Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-07
THE LAST INAUGURAL CONCERT.
Big Pension ONCE Building Crowded
With PeOple-A Splendid Success.

Big Pension ONCE Building Crowded
With Pe0ple-A Splendid Success.
It is estimated that fully 1900 people
were present in the pension office building
last night, when the final concert Of the
inaugural series was rendered. The spec
tacle was one long to be remembered. From
a musical point of view the concert was
also a brilliant success. The great feature
of the program was the inaugural chorus
of 500 voices, under the direction of Mr..
Percy s. Foster. The Marine Band, under
the direction of Mr. w. H. Santelmann,
acted as accompanist to the chorus and al
ternated the choral renditions with instru-
mental selections.
The audience was probably more vast in
its dimensions and more enthusiastic in its
expressions of appreciation than has ever
been gathered at musical event in Wash
ington. The seating of such throng even
in the seemingly limitiess space of the
pension office court was beyond all ques-
ton. Those present, however, did not seem
to mind standing: instead rather enjoyed
the privilege of the promenade. The audi
ence reached to every corner of the big
structure. on the main floor and filled to
overlooking the balcony and rooms of the
second floor.
The chorus was arranged in the music
stand at the east end of the hall. When Mr..
Foster raped for attention and swung into
being the opening strains of America, a
great wave of applause broke through the
audience. The opening selection bespoke
the character Of the entire program. 1t was
patriotic-intensely Observation-Disclosures
This was the contamination of the commit
tees intention and met fine favor with all
who We're present. The singing Of the cho-
rus presented a magnificent blending ana
color of voices. 1t was well balanced, care
fully trained, and its work throughout was
q triumph for its members and director
The concerts were arranged under the d.
rection of the music committee of the in
9I1guratioD of which Mr. William Harry
man Rapley has been chairman. A sub
committee, having immediate charge of the
concerts was composed of Dr.. Franklin L.
Howe, chairman; Frank +. Morgan, }. IT,
Small, jr., and ]. w. Shafer. Mr.. William
B. King was chairman of the subcommittee
on chorus.
There were many distinguished people IN
the audience while in the guests box at
the east end of the hall were seated Sena-
tor Depew and Miss Paulding, Mrs. Regi-
maid De Koven, Mr.. Andrews, Commission
er of Pensions Evans and Commander Is
rael W. Stone of the G. A. R. and Miss
Stone.
Among the selections rendered by the
chorus other than the opening anthem,
America" were Keller's American Ma
tional Hymn" Fosters Hard Times, Come
No More" Eichberg's ITO Thee, o Coun-
try" F. r. Burtons" Freedom. Our Queen
composed especially for the occasion: Gou-
mods unfold, Ye Portals De Koven's
Song of the Flag" and ''Reces sional.'
Chadwicks new Hail. Columbia and
THE Star Spangled Banner" During The
last rendition the scene was an inspiring
one. The members of the chorus stood and
waved small American flags, larger one
being waved by little Ethel Louise Foster.
the daughter of the director. The au-
dience appauded wildly and the song was
repeated. The Marine Band program was
a well-selected one, coinciding nicely with
the patriotic selections of the chorus. Mr..
G. De Luca rendered a piccolo solo, THE
Nightingale"
Z will he that all the choral Sp1pc-
tions, except one were written, either as
to words or music, by Americans. The
setting by Mr.. Burton of Oliver Wendell
Holmes ode, Freedom, Our Queen" was
a musicianly composition and was excel
1ently interpreted by the chorus. AS the
work was especially written for this oCca-
sion. of course it was heard for the first
time. It will undoubtedly become popular
and will soon be in the library of every
choral society.
The returns from the concerts are not
all in, but the committee hope that vixen
counted they will exceed the amount of
four years ago, which was $4,000.