The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-09
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Treble Clef Club !
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES


The Treble Clef club, Professor Benjamin
Guckenberger director gave its second con-
cert of the season last night at the Con-
servatory of Music before a large and dis
eliminating audience. The program was
made up altogether of vocal numbers, Mr..
Chalifoux who was to have played violin
solo, failing to appear on account of illness
The Treble Clef chorus was in excellent
form, and won fresh laurels. The program
opened with a double number. DAY Is at
Last Departing" by Raft, and Sweet and
Low" by Hawley, the latter being sung
capella. Both of these songs were finely
rendered The second number consisted of
two alto solos, Thy Beauty" by Mrs.
Beach, and when the Heart Is Young" by
Buck, charmingly sung by Miss Leah Ull-
man. Then came the program number of
browning interest-the four ehoruses fy-
Brahms-"Whene'er the Sounding Harp Is
Heard" in G major, ending in the domi-
nant; Come Away, Death in e fiat ma
jor; 1.-THE Gardener" in E fiat major, and
1.-THE Death of Trenar," in minor, the
four grouped by the composer as his opus
II. 1t is to the high credit of Birmingham
that these choruses were heard in public
last night for the first time in the United
States; and 1t is to Birmingham's further
credit that they were intelligently and
beautifully interpreted Brahms grand
symphonies are familiar to music lovers
who have the opportunity of attending
symphony concerts. but his choral works
are rarely found on programs, for the sim
pie reason that they are too difficult for the
average choral society. These four cho-
ruses are melodic, but exceedingly odd. The
Treble Clef club never studied any compo-
sition half so difficult as they proved to be,
yet so evenly rendered were they that the
audience probably did not realize that there
were any peculiar difficulties. There was
applause after each one of the group, but
1.-The Gardener and 1.-The Death of Ire
mar seemed to meet with the greatest IA
vor The "Trenar" theme recalled that of
the allegretto in Beethovens Seventh Sym
phony and that of Schuberts Death ana
the Maiden" The notes of this song Will
live long in the memory of those who heard
it, so full of beauty and pathos.
Brahms wrote the accompaniment in
harp and two horns( French horns). Mrs.
Chalifouk was to have played the hsrl, oc
owing to o mishap &c her instrument the
pinaforte had 10 be substituted. The norm
parts were we'll played by George f. jack
son and P. Memoli, on trumpets muffied
So naturally did the two wind instruments
blend with the chorus that it was not easy
to say where the voices left off and the
brass began
The Brahms work was followed by the
soprano aria, More Regal In His Low
Estate" from Gounads. Queen of Sheba,'
sung by Mrs. Chandler. This was superb
number and Mrs. Chandler was at her best.
Her lovely, sympathetic voice was never
more resonant and the dramatic voice with
which She sung thrilled the audience.
The programme closed with Rubinstein's
chorus with alto solo, 1.-The Water Nymph."
Bright and tuneful, it was a fitting finale
to an intellectual tone-feast. Miss Uliman
rendered a solo part. This young lady is
new to the concert stage soloist, but
she is very decided acquisition. She is
gifted with a natural alto voice, smooth
and musical. Her method is fine, her ap-
prehension is clear, and her style Is musical.
In according praise to Prof. Gockenberger,
the director of the Treble Cliff club, who
drilled the chorus, the work of Miss Edna
Gockel, the fair accompanist, must come
in for good share. Miss Gockel acquitted
herself admirably, as she always does rem
dering valuable assistance to the singers.
The third and last concert of the club
will take place about the middle of April.