The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-04-23
Easter at the Congregational Church

The beautiful weather of Sunday
and the anticipation of interesting ser
vices, called out large audience Al
the morning service. The church was
tastefully decorated, and potted plants
in prOfusion were banked at each side
of the rostrum. A large bell, covered
with moss. was suspended above the
choir, and an immense Tyre covered
with moss and flowers, reaching from
the floor to the top of the pulpit. The
music was new and very pleasing and
was finely rendered, especially an
otfertory duet by Mrs. Hooker and
Mr.. Parker. Pastor Barnard preached
one of his best sermons upon ''the
hope of the resurrection"
The popular interest, however, was
connected with the musical service OF
the evening. The sacred cantata,
THE Great Light" was rendered very
successfully and with much pleasure
to the audience. This is a work by
Finley Lyon, in which he uses the
,g,gerds of great number of old and
familiar hymns, with scripture to des-
cribe the life of Christ from his birth
to his resurrection. Inspiring chorus
es, touching solos and recitatives fol,
low each in quick succession. While
the music was in no sense difficult, it
was both pleasing and inspiring.
The large chorus sang with much
spirit, in fine time and as a whole with
correct tons. The solos were numer-
Gus and calculated to call out the best
efforts of our local singers. Miss
Maude Clarke sustained the soprano
solos in a most pleasing and successful
manner, especially in the solo GLORY
to God in full anthems of joy and the
obligato solo with the chorus, in the
same number. Mrs. Hooker's solo, the
words of the familiar hymn, Calm on
the listening ear of night" was given
with much strength and feeling, show
ing the sweetness of her voice and cor
rectness of her tones.
Mr.. Munn's voice was heard with
good effect in the recitative "Behold,
a virgin shall conceive" and the solo
in the male quartet number Grown
Him with many crowns" Mr.. Parker
sang the several baritone solos given
to him in a pleasing manner. While
not as eXacting in their requirements
as some of the other parts they served
to show both his fine voice and his mu-
steal ability. Mr.. Dimick, although
suffering with a severe cold, sang the
bass solos with marked success, partiC-
ularly the first one Every valley shall
be exalted" His voice has large
and he use, it with good taste.
One of the finest things of the whole
service was the ladies quartet, Light
of the world we hail thee" The clear
high soprano notes Of Miss Clark and
the deep second alto notes of Mrs.
Stevens, combining with the middle
tones of Mrs. Clement and Miss Hall,
made combination of tone and har-
mOny most pleasing and seldom heard
of professional singers. Mr..
Barnard sang the tenor recitative of
with chorus accompanying.
Also the Easter solo Earth had no
such hallowed Stiffness" in an eX-
satisfactory way, and in this
it should be mentioned
that to his painstaking direction of the
chorus is largely due the success of
the work.
Another adjunct that went a long
way toward the success of the whole
was the organ accompaniments, which
we're played by Mrs. Barnard. AL
though much out of practice, having
the organ very seldom for
many years, she showed splendid CON
troll of it, bringing out many of its ca
pabilities and carrying the singers with
ease in their performance. Her effort
1t the organ showed thorough teach
ng i'm former days, and that her hand
had not forgot its cunning.
The church was filed, people com
ng from many of the adjoining tow.s,
md the verdict of all was that it was
l delightful service.
AN INTERESTED LISTENER.