The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-02-19
BOARD OF HEALTH FOR THE MASSES
To Be Given Under Aus.
pices of Government.
chorus of 100 Trained Voices
Professor YarndIey to Drill
the Singers.

/ Arrangements for the monthly con-
eerts, to be given under the auspices
of the Government are almost COM
pleted. Minister Cooper. at whose in
stance the concerts are gotten up. was
seen yesterday regarding the prospects,
MY idea" he said, us to give con-
certs which people Of moderate means
could attend without hardships. There
have been several excellent affairs in
the musical line given in Honolulu of
late. but at prices which prevented the
poorer classes from attending. In the
concerts TO be given under the aus
pices of the Government it is expected
that there will be a chorus OF perhaps
100 voices. These will be recruited
from among the schools and seminaries
where singing is a part of the curricu-
lum. If not enough singers can be OBJ
tanned there, then l hope to be able to
draw from the organized choirs. The
chorus will be drilled by the veteran
Professor Yarndley, and the orchestra
will be under the direction of Professor
Berger. This will consist Of 16 pieces.
Il will try and have as few singers
as possible who are unable to read
music, otherwise it would take long
time TO drill them up to the standard of
those who read at sight. The first
meeting viii be held next Tuesday, pro-
vided it will not interfere with the ar
rangements of the military companies
1.-The expenses connected with the
giving Of the concerts will be for the
rent OF chairs and for the services rem
dered by Professor Yarndley in drill
ing the singers. To meet this a small
admission fee will be charged, some
thing within the reach of everyone who
wishes to indulge a taste for good
music. ! calculate that the hall will
seat 500 people. Suppose half the num-
Der of seats were sold at 25 cents each
and the balance at 10 cents each. This
would give the receipts at $40, which
would probably cover the cost.
The Government is not going into
the business Of giving concerts for a
profit, that point I wish distinctly IN
deTstood. I have yet to arrange for a
committee to take charge of the mon
ey. This will be made up of members
of the singing class. Probably if they
should organize into a society they
could take the receipts and attend to
disbursements; anything, so that the
Government will not handle it and
make it appear that we are doing it to
increase the revenue.
In order that there may be ample
room on the stage to accommodate the
singers, the side wings, which I I'M
derstand are only screwed to the front
of the stage, viii be taken down. The
musicians, OF course, will occupy the
space in front of the stage, as they
now do in theatrical performances.
I believe these concerts will be g
success; they have been in other cities
though they were not under the aus
Dices of the Government. We will make
an effort to secure the services of some
good soloists as an additional attrac-
ton"
Professor Berger spoke most enthu-
siastically last night of the prospects
Of having such concerts. He is secur-
ing new music, and gave it as his opin-
ion that they will be immensely pop
ular when sung.