically well done.
Miss King then gave La Sonnam-
bula upon the violin, and appeared
as much at ease in following the
technical mazes of Dancla as the
easier, tho no less lonely, melodies
of Bohm and Schumann which Were
introduced later in the program.
Her touch is easy and responsive
and her conception of a theme dis
tinctively artistic.
The Taranrelle was another num-
Der whose interesting story was
briefly outlined in words before it
was interpreted upon the piano by
the clever work of Mabel Langdon.
Still another of this sort was the
s'Lorelei" of Perry, and in perform
ing this romantic piece Ethel White
found an apt channel for the ex-
preston of her peculiarly sensitive
talent.
One almost suspected, after hear
ing the ringing measures of Weber's
Les Adieu as played by Miriam Pow
ell, that the program would prove
an example of anti-climax. Tho
he knew very well the superlative
merits of Mcndelssohn's Wedding
March, he had often heard it before,
and felt quite coafid ent that the
program could well end with Les
Adieux. He wanted to take away
with him the impression of those