New-York tribune., 1901-09-26
MUSIC.
TRIBUTE PAID TO MKINLEY'S MEMORY
AT THE WORCESTER FESTIVAL.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE rn1sUyE.I

icy TELEGRAPH THE TRIsUSE.I
Worcester. Mass. Sept. 25-verdrs Requiem"
composed in honor Of the memory of his friend
Manzoni. was performed a, the third concert o:
the festival Of the Worcester County Musical Asso-
cation this evening Before IT, the orchestra played
the death march from Wagner's ''Giotterddmme-
runs, which was not in the original festival plan
IN memory of the late President Mckinley This
funeral music was received with the impressive
silence which is on occasions much more eloquenr
than the most enthusiastic plaudits could possibly
oe' ana this evening spoke besides OF the reyer-
ehce felt for the memory OF Major Mckinley I,
was the second tribute which the association has
paid to the dead President Last Thursday w.
eester was one of the many cities throughout the
country that gave their regular pursuits TO ioin
IN a memorial 10 him who was being laid To resi-
' MS grave. and the festival choir contributed ar
Impressive feature 10 the services by singing the
ehorus All Flesh Is Like Grass" from, Brabr,s,-
German Requiem"
the selection of verdi's mass for the dead for
this festival had nothing to do with President Nc
hinieys DEATH but the association of ideas do,,h1
less influenced both performers and hearers and
contributed something to the beauty and i'm,
presslveness OF the occasion The work had been
sung at five earlier festivalsthe last time in Issi
and the choir seemed fairly familiar with it. The
shortcomings in the choral portion of the perform
ance seemed to be due to the prevailing fault of
amateur chors. rule-the quantity of dead
wood. useless material. in the company But there
much 10 be satisfied with in the perform
that the disposition to find fault.
amable, easily gave way to the pleasant duty of
Thanksgiving and graduation
The solos in the mass sung by Mrs. Shan
nah Cumming, Mrs. Clara Poole-kinS, Ellison Van
Hoose and DR.. Carl r. DUnt. IL was more than
fairly capable quartet and performances might
ca silly be recalled in which a much higher degree
of individual talent was enlisted and less salts
factory results attained The singers were pains
taking and none sought to dominate the others.
Much of the sopranos singing was little else than
sort of piping. words being distinguishable
and the being Of sinsulaTly lnfantile quail
ty. but purity of intonation there, and with
familiar text better jusness of pitch. with modi-
cum of diction. Mrs. Cummings voice with all its
clarity would not blend with the voices of her
associates; but among themselves Mrs. Poole
King Mr.. Van Hoose and Dr. Duff made a SYM
pathetic and ingratiating harmony.
The absence of Nine. Emma Eames compelled a
change in the programme of the afternoon concert
She was TO sung the soprano solos in The
Requiem These having been undertaken by
Mrs. Cumming. the tatters place was supplied In
| the afternoon concert by Mr.. Towne and Miss
Griggs. both OF whom sang their way deep into the
hearts of their hearers. and were generously re
warded with applause Mr.. ToTne sang the
| romance 'Cieo Q Mar from Ponchiefs la Clio
conda.'' and Miss Griggs Berlioz's La Captive,
which she had expected sing tomorrow after
noon The other numbers were all orchestral. and
| consisted of the prelude to Die Melstersnger.'
/ Brahmss symphony in major and Nassenet's
| overture ''Phedre."
OF the performance of this number little good
can be spoken. The symphony in especial suffered
| from sluggish tempt and paucity OF elasticity and
expression There was more animation and vitality
| in the overture by Massenet. but the bands fine
artistic quality was disclosed only in the accom-
| paniment to Berlioz'S ''Revery," which
Quoted by Franz kneisel, who seems to stand in
more sympathetic relationship with the players, Of
whom he is one than MIR Chadwick. This setting
of fragment from Victor Hugo's Les Orientales
lafrf and rfCal of Rar-
uozs inspirations. The vocal part is dreamy and
| languorous, the instrumental seems 10 simmer
through a gossamer haze. Miss Grigss. who Is the
contraIto Of the Park Street Church. IN Boston. has
a voice of fine quality. but diseloses Imperfect
training in her use of the higher register She
sang the beautiful song with nice appreciation OF
it's prevalent mood. though too eumbroUsly in i's
dainty portion H. l. n