Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-04
THE BOWD0lN VALUES.
Productions OF a Bowdoin Senior Which Are
Attracting Wide Attention.

Brunswick, Me. May 3.-(SpecialJ-Th
whispering pines of old Bowdoin have in
spired poets and dreamers until the very
name of the college is associated with
poesN. Probably half the people Of the
land associate the name III 3owddin
with the melodious lines Of Longfelluwi
20 We familiar scenes,-ye groves of pine.
That once Were mine and are no longer
mine,
Thou river. widening through the mead
OwS green
TO the vast sea, 20 near ana yet unseen
We halls, in whose seclusion and rcpose
PhantOms of fame Ike eXhalations rose
And van!shed,-we, who are about to die
Salute YOU; earth and air and sea and
sky,
And the Imperal sun that scatters down
His sovereign splendOrs upon grove ana
town.
1t IS improbable that more famous lines
have ever been written Of any college.
Adown the years divers and minor voices
have sung in tones perhaps less clear and
strong. but still none the less true ana
lovingly Of the Alma Mater Of the great
singer 1t was only last year that Henry
Johnson VINO holds the Longfellow chair
of modern languages. sent INTO the
world, the little book, Where Beauty j..
and Other Poems which witnesseth
that the muse has not deserted her ola
time haunts. The poems created pro-
found impression among the great think
ers of this country. Edmund Clarence
Sleumdn. particularly. was delighted with
the new voice in the lana and prOphesicd
greater things Of Prof. Johnson.
And now newer melody IS hummed
through the Bowdem pines a melody
without words, ti.ough no less q song.
The college was thoroughly stirred when
one of its members, lately composed
sct-Of waltZes and published them under
the name of The Bowdoin VALUES.
The author was quiet young man who
has never been heard in the college
fore except through some very superior
work in The Bowdoin Quill. Certain
verses of his there created considerable
interest in college magazinedom; bur
Bowdoin did not give him the credit due
them. Today, though, he issues Il set Of
WaltZes that every orchestra leader i'll
the State is enthusiastic over. They are
being played this week in the symphony
concerts in Bangor, and the leader Of the
Salem Cadet band has signitied his inten-
tons to play them on commencement
day.
Musical critics have pronounced them a
success. They have reached a Large sale
in the principal cities Of the State. one
eminent critic has said Of the compost
ton: They were primarily intended for
dancing. although they are admirably
well adapted for concert work. Their
brilliance interSperSed with occasional
transitions to dreamness. is so evenly
tempered with the delightful swing OF
the dance ana the charming grace 50
suitable to a concert selection that the
may well feel proud Of the sue
cess with which he has embodied in one
composition the most pleasing of the
features of both species.
The introduction is 4 wild. brilant phan-
tasia that shows no traces Of the anna
teur hand. Ii rushes in gusts through a
fantastic career ana then meltS into the
midst Of the first waltz movement. The
air is gentle and undulating and rippleS
alon" as smoothly and sweetly as
honeysuckle branch stirred by the breeze.
There are three separate waltz move
ments connected by the daintiest and
gayest intermezZos. The second move
ment has the sweetest air Of the three.
tThis air it is proposed to use in a new
college song soOn.) The last movement
which is quieter and less cXuberant
breaks into Il lightsome. sportiVe scherzo
which gradually turns into an exceeding
~ brilliant finale.
The composition is most certainly a
credit to the college and 10 the State.
Bowdoin j. exceedingly proud OF the
Young composer whose name by the way
is I.ucien Percy Libby. ne is a member
of the graduating class Of this year and
comes from NestbroOk.