New-York tribune., 1901-06-09
WELLESLEY'S CHOIR.
ITS RAPID PROGRESS IN A YEAR-COL-
LEGE GIRLS IN GOWNS OF BLACK
ON YOKES OF BLUE.

For the coming baccaIaureate Sunday. June %,
the choir Wellesley College is now rehearslng
the cantata Daughter of Jairus." by stainer' and
for the commencement day following special mu-
sic Is also being practised.
Since its reorganization year ago there has
oeen steady growth of range and power IN the
department of music at Wellesley For four years
previous this department without head. each
Instructor carrying independent work Upon
the retirement of Mrs. Villa r Stovall the or
ganist and instructor, whose music had won her
warm friends, some coordination seemed to be
wise, and Hamilton c MacdougalI, Of Providence
K l., member by examination of the Royal Col
lese of Organists, in London. and a founder of the
American Guild of Organists was appointed
ciate professor in general charge of the depart
ment
One Of the most immediate and obvious results
Of the new order of things the formation of a
college choir Until Mr.. Macdougalls advent. the
college had been dependent at its chapel services
upon congregational singing Miss Hazard. the
college president herself musician of much abil-
ity, and others interested felt that the chapel ser
vices would be greatly enriched by having a reSu-
larly trained choir, especially the beautiful new
Memorial Chapel gave ample opportunity for
placing a choir. Consequently on the opening of
college last September, Mr.. Macdougau at once
took the matter in hand with the result that
the choir, originally of eighteen members, was
fully organized by the third Sunday and occupied
the beautifully carved oak choir seats which had
been placed in the chancel. The choir gowns are
black upon yokes of Wellesley blue-which is the
medium dark French shade of blue-and are the
gift of Miss Hazard who later in the year pre-
Sented to each member OF the choir a Charmingly
designed choir pin.
There are now eight first sopranos in the choir,
elght second sopranos and eight altos-the twenty
four voices in all giving good volume Miss l.
held the office Of chorister this year having in
charge the general matter of summOning the choir
girls TO renearsas, arranging for absences and Ike
duties.
In addition to singing at the short morning SER
vice and on sunday mornings the preaching ser
vice, the choir has several times during the year
undertaken ana successfully carried out more
varied and ambitious programmes. Eesper ser
vices, with special music held every weeks,
these services being elaborated on any particular
occasion.
A commemorative service was held after the
death of Sir Arthur Sullivan. when Miss Hazard
made short address on Sullivans work a COM
from his compositions. Later there was a service
in memory OF Queen Victoria, with appropriate
music.
The Lenten- Easter vespers especially well
carried out The service divided into two
parts the first presenting the death of Christ on
the cross the second the Resurrection
on the evening OF April y. when Or. Brown. OF
the Union Theological Seminary, NewYork, gave
an address with personal reColeCtiOns OF Sir John
Stainer who died recently I'm Italy. much Of the
music accompanying the service from Stainer y
pen.
1t is felt at the college that the choir ministra-
tons add much to the value and dignity of daily
prayers, As well to the Sunday services The
order of morning prayer has been somewhat eX-
tended. ard now presents a service OF variety and
beauty. This. with the music. has had marked
effect I'm Increasing chapel attendance.