The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-09
MUSICAL GOSSIP.

MUSICAL GOSSIP.
Although the different church choirs |
are assduously preparing special music
for Easter, the interest in the standard
Of the worth has somewhat deteriorateu
as compared with the work of FORMER !
years when Mr.. George Noycs Rock |
well directed at the old Adams Avenue |
Methodist Episcopal church. John T. !
Watkins at the Penn Avenue Baptist
church. Haydn Evans at the Second
Presbyterian church, Professor Gross at
the cathedral, Horace Hand at the First !
PRESBYTERIAN church with their augment
cd chors, orchestral accompaniments, at
least two months 0nstcad of two weeks) |
rehearsals were given, Hundreds were
turned away from the crowded churches
who had come from far and near to hear
the glorious Easter music. And the re-
marks of strangers from New York, Bos-
ton, Philadelphia and other large cities
that Scranton Choirs gave so good music
and in some instances better music than
was heard at the above metropolitan CEN
ters were common allusons. Are our
church trustees or music committees loOs-
ing sight of the fact that good devotional
singing is as necessary to the success
of the service and the filling of the pews
as good preaching? Economy in the choir
loft is expensive economy.
Arrangements are being made for
concert Of a farewell character to our
able musician, r. j. Davies, who has de-
cidcd to prosecute his profession among
the inhabitants Of the Smoky city, whore
he has found many friends and where
his labors will be appreciated, the con-
cert will be success.
Next Wednesday evening the Scranton
LicdcrkranZ. under the dircctorship Of
John II. Watkins will give very fine
concert, besides the chorus of twenty
five voices. assisting talent will be the
"Orpheus Clu1", the Scranton Iithcr
Quartctte and soprano soloist Miss Sus-
lc Black.
Mrs. Joseph O'Bricn, Miss Bessie
Sloat, the Schubert quartette, and John
r. Watkins will participate I'm II concert
to be given at Pec<ville on the 9th inst.
Notwithstanding the frequent rebuffs
which oistcddfOdS held at Scranton have
received at the hands of Wilkes Barreans
our singers are bent on spending at the
village on the banks Of Susuuehanna
canal an average Of $3.50 a person, and
this I'm the face of the present condition
of affairs at the mills and mines. How
much more profitable would an eXpendi-
turc of say s. a person per year be to-
ward the maintenance Of permanent
Choral society than these periodical eX-
CUrsiOns to WilkoS-Barrc 1t Is high
time our singers consider this matter
The renowned Welsh tenor H. Evan
Williams, owing to his numerous engage
mcnts in concert work through the states
and Canada, has been compelled to re-
sign his position as solo tenor at the
Marble Collegiate church, Fifth avenue,
New York where he received a yearly
stipend Of $500.
William Woolf and Arthur Wooley,
Wcll-knOWn to SCrantOniauS, through
their work with the Baker Opera COM
pany, are at present members of the
Castle Square Opera house now playing
at the American Theater, East Forty
second street.
John T. Watkins. assisted by Miss Sail
or, Miss Margaret Jones, w. ID. Evans,
Eugene =. Ham, Professor Custom
schmidt will give Il concert at Honesdale
Opera house next Tuesday. Honesdale
Press calls it the musical event of the
season.
The coming violin solo Of Fred Wild
mayer i'm connection with the Symphony
Orchestra soccty's concert is now being
constantly rchearscd by the orchestra
The solo for itself is not trick solo, nor
display of fireworks, nor is il one of
the msnamed solos, where some simple
homely melody is played ana then varied
and raised till the audience Is so wearied
that they applaud its finish out of pure
delight; the solo to be played by Fred
Widmayor is one of great technical diff
hcuIty and in form is series of mclO-
dies that on the violin alone would be
rich and beautiful, but when combined
with an orchestral acCOmpa niment of
h.41 Ia.
far more pleasing to the critical listener
than the usual solo, where the accom-
paniment is merely an ha"moncal de-
trrminator and tn" solOist violin Jug
Gler.
The interest cvinced by the people Of
Scranton generally in the symphony Or
chestra society is unusually keen this
year as is illustrated by the fact that
tn orchestra floor Of the thcatcr is en-
tircly sold out as well as almost the
whole balcony. There are but few boxes
and log"s still unsod. 1t is expected
that a few critics from some of the
New York papers will be down to give
their criticisms on the coming concert
on Monday, April 1S as the programme
contains several entirely new and original
features not only as new compositions,
but in the styles of their Instrumentation
Tickets can be had of Miss Edith Jones.
VI dL l-ot'hH hOtnplt tfuG store,
Washington avenue and Linden street
The diagram will shortly be opene..
Max Heinrich, of Boston. London and
Berlin, will sing a number of solos al
the Lyceum theatcr on Monday, April
IL. His singing is peculiar to himself,
as he is his own acCOmpanist Practical
" his performance is a duett. Being
pianist Of considerable skill he is able
to frame his rich, deep voice in an accom-
paniment which reveals all it's beauty.
This unusual combination of pianist and
singer has met everywhere with the ap-
probation Of the scverest critics and has
at every performance carried the audi
ence by storm.
The CamIrian Cleo society. Iworth
Prosser, conductor, will meet in Robert
Morris lodge room tomorrow pftcrn1n
at 3,3O Members are requested to pe
promptly ON time.
The Apollo club met Thursday evening
i'm Finley's ham, Lackawuma avenue,
with large number in attendance. Ow-
ing to tho absence of Professor HTeul-
berger, Mr. Tom Bcynon was appointed
director while Professor Iworth Pros
ser acted as accompanist. After the usual
rehearsal q short business session fol-
lowed at which the following committee.
Professor richards, T. H. Warren, G. u.
Rodgers c. Floroy ana II. l.. Johns,
were appointed to work in conjunction
with committee of citizens who are in
tcrcstcd in the movement of rendering
Professor II, j. Davies a testimonial con-
BEAlDII