Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-20
MESSIAH IS RENDERED
Excellent Production of Handel's
Masterpiece Given by Ora
torio Society.
ENJOYED BY A LARGE AUDIENCE.

A large AMI appreciative audience
listened with rapt attention to the
rendition of Handel's masterpiece,
1.-The Messiah" by the Handel Ora
| torio society of Augustana college at
| the First Methodist church of this city
last night.
The Oratorio society, consisting of
about ninety members, was ably sup
ported by Miss Lillian French. of Chi
cage; Mrs Edla Lund, of Rock Island
and John Dahl and Gustaf Holmquist,
of Minneapolis. who sang respectively
the soprano, alto, tenor and bass rec
itatives and airs and were accomp panied
by Petersen's orchestra and Prof.
Bo1fors. The entire concert was I'M
der the excellent management of Prof
T. E. Petersen as musical director.
The oratorio was substantially all
rendered. there being 43 mum bers
given. All of the popular and well
known recitatives and airs and all the
favorite choruses were sung.
The soloists, with the exception of
Mrs. Lund, who is always f4vorite
with the music loving public, were
new to Rock Island. 1t is difficult to
discriminate between the various per-
formances and it is enough to say
that they each and all fulfilled til e
high expectations of an audienc e
always critical, but no less ready to
accord to merit it's full need of
praise.
Miss French's Voice.
The well known airs sung by Miss
French, Rejoice Greatly" and Il
Know that My Redeemer Liveth,"
demonstrated the fullness and beauty
of her voice. She sang almost en-
tirely without notes, and her tech
pique and expression were admirable.
She has a cultured voice and one
which fits her especially for oratorio
work.
The singing of Mrs. Lund was not
so full and strong as is customary
with this fivorite soloist, but her rem
dition of the important airs, 20 Thou
that Tellest Good Tidings to Zion"
and He Shall Feed His Flock Like a
Shepherd, were very expressive and
were well received.
The opening recit ative, Comfort Ye.
my People" and the solo Behold, and
see if There be any Sorrow like Unto
His Sorrow" by Mr.. Dahl, demon
strated voice of strength and beauty
we'll suited to the work assigned to
him.
Mr.. Holmquist sang his difficult
bass solos in "A manner that captivated
the audience. His runs were exceed
ingly smooth, with no apparent effort.
and his voice WAS full, rounded and
sweet. He sang four airs and three
recitativcs, a large amount of work,
and among the most difficult
Yet he sustained to the end the same
careful. painstaking work and. won
Just plaudits from the audience. The
air which seemed to please the most
was ''But Who May Abide the Day of
His Coming"
But after all, and without any in
tentiOn to depreciate the work of the
soloists. the most satisfactory part of
the performance was the chorus work.
1t evinCed an immense amount of
faithful work on the part of the So
ciety. 1t is difficult to characterize
this work. The choruses in them
selves are such masterpieces that
when rendered by trained choir of
voices properly selected they come as
near heavenly music" as anything
earthly can approach. The chorus
work occupied good share of the
program, u complete choruses being
rendered, and were sung with energy.
rythm and an eciat that thrilled the
audience. Special mention and COM
mendation may be made of And the
Glory of the Lord" ''For Unto Us
Child is Born" Behold the Lamb of
God" '.All We, Like Sheep. Have
Gone Astrav," "Hallelujah Chorus"
(sung with the audience standing)
and the grand finale Worthy is the
Lamb"
Close of Seasons Work.
This concert is the close of this sea-
sons work. After the holidays the
society will take up the study of Hay
denis Creation" which will be rem
dered in the spring. The society is
doing a good work in the line of the
study and production of oratorios.
and should have the active support
of all lovers of the best in music.
No report of this concert would be
faithful without mention of the ex-
cellent aid afforded by Petersen's or
chestra and Prof. Bodfors, who ac-
com panied on the pipe organ, and
Prof. F. E. Petersen, who so ably