The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-09

can breathe and live in this temple Of
the Most High.
In the Sunday morning descent from
the eternal hills, and while under the
spell of the unutterabie eIoquence of
the canyon, Governor Thomas quoted
most delightfully."-. from the classic
poets, for we had discovered. in this
new world of nature our better selves
who had caught the vision of the hills
and there was nothing better TO do
than to sing and sing again in the
IullneSS of our hearts, as we haStened
to another feast of song by the great
Mormon tabernacle choir under the
baton swing of Professor Evan Steph-
ems in the tabernacle-so, from the
symphony OF nature back to the sym
phony of human song in divine wor-
ship. Governor Thomas and myself
were seated in this wonderful taber-
nacle of perfect acoustics. as far away
from the choir as was possible, in order
to enjoy fully the beauty of choral ut
terance com bined with pipe organ tone
and harmony
Salt Lakes Church Choirs.
Right before us we find the realiza-
ton Of our church choir life dream,
and we have only words of commenda-
ton for the church that has the wis
dom to know, and the courage to act
out the fact that a large choral organ
1zation of its own members congenial
souls, and lovers of sacred song, is the
religious ideal, and is the only way to
deal adequately and artfstfcaIIy with
choral masterpieces. In the twenty
four church wards Of Salt Lake, CITY
there are, necessarily, twenty-four
choirs, directed by as many lieutenant
leaders, and all under the supervision
of Professor Stephens.
At p. m. every Sunday these choirs
meet in one splendidly balanced or
ganization in the choral gallery of the
tabernacle, 500 strong, under the lead
ership Of Professor Stephens. a, superb
musician. and one of our few we'll
equipped conductors, whose face tells
The story OF the music, and whose
baton movements mean the steady
tempo, the sufficient accentuation, the
intelligent phrasing and the waves of
thought expression. Under such cir
cumstances did we listen to and feel
the sweep and power of choral utter
ance-the symphony of sacred music
as the voices and organ rose and fell
In the stirring number of God OF
Israel" chorus in good classic form
by Professor Stephens. AS a perfect
climax to the choral progress, Han
dePs "Hallelujah Chorus was rem
dered in better style, and with more
intelligence than the writer ever wit
ACSSSO DSAOFS, though ne has listened
of 1t ten times in eistedfodic compe-
tition, and scores of times in oratorio
performances. We mean, and mean
intensely" every word we have writ
ten.
When we had listened to this great
choir in the memorable choral contest
at the Worlds fair eisteddfod. and a
few days later on the stage of Chicago's
Central Music hail, and again, at the
Denver eisteddfOd of 1896, it gives us
pleasure to recall some of the critical
remarks made by competent musicians,
the late 'Caradoc'' among them, which,
in substance, were as follows: Here.
at last. we have listened to a choir
that can feel and follow the dramatic
simplicity and power OF sacred music
no forcing of the voices, no straining
for effect, no attempt at changing the
clear meaning of choral masterpieces,
but natural Interpretation, effective
phrasing, clear enunciation, and all
hearts and voices attuned IN true re-
igioso.'' n