The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-26
'LUClFER" in ENTIRETY
FULL REHEARSAL OF MAY FESTIVAL
CHORUS AND CHOIR.
4 Tremendously Difficult Work Mas
tered by the Singers-Opening
Sale of Single Tickets.

The solo chorus appeared at the rehearsal
of the May festival chorus for the first time
last evening and the entire number 'Luci-
fer was sung. The solo chorus has been
having rahearsals for some time and last
evening it took it's part and the well-culti-
waited voices added measurably to the
volume Of sound. The selection is
majestic in parts and when the
BASES gave forth their power, the
windows fairly ratified; it was like
a mighty roll of thunder. "Lucifer" is taken
from Paradise Lost and it depicts such
wonderful scenes in tones, as the poem does
in words Mr.. Van der Stucken did not
have to correct the members very much,
as the rehearsals that have been going on
for months now show the careful training
and the chief work is to give the tone and
that nicely of phrasing which will make for
a perfect whole next week.
"Lucifer" is a tremendously difficult work,
and after the chorus has sung it, credit
ably, as it will, it will be ready to sing any
thing that has been written. The numerous
changes and the seemingly discordant
chords which finally lead into magnificent
harmony have required patient work from
the conductor and the several hundred indi-
vlduals who lend their vocal powers No one
possibly realize how much effort there is in
preparing such composition for single
evenings concert. The members have been
a a,, WORK eyer since November each Monday
evening More recently it has been Monday
ana thursday evenings. The solo chorus
has had rehearsals Sunday afternoon and
TINS was shown in the result reached when
the two were brought together. The leading
soloists of the city have given their talent
FOR the parts.
The several Darfc 1,igI,t ,,,o,o c,,,.o.
twice over Particularly difficult passages
received special attention. If the altos were
lacKlng IN any way they had to go over
and over the difficult place, and the basses
sang time and time again through a single
WORD or phrase. The tenorS were too slow
somewhere or not quite up in pitch and they
were brought up to the marx with repetf-
lions ana the help of the piano. The So
prdnoS were not taking their high notes
win perfect precision and they too were
called to order, and even the solo chorus
Hdu 10 make several efforts before their
attack OF the first word was satisfactory
10 one not accustomed to hearing so many
Volces, the singing sounds flawless, but the
conductor is training the chorus for the
critical appreciation of the most intellectual
MUSICIAN ana ne can hear flaws and waver-
ings and indecision or 'fiatting'' or sharp
ing quicker than anyone else.
SALE OF SINGLE TICKETS.
Inc unusual feature about the advance
sale OF tickets for single concerts of the
May music festival is that there does not
seem TO be any considerable difference be-
tween the demands for the various con-
certs The sale began at the Big Four
ticket office at O'Clock yesterday morning
ana before that hour checks were given to
those in waiting emitting them to place in
the line. There was the usual big crowd
ana ahe the sale continued steadily throughout
shown seemed to be in favor of the last
concert, when the principal soloists are to
be fsaye and Nine. Gadsk Musical people
appear to be much interested in the per-
Iormance OF Lucifer," the opening night of
the festival, for it is to be the first presenta-
ton in American of a new work by a
famous composer, and it is to be given on
a great scale that promises to make it
notable in every. respect. Five famous
soIolsts, solo choir of twenty carefully
selected voices, an adult chorus of four
hhnndred' and children's chorus of one
as they will be in "Lucifer" The work is
not long one, and its performance with
Two TWO lntermlssions of fifteen minutes each,
VIII not last more than two hours.