Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-10-12
MAINE MUSIC FESTIVAL.
Second Annual Series of Concerts at
Bangor.

Bangor.
Last Thursday, Friday and Saturday at
Bangor the great musical event OF the
a musical point of view the affair was a
splendid success. The soioists were great
in their respective lines, the orchestra
was superb, and the chorus was not only
larger but better trained than that of last
year. For it all unstinted praise is due
Director w. r Chapman, Manager Chase
and Mrs. Chapman.
There were five uoncerts-three evening
performances aud two matinees. The
first night WAS given over to Wagnerian
selections, work being provided for SOLO
lists, orchestra and chorus. The second
mig hts programme was devoted to Eng
lish, French and Italian opera. On Sat
urday evening the oratorio Elijah" was
sung.
No such an array OF musical talent was
ever before assembled in Maine. The
lay out was the conception OF a genius,
and the performances were all that could
be expected.
Ofthe fifty-nine mem bers of the orches-
ira all but dozen are Maine men, picked
up from various parts of the State. Taking
into account the fact that they had not re-
hearsed together a dozen times before the
festival, their playing may properly be
called wonderful; persons competent to
judge, who have heard orchestras In Bos-
ton, New York, Chicago and in the opera
houses CT the principal cities Of Europe,
say hat this Maine orchestra is not out
classed by any Of them.
1t is nothing short of marvellous that
thirteen choruses from as many widely
separated localities, should come together
at Bangor and, with but a single rehearsal
before each public performance, do such
work as was done.
OF course there were ragged edges here
and there, but these were due not to lack
OF ability to sing but to lack OF oppor-
tunity for rehearsng. Some OF the
choruses were maguiticently sung, among
them the "HaIlelujHh" chorus from the
"Messiah", and Thanks be to God
from the elijah.
As was the case last year, the women
of the chorus largely outnumbered the
men, and as a result the chorus was not
SO Well balanced as it ought to have been.
But in spite of all awbacks, this
years festival emphasizes the claim that
there is an enormous amount OF latent
musical ability in Maine, and that oppor-
tunity only is needed to demonstrate it.
The work OF the past two years has clear
I lN, boz inf al ID
throughout the State, and the various
chorus organizations have afforded an OPP
portunity for The study OF the higher or
dcrs OF music seldom offered outside the
large cities. 1t would be a thousand
pities il anything should happen to pre-
vent their continuance.
OF the soloists enough has already been
said. They all came fully up to expecta-
tions. The women soloists were Gadski
| Maconda, Green, Kicker and Barney-the
two latter Maine women. The men solo
lists were Williams, Ffrangcon Davies,
Miles Warehouse q the last named
Maine born. 1t was most remarkable
array OF musical talent.
The regretful featur OF the whole affa II
by half as it ought to have been. For
this Bangor seems to be responsible. She
got W hatever advantage there was from
the influx OF several thousand people,
who remained from one to three days
and yet at not one Of the five perform
ances was she represented in the audience
by a 1.-THE OF those who ought to have
been there. Why this WAS SO is not for
us to say, but that it is so was painfully
evident, and wholly discreditable.
Regard for the Bangor chorus, its Off
GERS and its faithful conductor; the merit
OF the festival per Sc, courtesy to the
hundreds of visitors who focked within
her limits, the maintenance OF her rep.
utation as live, hustling, up-to-date city
ALI these should have been reasons
far into the background any persona
feeling that may exist against any mar
or set of men.
The great event is over; the next move
is for next years festival. 1t must not be
allowed to die. 1t is too important
movement to be given up. In spite Of hel
unaccountable dereliction of duty to this
years festival, all will be forgiven if Ban
gor will stand by her splendid chorus
and encourage its continuance.
NOTES.
Ellsworth's chorus numbers sixty, anc
forty Of them attended the festival