Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-06-20

Special
1t Vas rare treat which the large
audience ass 5mbled III the college chapel
Tuesday evening, enjoyed; the occasion
being the piano recital by Alberto Jonas
From the first note of that delightfully."-
nterestIng and characteristic compost
tion, Schumann's Symphonic Etudes, 10
the last OF the ever taking Sixth Rhap.
sodIe by Liszt, the evening was one of
complete enjoyment.
One wonders upon what 10 comment
first. Shall 1t be the makeup of the
program, with its variety of composers,
who ere, nevertheless, chosen SO judi
ciously, or the character of thu compost
tIons, all thoroughly good, yet not too
heavy for IA summer evening at the
clos of term of school?-or perhaps
the ylrtuoso's technique, delicate, yet
strong, facile, yet sustained:-or, still
more, his poetic feeling and intellectual
readl KS of the compositions:
here were many lessons taught by
this performance, tor instance, 10 the
piano student, the pedalilng used IN the
Chopin numbers was truly educative,
particularly the careful use OF the soft
and sustaining pedals so also, was the
perfect staccato touch III Deibes dainty
French dance III particular lesson
III general courtesy of manners might
also be learned from the dignified bear
ing OF Mr.. Jonas ana nom his kindly
generosity III the matter of encOres. 10
these he responded tour times, twice re
peatlng compositions which proved es
pecially pleasing 10 the audience, and
w. ice iengthening'a group by playing
number not on the program.
Attention might be called TO Mr..
Jonas originality In composition as
shown in both the dance of the new
form and the one of the old.
Were l TO state what seemed to me
the most striking features of the even
ing, they would be- the Schumann num-
ber with all Its intellectually of COM
position, and the appreciatlve lnterpre
tatIon given it, the very satisfactory
rendering of Chopin, making him both
fiery and poetic, yet given with much
self control, and the flawless melodious-
ness of the Rubenstein Barcarolle,
which was surely exquisite.
The pleasure of the evening was also
greatly enhanced by the perfect Stein
way piano used. A. X. NJ.
The Academy graduation exercises
were held Wednesday morning Lester
Sharp opened the program with violin
solo after which Rev. Nm. Bryant Of
West Bay City, gave the invocation.
Miss Howard sang " hat the Chimney
Sang (GriswoldJ and then the first
member of the class, Austin G. John
son delivered his grafton, How Daniel
W Nebster Served His Country" David
A. johnson was second with "SeiZlng
the Opportunity. A musical number
followed, Ballet from RIenzi (Nag
ner) played on two pianos by Misses
Messenger, bearing, Sergeant and Wal
lace. Miss Nelma Sharp's essay was
called Il VIII and Caven ;. Ronald
concluded the program with "Hazen ).
Pingree" The Magaw Prizes of ten
and five dollars were offered this year as
usual for the best and second best pro-
ductl and delivery, OF members OF the
fourth year class, so a good deal of iu-
terest centeIed upon this program. !
W hlle the judges were comforting to /
gether, Miss Sadie Messenger played /
Nocturne and Chant sans Paroles |
{ (Tschaik wsky) in her usual good man
ner. Supt. Cook announced the decision
as follows: First prize David a johnson,
second, Miss Nelma sharp The other
judges were Rev. Wooton, Prof. Mitch !
ell and DR.. Spencer. The program
ended with an excellent bass solo Die
Beiden Grenadiere by Mr.. Geo. Timby. |
Wednesday was alumni day and at
two clock In the afternoon the crowd
TO the chapel TO hear from three
loyal alumni of the college. Prof.
Mitchell, who Is president Of the alumni
association, turned the meeting over to
l. Brooke. 80, who presided. The
speakers Of the afternoon were @, +.
Scott '0S Watson n RObiuson 'OI