The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-04
THE BENOIT cANTATA.
N Great Success of the ChiIdren's
Chorus at Cincinnati.


The first performance Of Benoit's ~cantata,
Into Life" which will be sung by LOGO
children at the May festival, was given in
Cincinnati Saturday night by 1000 children
there who have been drilled in the work by
Mr.. Van der Stucken. 1t was a great sue
cess and created a decided sensation. The
papers there all speak enthusiastically
about it. The Commercial Tribune says:
1T was a grand and beautiful sight, the
immense stage of Music Hall, with a per-
feet bank of children rising from the cur
tain line back to the upper part of the
organ screen. The scaffold, with the 1900
children, arranged like a vast fowerbed, in
the national colors, red, white and blue.
and the scene made an impression that will
linger for a long time in the memory Of
those who were present last night at the
first concert of the children's May festival.
1T was an undertaking to
bring together and train a chorus of about
two, thousand children, and superintendent
Morgan did not fatter the ladies who or
ganized the whole affair, nor Mr.. Van der
Stucken and his able assistants, when, in
Der, he spoke in such high terms of their
faithful and hard work, their unseltish de-
votion to the success of the festival.
That the concert was a musical success
is a fact beyond all reasonable doubt, ana
best of which the festival was arranged,
it is to be hoped that the financial gain VIII
equal the artistic success. II that shoHId
be the case, the men and, women VINO TOT
many weeks have devoted their time and
labor to this undertaking will feel amply
repaid for their sacrifices ana eXefuons,
and will be able to look back with price
and satisfaction upon the results OF their
grand and glorious work. Inc arrange
ments for seating the children were perfect
in every respect, and there was not the
slightest hitch at any stage. AS already re-
marked. the stage presented a beautiful
SIGHT The children occupied every available
80 .af crRaca. IN tho fVypntV-tlX4 rows of the
ampitheater. The girls, dressed in white
and wearing blue ribbons or scarfs, filled
a T-shaped space in the middle of the
stage, while the boys, with their red searfss
filled the square places on each side or
the space, under the arms of the T.
The orchestra was seated upon the
stage in front of the amphitheater, and the
young ladies of the College of Music chorus
sat in double rows in front and on either
side of the stage. The platform upon which
Mr.. Van der sucker stood had been taste
fully adorned with eyergreens and lilies by
The progTamme opened with on or
chestral number, Victor Herbert's Amer
but a cie9eTgy joineed and brilliantly orr
chestrated melody of American popular and
patriotic songs, but 1t Is very effective and
eminently suitable as an introduction 10 a
concert by American school children. That
the children upon the Music Hall stage
thought so was evident from the enthusiasts
The next number was Peter Benoit's
children's caatata, Into Life. II Is un-
OOuDlEUlS IL iEillSI hdDEE COMPOSITION WillNfA
ranks with the best works for children's
voices ever written, 1t is simple in it's gem
eral features. though in some of it's detail
of considerable difficulty, melodious and ex-
pressive far beyond the measure of the
ordinary children's choruses. There is a
deep meaning in the text, which the COM
poser has well interpreted in his music. us
character, though simple and within the
grasp of a child's intellect. is thus imhped
with a certain depth of sentiment ana SUM
Client seriousness TO make the music inter-
esting or even fascinating for mature peo-
pie.
The singing of the children was simply
marvellous. With unerring precision they
made the attacks. never waNerlng, never
hesitating. never deviatIng in pitch. And
what strength and power those little
thr0ats developed, what Il wonderful volt
ume of tone they poured forth In toftlsslno
passages. The orchestra was completely
drowned out In such passages. The fresh
ness of the voices was really remarkable,
and to hear them was a pleasure, surely
an unusual thing with childrens choruses.
The final chorus was actually a brilliant
piece of work. and aroused the enthusiasm
of the audience 10 a high degree. Mr.. Van
der Stucken was given a perfect ovation.
and even the little singers themselves Wig
orously Joined in the applause and cheered
Justify, in a manner which clearly showed
that their voices had not suffered by the
exertion of the singing"