Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-13

" the judicious introduction OF some
II the good things Of lie, sang some OF
cur Old songs and reorganiZed, 10 again
launch our bark upon-this time-the
lood-tide Of our greatest prosperity. The
following officers were elected: j. Y. L.
McCreeTy. president: T.. II. Chamberlayne,
Jr., secretary and treasurer; Charles Lun-
lin, librarian, and Professor Il. 4. Am
bold was elected as musical director
/ cannot recall the vice-president nor
members of the Executive Committee. a
special committee was appointed TO re
wise the constitution and bylaws. The
gentlemen present were the old members
already mentioned and \. Sale Watkins
L. Wagner W. II. Grant, Thomas Bal
mer. Harvie Blair Ashton Starke. John
Redford. Robert Chamberlayne, Marion
j. Dimmock, c. Percy Halves, w. Addi-
son Kepler, Addison Knox, Henry l..
Reese. AdOlphus Ennis DR.. James T..
Williams. and Walter Simmons
| recall the fact that the late Henry
Lubbock was one Of the first members
of our ante-belum organization. and q
great promoter Of il. We all remember
ohis delightful violin. TO these were soon
Added Louis Pizzini. c. w. Allen. William
NetheIland. Henry Miier, Henry and j.
Hanson Kepler, who had returned TO the
city to live; William Wagner, DR.. Simons'
and Aleck Abernethy.
FIRST CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS.
Mr.. William Dade. mentioned as among
the old pills, was an ante-bclum member.
The revised constitution introduced a
new feature-that OF contributing mem
bers-which proved a good move. for our
friends stood by us, and as years rolled
on. and our style OF music became better
known and more fully appreciated they
became enthusiastic admirers and sup
porters Of our association. We rented
and fitted up "A large han on Main street,
had "A piano In II, and IL was kept open
every day and night. We selected the
Arion and AmphiOn as our textbooks.
OR WeeA.y rehCarsals were always full.
We soon developed musical material that
was never dreamed of-John Redford's
delightful tenor, Sale Watkinss glorious
tenor robusto. Marion Dimmocks pure
lyric tenor. W. II. Grants powerful basso.
Robert Chamberlayne' sweet baritone.
The SO singers. SO wei known IN those
days and since were hardly known when
we began Nor were these all. The
chors OF nearly all our churches had
representatives from our club. and the
effect was a decided improvement in
both style ana selections. BY early winter
we produced a concert at Assembly Hail.
or Mozart Han. for l think II bore both
names at one time or another, which re-
celyed favorable criticlsms from
all. Our audience was enthusiastic
and each piece received a hearty encore.
We appeared. as we always did, in full
dress. No music ever seemed so 10 de-
light a Richmond audience as this kind
and male quartettes.
THE SEXTETTE AND OCTETTE.
Within our association had been or
ganized a sextette and an octette. They
selected their own leader and had a re-
pertoire OF their own, thus enabling the
rest OF US TO devote more time to pre-
paration for our concerts. Our sextette
q believe there were seven voices In III
was perfect. and its pieces were always
the gems of our concerts. IL was com
posed OF Marion j. Dimmock and John
BEDFORD. first tenors; Thomas Balmer and
O. Hanson Kepler. second tenors: Robert
Chamberlayne. first bass; Harvic Blair
and c. II. Reed. Jr.. second bass. the lat
ter being their leader. And soon out OF
our association grew another one, the
Richmond Amateur Opera Troupe"
which. II the audience enjoyed as much
as we. the actors. did. must have proved
a decided success. With a bevy OF beau
tiful maidens, adding so much to the