The herald., 1897-04-09
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.!
I TREBLE CLEF CONCERT ;
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An audience that tested the capacity
Of the First Congregational church as
sembled last evening at the invitation
of the Treble Clef club to enjoy their
second concert of the season '96-7. The
platform in front of the organ had been
extended to accommodate the club, and
was most effectively decorated with
potted palms, callas. branches of feath-
cry bamboo and smilax. The large au-
dience were conducted to their places by
the following young ladies', who, in
dainty and becoming gowns. acted as
ushers: Misses Daisy Moore, Pansy
Whitaker. Mabel Ferguson, Ada Ford,
Mayme Hendrick, Anna Chapman. Jes-
sica Rhodes. Agatha Sabichi, Guest.
and Miss Florence Blackman, who was
usher-in chief.
OF the program there is naught to
say but in praise as to makeup. and
the executants were for the most part
adequate to their tasks. The Pergolesi
Stabat Mater that filled the second half
of the evening and was the serious num-
ber, is a dignified. noble composition
which treats its subject reverently, with
quaint simplicity as to theme and
working out that is reminiscent Of
Haydn. The pathetic story is told In
solos and duets from soprano and con-
tralto, with but three brief ensemble
numbers by the chorus The accompani-
ment of organ and strings carries the
responsibility of the whole composition,
introduces the musical subjects, and
works them out, with the voices weaving
IN and out.
Mrs. Kimball- -Wuerker and Miss Jen-
ME Winston were the solo sopranos last
night; Mrs. ]. ]. Scarborough, Miss Lii
lie Scanlon the contraltos, Miss
Blanche Rogers presided at the organ,
and there was an augmented quartet
of strings, with Mr.. o. G. Muskat as
concert master. The work of all was
conscientious, earnest, and that of the
chorus in especial gives promise of bet
ter things. Madame Martinez seems an
Intelligent conductor. and if she can
inetill some of her own enthusiasm and
energy into the club. with systematic
and frequent rehearsing, there will be
reason to expect steady advancement.
AS it is, the best work they did last night
was in a very dramatic number by
Grieg, "At the Cloister Gate" number
full of the weird harmonies and un-
expected but always beautiful motifs
tndl CHdl dCtSliZc the 6icde 4Noi " S5ioh
compositions. Miss Rogers was the or
gan aoconlpaIiisi i'll this number, TOO,
and whether at the organ or piano she
was at all times satisfying and artistic.
Mrs Kimball- Wuerker was one of the
soloists in the mixed first half of the
program, and sang a charming song by
Chaminade, in which her voice was at
its best, and her tone production beau
tiful. Mr.. Cecil Pyne was the piano solo,
list in the first part, and he played
florid ballade by Reinecke. Mr.. Pyne is
a young man with a Paderewski aureole
about his head-an effect which leaves
him before it gets to his hands. His
phiaeing last night was careless, his ex-
ecution blurred, and his technique gen.
orally was open to question. Quite the
gem of the evening, however, was the
scholarly playing of Mr.. Ludwig Opid.
His trio cello numbers were both the
work of superior artist, and 1t is pity
he is not heard oftener in solo work. In
the charming and graceful nocturne by
Davidoff. Mr.. Opid displayed delightful
nuances, sweetness of tone, and intel
ligent phrasing; in the G string air by
Bach. that best number for strings, he
proved himself master of hie instru-
ment. From the delicate singing pian-
issimo, to the noble, mellow forte, the
right and left hand work were equally
sure, intonation fiawless, and the whole
rendition a delight that is too seldom
experienced here.