The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-23
THE CHILDREN DID WELL.
Their Cantata at the Festival Mat
inee Success.

Talk about flower gardens at the theater
Tomlinson Hall had the most magnificent
display of summer millinery yesterday that
ever was gathered under that roof. The
whole place fairly blossomed with hats and
bright faces under the hats. 1t was almost
entirely an audience of ladies and children
and was a beautiful sight. On the PLATFORM
placed in as snug quarters as was possible,
were the thousand children of the chorus,
the girls at either side and the boys in the
center The girls wore white dresses, with
blue ribbons in their hair and on their
frocks, and the boys suits were frightened
with red neckties. The touches of color IN
with the white and dark colors was very
pleasing The children were admirably be-
haved and quiet, as they had to sit and
listen to the numbers preceding their own
part When the audience applauded they
enjoyed the excitement and helped to swell
the handclapping.
When Miss Walker appeared for her solo
there was a general swell of welcome,
growing louder as she gained her place on
the platform. Her song was an aria from
"Odysseus," well suited to her voice in
register and to her capabilities technically.
The Interpretation was intelligent and dis
eliminating. The number, however, was
not as pleasing the part in the cantata
of the first evening, and was better than
the part in the Flying Dutchman' the
Wagner. evening Mr. Ernestinoff directed
the orchestral accompaniment for his form
err pupil. Miss Walker has gained high
place in the estimation of the Indian
apolis musical public by her work at the
festival. At the close of her song she was
recalled several times, and was presented
hoIf Or lunches
of roses. her arms being laden with the
fragrant tributes from her friends In
answer to protracted applause the singer
returned and sang the Song of sunshine,
William Eckert Sharpe, accompanied her
on the piano.
THE CHILDREN'S CANTATA
The interest of the matinee was in the
chiidren's cantata. The participants were
sweet in their patience and quiet, and their
good training in the public schools was evil
dent in the way they stood and obeyed di-
rections 1t was a lesson in attentiveness
the way every eye was straight toward the
conductor, for not a copy of the score was
used The orchestra played the short in
PRODUCTION and then, at the signal, the boys
sang Deep, in flower pots of clay, mother
plants her seeds each day" The attack
was perfect and the well-modulated voices
were full of music. The sopranos, on the
right. and the altos on the left, took UP
their several parts with absolute precision,
and on and on through the intricacies of
the composition, the unusual modulations
and changes they carried it, their fresh,
young voices giving expression TO the name
which the composer Peter Benoit has
given to the eXquisitely beautiful song,
Into Life" 1t effectively sung and
affectngly received, fer every mother took
a heart interest in the work of the children,
every musician rejoiced in the composition
generally was delighted with the result.
One OF the very difficult parts of the can
tata was sung by number Of young ladies
festival is noteworthy, for it called out the
first crowded auditorium of the festival.
All the seats were taken and scores OF peo-
pie stood through the whole of the pro-
gramme. At the close the children had an
ovation and applause gaining in power I'M
til the hall rang. MIR. Van der Stucken
finally appeared and went 10 the platform
the audience resuming their demonstration
He turned to the children, signaled them
to rise 10 acknowledge the tribute and then
they were seated again during the final Or
chestral number. If there was a single
number on the programme that might have
been omitted ii was the last for the medley
OF national airs while good in its way, did
not receive enough attention TO merit the
efforts of the musicians, interest appar-
emily ceasing when the cantata was over.
No need ever say that we have no
home talent, for every bit of the splendid