The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-01-10
The MESSIAH,
Handel Chorus Scores Success in
Oratorio.

Some good music was heard in the
city Of oskaloosa FRIDAY evening and
credit for the same s due the Handel
Chorus, under the dictatorship of
Mr.. L. F. Barnett. The concert was
a great success in ali ways and while
the expense of producing the ora
torio was about equal to the receipts
for the evening the management of
the Chorus feels that a great work
has been accomplished and that they
have been successful in creating a de-
mand for a high class of music in the
city.
The soloists were Mrs. Ada NJ Shelf
field, soprano, of Chicago, Mrs. Ella
Pierson Kirkman, Of Chicago, and
Mr.. Frederick Carberry, tenor, of
Chicago, and Mr.. L. 2. Barnett, of
Oskaloosa, bass. The chorus was
made up OF sixty odd voices under
the direction of Mr.. Bennett. The
accompaniment was s~plendidly
handled by Mrs. Belle G. Ray, of this
city, on the pipe organ.
Mrs. shefheld, soprano. is no
stranger TO 0skaloosa audiences
where her singing has been much
praised. Her efforts OF Friday even
ing were accorded the applause
merited. Mrs. Sheffield feels particu-
larry at home in the city and she has
taken more than a passing interest
on the people and their doings. When
the Handel Chorus first proposed
having the Messiah, Mrs. Sheffield
was asked IL she would sing the
soprano eolos. The lady most will
ing consented but her efforts did not
stop there. 1t was through her solicit
alton that the Chorus were rendered
the services of Mrs. Ella Pierson
Kirkman, of Chicago, contralto, and
MIR. Frederick Carberry, also of Chi,
cage, tenor. 1t seemed hardly pos,
sible to the management ofthe Chorus
that such good fortune was to be
theirs. The voices that have been
promised are well known from one
end Of the country to the other and
r much in demand. That an Oska'
loosa audience was to have the pleas.
are of hearing some ofthe most noted
oratorio voices in the land seemed
almost beyond belief. Mrs. Sheffield
by her interest in the Oskalooss
Chorus has made many new friends
here.
Mrs. Pierson Kirkham, in the con
tralto parts is much liked. The lady
has a beautiful voice, peculiarly soft
and flexible and it is under perfect
control. Her solos were roundly
applauded and the audience would
have been pleased had there beer
contralto numbers.
Mr.. Frederick Carberry, as a tenor
in oratorio work, stands to-day with
out an equalin the United States ,anC
his services T sought far and near
That his singing is perfect there is
no denying. The voice is soft and YET
Anb q WOANCAluA NOluAAlg III Gall IL
power without apparent effort or the
part of the singer. The tones of the
upper register pure and clear and
are sung without effort. The voice
is without question one of the mos
remarkable that has ever been heard
in the city and the audience would
gladly have heard more of it,
Professor Barnett in addition to di,
recting the chorus took upon himself
the burden of the bass solos. He
handled them in a manner that proved
him to be the master of that class OIL
music. The gentleman to-day has
been congratulated upon all hand;
to-day not alone for the splendid re,
suits he has obtaine with the chorus
but for the manner in which be
handled his solo work. We are giaC
to know that Oskaloosa is the home
of a master and a student of this
character,
There we're so many good things
heard during the evening that il
would be impossible to mention one
above another, and yet the quar-
tette and the Hallelujah Chorus Ger,
tainly stand alone in their places.
The blending Of the voices in the
q~uartettes and the harmony pro.
duced was above criticism. The cho
rus in this masterpiece was undeI
perfect direction, and a fair adjudi'
cation of its work, had the chorus
been in competition, could have
found little to better. The balances
were evenly maintained between so.
pranos and te ors, altos and bassot
and the effect was very pleasing.
There were those in the audience
who admire the work of a soprano
more than that of a tenor or a con,
traIto, and the reverse is also true
Yet il would be difficult for any one
to show wherein of the soloistt
OF the evening was the superior OF
the others. Mrs Sheffield certainly
has a great and wonderful soprano.
Mrs Kirkham's rich, deep c~ontraltc
is certainly as rare q voice as it ID
pleasing. Mr.. Carberry stands alone
and without a rival in his class. Mr.
Burnett, in his handling OF the bass
was a surprise to the entire aud