The herald., 1898-10-22
MUSIC NOTES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

| California has given many human song
birds to the world as tribute of her rar'
and clear climate. These native nightingale
stray from their home nests to gather glory
and plume the feathers OF fame abroad
When they soar home again for rest there
is no sweeter JUNCTION to their souls than tc
win the praise of their truest friends and
severest critics.
Mollie Adelia Browns temperance here
at home after another years stern stud!
and concert trial in the east was anticipated
with lively interest, and Simpson taber
nacle was fairly well filled last night with
an audience that savored of society as well
as musical appreciation. Judging from the
applause, or rather lack of it, the kid
gloved element predominated. Why soci
ETY. people should be ashamed Of showing
enthusiasm must remain mystery
it is too sordid to suppose that they are
afraid OF splitting their kid gloves and too
ungenerous to presume they haven't got
any feelings, and yet last night, although the
audience seemed to be honestly delighted
and showered floral offerings upon the fair
soprano, Simpson tabernacle was as chilly
as an empty vault. Indeed, the most notice
able "punctuations of applause came from
devious dogs outside the building, whose
bowling, however, was often ill-timed and
somewhat dissipated the pleasure of the
evening. An astute usher could, surely,
have easily remedied this trltilng but OBJ
|noxious distraction.
Miss Browns selections were for the most
part of somewhat slight character and she
did not show us the richest examples of her
voice. What she sang was delightful, but
most of it was comparatively trivial, possi-
bly, calculated to suit the superficial and
ennuye tastes Of the society part OF the au-
dience The songs were admirably sung,
clarity of tone, pureness of articulation and
excellent execution being the most charac-
teristic features And, too, the right spirit
was infused into the light numbers, but
what was lacking in the program was any
signal example of the depth and sincerity
of expression that this gifted soprano may
be able to lend to great music. Therefore
the program was not satisfying.
Since Miss Brown was last heard here,
the clear tones of her voice have been tenn
pered by culture, while expression has grad
uated by experience; but while her perform
ance was always pretty and often brilliant,
it was not true measure either of her voice
or her powers. Governs Spring Song" was
very sweetly given, and this and the echo
Song developed very impressively the ad-
mirable control this soprano has gained over
her voice. The mezza-voce passages were
beautifully rendered, with facility and
charming modulations. Other selections
were a forid Theme and Variations" by
Proch, which gave Miss Brown fairly bril-.
liant opportunity to show the cultivation OF
her voice; a Norwegian folk-song, Tosti's
La Mandolinata,' given as an encore 70
her own accompaniment; Hahn's setting of
Victor Hugo's words, Isl Mes Ners," a
waltz song by Gregh and two pretty compo-
sitons by Fl. H. A. Beach.
1t is to be hoped that before Miss Brown
leaves us again she will essay more amb-
tous and less glittering program.
Fl. S. Williams, the well known baritone,
contributed couple of songs to the pro-
gram. He was somewhat husky in the lower
register and inclined to drawl.
A quintet led by Harley Hamilton opened
and interspersed the program. They played
very pleasantly and scored success in Dop-
piers nocturne, a trio for violin, cello and
flute. Tschaikowslly's delicious "Andante
Cantabile" was also well rendered, though
OF course they had to suffer from the fact
that the last time this was played in Simp-
son tabernacle it was by the Kneisel quartet
a few months ago.