Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-10-26
HowRtoRaAN ooNoBRT.
Delightful Musical Event In the Com
RrsRatIonnI Church ---PrOgram OF
80. v.rt.,x aud EKceiIence.

DsIIRhtruI Musical Event I'm the Com
4r.RatIonnI Church ---Progrsm OF
Great Variety and Excellence.
That Lucien Howe is accorded high rank
as a pipe organist has long been known by
the musical public Of Brattleboro. 1t has
been chiefly as an accompanist, however,
that his reputation as an instrumentalist
has been built up, and the people, there
fore, hailed with delight the announcement,
made several weeks ago, that the oppor-
tunity was coming when he could be
heard as a solost; when his part In pub
lie performance would be given the proml-
nence which it deserved, and when there
would be no limitations to the exercise OF
his talent. The opportunity came We'd
nesday evening, when Mr.. Howe, assisted
by Mrs. Mary HoweLavin, gave con-
cert in the Congregational church, under
the auspices of the ladies' society.
And what a concert 1t was What a
revelation of executive ability, musical
conception, precision and technique! And
how charmingly Mrs. LAWN rendered her
vocal numbersl II Is scarcely pos
sible that her rendition of the oper-
attic aria by Verdi was better than
at previous performances, but 1t seemed
80, nevertheless. Absolute in pitch, with
out suggestion of a waver In her sustain
ed tones, perfect in phraslng, beautiful in
ex preston and with personal grace and
refinement, Mrs. LAWN held the audience
almost breathless throughout every selec-
ton.
The opening number was Mendelssohn's
Sonata in d. The various themes in this
piece were brought out with remarkable
clearness, and the pedal work was admir-
ably done Mrs. LAWNS first appearance
was in the old, but ever new, aria "Angels
Ever Bright and FAIR from Theodore"
by Handel, in which the sostenuto pas
sages were particularly sweet and sympa-
thetlc. Mr.. Howe next rendered brace
of pieces, widely different in character, but
equally well executed. They were a sere-
made by Jensen and fanfare by Lemmens.
The latter was to many the best organ
piece on the program,-the grand flourish
of trumpets being followed by spontaneous
and hearty applause.
The real gem of the entire concert was
the aria "Ah fors lui'' from Verdi's
LA Traviata" by Mrs. LAWN, to which
reference has already been made. Mrs.
LAWN delights to sing this piece, which
feeling is always shared by her audience.
To an enthusiastic encore she gave Rubin
STEMS "Thou'rt Like Unto a Flower"
Mrs. LAWNS other numbers were a
mazurka by Chopin-Viardot and a cradle
song by Lucien Howe. A beautiful senti-
ment is expressed in the cradle song, and
Mr.. Howe has given it charming musical
setting. Mrs. LAWN sang as an encore to
this last song the pretty, Scotch ballad
"Within Mile of Marlborough Town"
The remaining organ pieces consisted of
a storm fantastic by Lemmens, in which
the author gave free play to the impulses
Of a rich Imagination, and variations on
Duke Street" by Lucien Howe. The old
hymn tune never took on so gay dress, but
its Identity was never lost and its beauty
never stood out TO better advantage in all
the many years of its existence. Mrs.
LAWNS operate aria and brace of songs
were with piano accompaniment.