The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-05-21

mand for May Festivals Increasing. The Music Teachers convention con- tinued all day yesterday, morning, af- ternoon and evening, The meetings came to glorious finish last evening with a notable performance of Handel $ Messiah" by the Oratorio society of Bridgeport. The programs of the third day contained much of real musical value and were evenly good through out and the vast improvement in this respect over former years reflects great credit on the officers of the associa- tion. There was more professional tal- ent employed in this years scheme than ever before, and decidedly less of the country and amateur element. It is difficult in so small a state as this to eliminate this element entirely, but it is the only way in which these an- nual meetings can come to assume ar tistlc importance with musicians. | When it is possible to obtain from our own people a group of real artists like those who participated in the 4 o'clock concert yesterday afternoon. we have just reason to be proud of our resources. Under such circumstances it is a fine idea to have the musical talent thus collocated once year for mutual en- couragement and enjoyment.
 The association enjoys the support of a vast number of associate members and their meetings are very largely at tended, so that now they are in posi- tion of financial prosperity sufficient to warrant their throwing off the last shacllles of amateurishness and estab- fishing themselves on an absolutely ar tistic basis. The work of the officers this year has been so praiseworthy that it seems permissible to speak of these things at this time.
 Let us have the Music Teachers as- sociation the center of all things mu- sical for the state and let its annual meeting be yearly feast for the music loving public.
 The first concert of yesterdays test was the composers concert at nine o'clock. The program~was slightly al- tered. MT. Camps quartets were sung by a quartet composed of Misses San ford and Hofer and Messrs. Langdale and Cook, instead of the Park church quartet of Hartford.
 Three compositions by MT John s. Camp were charmingly rendered by these singers. MT. Camp has some nt- tie fame as a, composer nowadays, and his work is always listened to with in terest.
 David Stanley Smith of Yale '99, a pupil of the musical department, had performed by MT. Leslie Vaughn of Bridgeport Romance" for piano and violin. MT. Smiths work showed con- siderable originality and was melodi- cally fresh and vigorous.
 Mrs. Boyd of Danbury sang two pret- tie poem entitled "The Hammock" ar ranged for male quartet and sung by Messrs. Woodstock, Cook, Bennett and the composer.
 MT Riley Phillips sang Willis H. All ling's really beautiful setting of "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" MT. AL ling has been advised to publish this song by one of the most prominent singers in the country.
 MT Vaughn played an interesting "Nocturne' by Miss Lola Phinney an- other pupil of the musical department OL the university.
 Mrs. Boyd and Mrs. Emma Allen Hull sang a duet by MT. Gibson entitled "Who is Sylvia?"
 The program closed with "Berceuse" for string quartet by MT. James w. Seeley of this city These composers concerts are very stimulating and ada ed interest will be taken in the compe- tition for the next festival on account of the prizes offered.
 At Ii o'clock Professor Herbert Will Der Greene, formerly of this city, and now of the Metropolitan College of Mu- sic of New York, gave a novel and in- teresting lecture on "The Development of American Song" Professor Greene has made a thorough study of this sub ject and presented what he had to tell in concise and pleasing manner. Much that he said came as a surprise to most people who are unaware of the truly musical value of some of the early American folk times.
 Professor Greene sang some of these old ditties in delightful style. When he came to the later development of the song he was assisted in his illustrations by a quartet composed of Miss Char lotte Riley, Miss Ethel Houston, Otto Poleman and Edward S. Roe, all pupils of the Metropolitan college, and famil- far to people in this city by their sing ing in some of Dr. J. c. Grigg's lec- lures.
 Professor Greene brought his subject up to present day writing and spoke particularly of the work of Clayton Johns, McDowell Shelley, and NeVin as among our best song writers.
 At 2 o'clock p. m. came the piano re- cital by MT. Leopold Winkler of New York Mr. Winkler proved in some re- spects an admirable pianist, and in others decidedly deficient. He has an ample technique and plays with all the repose of a veteran. It is clean, clear cut and in the main accurate playing, but utterly devoid of imagination. It was astonishing to hear a man play so well and yet be so uninteresting. He played the piano with as much en- thusiasm as though he had been bak- ing bread. MT. Winkler played so we'll from a purely technical standpoint as to lead one to believe that he would be a good teacher and we believe that his work Of late has been chiefly in this line. He does not seem to be temper amentally up to the concert pitch. His rendition of Joseffy's At the Spring. pleased the audience best of his num- bers and he was obliged to repeat it.
 Miss May Loveridge of this city was