The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-13

| The baby social at the Church Of
Christ last night .occasioned much mer-
riment. Each one present had to show
a picture of himself taken when a ba-
by. It was not possible in every case
to identify the baby with the person
who presented the picture, but the BEN
eft of the doubt was given him when
doubt tarose. The evening was spent
socially.
An entertainment in which Worces-
ter talent appeared was given in Au-
burn Congregational Church last night
The program was; Piano solo, Miss
Gould of Worcester: piano duet, Miss
Hazel and Margery Cunning Of Wor
cester; piano solo, Miss Clara Blood of
Worcester; duet, piano and violin, the
Misses Cunning; vocal trio, Mrs. L. N.
Stone, Misses Lottie and Eunice
Thayer; piano solo, Miss Blood; piano
duet the Misses Cunning. The Cunning
girls, two little players whose feet
barely reached the floor, as the chill
dren were seated at the piano, were
encored again and again. There was
an excellent supper besides the pleas
ing entertainment, and before the
evening closed there was an auction
sale of cake. Many persons in the au-
$50
Mrs. Harriette Kibbe Christie of AL
bany, who has been conducting Bible
readings at the Lowell Y. w. C. A, is
expected at the Worcester Y. w. c. A.,
Saturday, to remain week and con-
duct similar classes.
A&A
The Ladies' Benevolent Society of
Main Street Baptist Church met for
business yesterday afternoon, at the
church, stayed for supper and enjoyed
an entertainment in the evening. Mrs.
F. l.. Durkee, presided at the meeting
where routine business was trans
acted and a barrel was packed for an
industrial school in Idaho. Cold meats,
pie, coffee, etc, were served at $50 by
+ Mrs Durkee, Mrs. L. De Long, Mrs.
| N. E. Stowell, Mrs S. j. Bean, Mrs.
| L. s. Ford, Mrs. 7. F. Harrington. The
entertainment was managed by Mrs.
Fred L. Ward Miss Ruth Bean and
Mrs. Durkee and consisted of songs by
Mrs. John j. Heron, piano solos by
Miss st. James and readings by Waldo
Simpson Martin.
Charles L Rice, assistant supervisor
of music In the public schools, gave an
instructive lecture on George w. Chad
Wick's lyric drama, Judith" before
| the art and music department of the
Woman's Club in the Y. w. c. A. class
room yesterday afternoon. The occa-
sion was of especial interest, owing to
the fact that Mr.. Chadwick's work was
given its initial performance at the
Worcester Music Festival this year and
~,
subject of a lecture. Mr.. Rice illus
trated his lecture by singing portions
of the work and he was assisted at the
piano by r. A. Lyford Mrs. Florence
Sears Ware presided at the meeting in
the absence of Mrs Carrie King Hunt,
chairman of the art and music depart
ment.
Mr.. Rice's lecture gave a new in
terest to ChadWick's work which will
be enjoyed thoroughly when heard
again, after having been expounded sc
delightfully."- at yesterdays meeting.
Mr.. Rice said: "If my address should
contain anything of educational value
l would prefer to have it directed into
a channel which may be useful to yoJ
at next years Festival and it is pretty
certain that neither The Beatitudes Of
the Requiem will appear on the scheme
for 1902.
LET it be understood at the outse
that the good composers the worlt
lover far outnumbers the good librettists
Hence we find such a man as E. A. Nc.
Dowell, who would like to enter the
field of choral writing, deferred from
doing so on account of the difficulty OF
getting a suitable book Of words
chadwick, Parker, Kelly, Burton
and l may safely include all the names
of men who have ever written a sue
cessful choral work, are continually
searching for material on which to
base an oratorio, an opera, a cantata
or romantic work.
1.-THE work Is first of all a musical
and not literary production, which
must stand or fall on it's merits as
such before jury composed of must
| cal critics, not of book reviewers This
/ does away at once with the idea that
| the librettist Yields free pen.
every composer has a notebook in
which he keeps a record of the novel
musical effects that from time to time
occur to him: odd rhythms, tonal
combinations, etc. When occasion of
| fers they are brought forth and be-
hold! the librettist is called upon to
write words for ready made music
THAT part of the story in the Apo
crypha which was utilized by Messrs.
Chadwick and Langdon has but
for use as a text for a musical explota-
ton required on the part of the libret-
fist not only a rich natural endowment
of imaginative faculties but a very
considerable studiously acquired knowl-
edge of Assyro- Babylonish and Can
aanitish history, mythology and relig
ion."
Mr.. Rice then told the story of "Ju-
dith" from which he proceeded to a
j
planned the meaning of 'leit MOTIF
which he called 1.-The most logical, con-
sistent and useful addition to materia
musica which stands to the credit of
the last half of the 18th century"
"a strain of music may be the
means of suggesting a personality,
dramatic situation, or an abstract idea
and upon this fact as a foundation the
whole principle of lett motif use has
been built up"
Mr. Rice then gave Parry's definition
of lett motif
Wagner, to whose genius more than
that of any other composer we are in
debted for the working out of the left
motif system. is usually drawn upon
for material illustrative of its princi-
pies and application. but I shall try to
show you that Judith affords many
fine examples"
The lecturer then pointed out the
development of the lett motif in Mr..
Chadwick's work, the class following
the score in copies of the book which
had been provided. Six guiding themes
or lett motives were found, -Assyrian
nation, the camp. Holofernes, Judith,
the vision. the sword. Mr. Rice said:
zone musical critic and reviewer of
wide reputation found two examples of
lett motif: and another, one or two, in
making a study of the work at their
own pianos. heard It rehearsed all
last winter and know of six motives