The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-10-08
D. FfrangcOn-Daviss' Triumph in
Elijah.
A Fitting Finale to
Grand Week Of Song.
What the Principals Say Of the
Festival.

The Maine Music Festival OF 1900 came
to an end Saturday evening in a blaze of
glory. The audience rivalled in size that OF
the precedingevenings and was noteworthy
for it's enthusiasm. In addition to the SUI
perb rendering of 'Eli1ah" the audience
was treated to much that was not on the
programme. Mr.. Edward A. Noyes, the
president of the Western Maine Musical
association, which with Mr.. Chapman has
charge of the festival in Portland, made
a brief address in which he paid high
tribute to the work Of the orchestra and
made an earnest plea that to 1t should be
accorded support that would place it up
on an enduring basis. Mr.. Noyes referred
to the generous support which has made
the Boston Symphony orchestra an insti-
tuition in that city and one which reflects
credit upon it. He urged that in like
manner this talented organization of the
musicians might be given the encourage
ment necessary TO enable it to take the
rank which the ability OF its mem bers
warranted. He spoke of the great work
they had done-during the festival and
predicted that II properly supported
they would do greater things in the
future. Mr.. Noyes remarks were made
to a sympathetic audiencs and loudly
applauded.
A notable feature of the evening was
the warm cordiality which seemed to
exist between Mr.. Chapman and the lead
ers OF his choruses. Standing before the
large body OF singers he asked that he
might tender to the choruses through
their leaders a compliment to the good
work they had done and as each leader
arose to bow his acknowledgement there
was more applause ard cheering. Mr..
Chapman was given floral emblem by
the orchestra and the three tromb bone
players varied the usual style-of presenta-
ton speeches by playing an old and ia
miliar air.
Thus the great festival ended. What
the audiences thought OF it their ap-
plause testified. What Mr. Ffrangcon-
Davies, Nine. BIauvelt Mr. and Mrs
Chapman, Mr.. Bauermeister and others
had to say concerning it is told on anoth-
er page.
THE EVENING CONCERN.
D. FfrangcOn-Davies's Triumph in
Elijah.
After the almost Intoxicating triumph
of the Friday evening concert, there
could have been nothing but dignifed
performance like Elijah, which would
not have seemed like an anti-climax. AS
it was, things which are different do not
suffer by comparison, SO the beautiful in
depreciation of that Immortal work,
by Mr.. Ffrangcon- Davies and the chorus
seemed a lifting close to the Festival of
1900.
10 those who had what they feared
was an idealized memory of Mr.. Ffrang-
con-Davies, there was almost dread, lest
he might not be quite so fine as he had
seemed in their memories. All fears of
that sort vanished at his first few notes,
uttered as if by the prophet of old, the
Veritable man of God. This noble inter-
probation Of Elijah is a consecrated work
with Mr.. Ffrangcon Davies, AMI If we
thought two, years ago that it was crea-
ton, the al has developed and deep
ened, till it has become part of himself,
and he actually seems to think and feel
like Elijah while he is singing. Every one
who heard Mr. Ffrangc Davies Saturday
night will realize the absorbing quality
of this conception, and viii never forget
the few words of explanation he gave,
as to the supreme moment in the Eli.
jah, graciously begging the audience to
refrain from any applause, SO that the
spiritual benefit of it all might be bet
ter realized and appreciated. Surely every
one win agree with Mr. Ffrangcon- Davies
that by the quiet development OF the ora
torio, the beauty OF it was far better ap-