The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-30
CHORUS FOR ST. PAUL
MEETING OF THOSE INTERESTED
IN MUSIC TALK OVER THE
QUESTION
HAD FAIR REPRESENTATION

Long Discussion of the Subject
Another Meeting to He Held Be-
fore Any Decision Is Reached
Complimentary Benefit to John
F. Gehan at the Grand Was an
Enjoyable Musical Event.
Whether enough enthusiasm can be
aroused in st. Paul to insure the per
manent success of a mixed chorus
was the momentous question discussed
in the Y. M. c.. A. lecture room last
evening by about 100 unsteady gifted or
unsteady interested people of ST. Paul.
The existing Schubert chorus was well
represented at the gathering, so also was
the Schubert club and there were enough
representatives of the outside general
public present to render all decisions ar
rived at a pretty fair expression of the
opinion of all concerned. But there were
other questions to be decided upon In adj
dition to that quoted above Was the
new chorus organization, If such a one
was to exist to be a part of the Schubert
club or an independent civic affair? What
was to be the limit in membership? Who
was to be director?
Mrs. Dorr was unanimously elected
chairman of the meeting. She said in
brief address that patriotism was a good
thing, but it should not be confined mere
ly to abstract principles or to the general
government alone. but should interest
itself in the city in which one lived.
Anything done for the benefit of the city
was patriotism, and good choral or
ganization was benefit. She said that
neither she personally, nor the Schubert
club, cared whether the new chorus was
to be an independent organization or con-
nected with the Schubert club, but she
thought a city the size of st. Paul ought
to have an artistically and financially
successful mixed chorus and the Schu-
bert club was ready to help in any way
such an organization.
Those present agreed that st. Paul
should have a mixed chorus and when
it was put to a rising vote 1t was found
that all were in favor of that chorus
being sheltered for a year, at least, I'M
der the wing of the Schubert club. A
preference was also unanimously ex-
pressed for Mr.. Ober-Hoffer as direc-
tor 1t was decided to limit the
membership to $50, all over that number
who applied for admittance to comprise a
waiting list, breaks in the chorus ranks
to be supplied from this list. An examin-
ing committee Of eight members, two
tenors, two altos, two sopranos and two
BASES, together with the conductor, will
sit in judgment on all applicants. In
this way it is hoped that high standard
will be kept.
The meeting adjourned until Monday
evening, June 10, when it is expected
that plans will be fully matured for the
starting of permanent mixed chorus. In
the interim a meeting of the executive
board of the Schubert club will be called
to discuss ways and means for insuring
the success of the organiZa ton.
1t is desired that all wishing to Join
such chorus will send in their names
Immediately to Mrs. Dorr.
Though nothing definite has been de-
cided yet; 1t is expected that at least
three choral and orchestral concerts and
at least three recitals will be given dur
ing the coming winter. -
It would seem that, to the majority of
people, the light ballads, the pretty. dain-
ty serenades, the jolly, rollicking ditties
are by far the most popular and the
sweetest songs. At any rate the audience
that crowded the Grand last evening
programme was pleasing and that pro-
gramme was made up almost entirely Of
old favorites. It was a testimonial con-
cert rendered to John F. Gehan by his
friends, under the auspices of the Cru
saders' Society of st. Paul. Mr.. Gehan,
as director of the cathedral choir, has
added his quota to the good musical work
that has been accomplished IN St. Paul,
though 1t would seem that musical people
here are like prophets, not go warmly
supported in their native city as they
might be. '.t
However, Mr.. Gehan could not complain
of the reception rendered him, for It was
enthusiastic to a degree, and not only
handclapping but flowers also testified to
the appreciation of those present at the
Grand last night.
Mr.. Gehans two numbers on the pro
gramme, "Infelice," by Verdi, and
Mona" Adams, were, sung with spirit
and expression, though the singer was
suffering from severe cold which pre-
vented him from responding to an encore.
He possesses a naturally good baritone
to which cultivation has added much, and
readily grasps the sentiment of compo-
sition, and as easily expresses It,
Miss Zenzius was to have played LISTS
Fantasia but Illness prevented her
being present. Mr.. G. c. Zenzfus
pleased everybody by his rendition of the
tenor solo Charity, by Faure. Miss
Pottgieser's numbers were, as always,
carefully sung and keenly appreciated.
Perhaps my Dearie" was a shade the
most popular. 1t was written for and
dedicated to Miss Pottgieser by Emil
Straka, and suits her voice admirably
Her other numbers were, Dreams
Bartlett; Red, Red Rose" Hastings;
Kerry Dance" Malloy. She was warm
ly encored and responded twice.
Mrs. De Wolf has often been heard by
st. Paul audiences in more severe COM
positions than those sung by her last
evening, but when she sung kathleen
Mavourneen" the most out and out class
icist could not have caviled at the effect
produced on her hearers Her other
numbers, "Saint-Saens,'' my Heart Mt
Thy Sweet Voice. "Serenade,"' Bemberg.
and "Se Saran Rose" the latter a CAV
little Italian air, differed in sentiment and
expression, but not in excellence of rem
ditfon.
Emil Straka, violinist. played a fan
tasia by Vieuxtemps, full of genuine feel
ing and fine melody. The three parts.
introduction, theme and variations. were
given careful and expressive readings
The quartette from "Rigoletto.' by
Verdi, was sung by Miss Florence Marion
Pace, Miss Millie Pottgieser, Mr. q. G.
Zznzius and Mr.. ]. F. Gehan. 1t was a