The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-16
MUSIC THRALl.
Prof. Edwards Grent Chorus Sings
at Armory Hall
6RAAD ANO IMPOSING EFFECT
Cheers for Dixie ana All fhe Mum.
bers-An Ovation to Prof Coward
Magnificent Solo Work The
lllUstrations-A Chorus of 5000
Voices for Nashville.

The great Chautauqua chorus is q
thing Of the past Professor n. Du
Shane Coward. under whose direction
1t was organized, and under whose ba-
ton it sang, has done his work and has
done 1t remarkably well. He has, In
fact, accomplished q feat, which when
undertaken was thought to be almost
impossible, but in Professor Edwards
bright vocabulary there is apparently
no such word as fail. His undoubted
ability, exceptional fitness for the work,
ana overlooking energy, alike singled
him out for the one man who could
in q space Of scarcely two weeks organ
lze and perfectly train q chorus Of near
ly one thousand voices, such as filled
Ar1nory Hall last night with a. volume
OF melody the like Of which it's walls
had never echoed to-
owing to obvious reasons for delay the
feast OF song which had been looked for
ward to with SO much interest by the
people. did not begin until nearly 9
o'clock, by which time an audience Of
very respectable proportions was seated
III the large hall It is impossible to
more than estimate its size. Including
the chorus, which was about 800 strong,
there were perhaps two thousand or
twenty-five hundred people in the build
ing.
Before beginning, Rev. Mr.. Groves
made several announcements for the
Chautauqua, under whose auspices the
entertainment or the evening was given
among other things informing the au-
dience that the price OF weekly tickets
had been reduced to S1.OO each.
AS an suspicious opening the first
NUMBER on the programme was Dixie,
which was sung with a will by the big
chorus, while Mr.. B. P. Murray threw
olSsolVlng scenes upon q large canvas.
hn }0f1 <,CT
appeared a great cheer went up, blend
Ing anonymously with the rolling mel
ody from the Threats Of the 500 singers.
ana producing q wonderfully inspiring
effect
But 1t was not until "Sewanee River"
the next number, was sung that the full
erect and power exhibited in the com
blned effort Of eight hundred voices,
was observed It was then the bass
took precedence, and an immense.
though perfectly modu1ated, wave of
harmony swept across the great hall,
lhrillinS the audience from ear to heart.
and creating an effect positively uniouc,
grand and beautiful. Each stanza was
Followed by spontaneous and hearty an
pause indicative Of pure pleasure and
appreciation.
The chorus was also notably effective
IN America" which was SO stirrinely
rendered that a man would be immoy-
able indeed We're he not beneath It's in
huence. stirred to patriotism, especially
when a beautiful picture or Old Glory,
waved by the Goddess OF Liberty, was
thrown upon the canvas. making decid-
edly the most climatic incident OF tho
evening.
Other numbers by the chorus, all sung
With indescribably grand and beautiful
effect, were Coronation" Throw Out
me Life Line. II Am Praying for You"
Nearer, My God to Thee" "Rock Of
Ages" and abide With Me-
Two solos were rendered by Miss
continual Oh Sixth PareN