The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-26
IT WENT WELL.
g PrOdigaI Son +" a Treat For
Music Lovers.
Vincent OratoriO Given by
Topeka Choral Society,",
AUDIENCE NOT LARGE.
This Did Not Interfere With
Excellent Programme.
SOlOists Receive Their Share
of the HOnOrs.
.Oh, That Thou Hadst Hearkened."


The handful of people who sat in the
Auditorium last night listened to the
best public musical entertainment of the
past year in Topeka. 1t merited a
packed audience, which more extensive
advertising might have given it, for To-
peka is not unappreciative of choraI
music. Probably Topeka is saving itself
for the festival in May. when the Choral
union Will again appear, its programmes
reinforced with the best solo singers IN
the world. Communication for last
nights performance need not be quail
4 fed, for the members of the Topeka So
ciety of musical people We're at their
best. the arrangement of the numbers
was not be reproaehed and the celeritS
with which one number succeeded an
other permitted no tedious waits.
/ Oratorio music is not the easiest to
listen to, on account of the necessary
similarity of the various numbers which
compose programme. Unlike the
swinging programme of the concert
4 band the resOunding overture does mol
4 pass into the thrilling march, and the
march into the intermezzo. The dig
! nifty of the production must be pre-
served throughout the list and the
/ changes are from the chorus to the solv
and the cuartette The thousand or
evening were of those who like THAI
sort of music A more mixed audience
might have taken exception to the pro-
gramme for the reason set forth above.
Upon the selection of the soloists the
Choral society deserves congrat ulatiou
Mrs Frank S. Thomas. Mrs. Frank II.
Foster Mr. Harry 3. Pribble and Mr.
! David Bowie are four vOcaIists who can
be presented to Topeka audience with
out the fOrmaity of an introduction liz
( the necessarily important positions they
occupied in the solo parts Of The Prod
lgal Son last evening, each obtained an
opportunity for the most advantageous
presentation of their vocal attainments
and the efforts of each was given a gen
erouS recognition by the audience For
the Irst time the Topeka Symphony
orchestra made the acquaintance of All
audience by its appearance last even
/ ing It numbers tWenty-Six of the best
instrumental musicians of the town
most Of them union musicians who have
appeared in numerous other organiza-
] TONS as bandsmen and orchestra per
/ formers. Their assemblage as the sup
/ port of the Choral union for its produc.
/ ton OF The PrOdigaI Som was one of
the most felcitous inventions of the
| Chofal union management It is to the
interest of the entertainment-gOin
public that the Symphony orchestra re-
mains intact Tor further performances.
Inc sight of musical programme Of
% numbers is likely to produce "a cold
/ shudder in the mind OF any sort of an
audience and it is safe to say that the
majority of the audience last nieht did
not Ieel comfortable until the first three
or TOUR numbers had passed. None of
them were long-the entire programme
lasted less than an hour and a half
Henry B. Vincent's production. THE
/ Prodigal SON. is the best adapted ora
! TOrlO for a public entertainment tina
the Topeka Choral Union has vet at
tempted. Work on it has been in prog
ress during the entire winter although
the practice has been done to the ac-
compartment of a piano alone most of
the time The addition of the orchestra
was made but few weeks ago. The
| chorus and orchestra occupied nearly
/ the entire stage of the Auditorium the
latter being assembled about the lead
er in the center. The four soloists oc-
/ cupied seats at the right hand of the
director. Prof. Penny.
Seldom has the singing of Mrs Frank
/ 5. Thomas been given to more advant-
age or to more appreciative audience
than last evening. Her soprano solos
4 rose clear as a bell through the big hall
and her remarkably clear enunciation
and sustained tones captured her audi
ence. Mr. Pribble's rendition of the
eighteenth number Father, I have
/ Sinned, was fully appreciated. His
superiority lies less in his range than
in the ease of delivery and excellent
carrying" qualities of his voice. He
was recalled and gave one of the two
OF three encores of the entire evening.
/ The most highly appreciated number
was the duet by Mrs. Frank Thomas
and Mrs Frank Foster. "They Went
1 Astray'' which evoked the most en-
thusiastic applause of the evening.
They We're recalled and repeated a part
of their number
Among the numbers which were
shown the greatest appreciation was
the sixteenth, composed of three sub
ordinate parts the chorus oh, That
Thou Hadst Hearkened," the soprano
and contralto duet, "Oh, That They
Were Wise" and the chorus. repeated
with the contralto obligatO The ninth
number by the chorus Let Us Eat and
Drink, was one of the best of the even
ing but it was no better than the nine
tenth. THE Sacrifices of God" which
was more highly appreciated having
greater variety of melody.
The Topeka Symphony orchestra,
which did the very creditable support
posed of the following musicians. all of
whom are very well known in Topeka
First violin, c. r. CallSins, Ray Hall,
Guy Morgan, Carl Wood, Marion Oar
low; second violin, Harry Roehr VIM.
Hopkins. VIM. Mueller: viola, Carl
GreOschner. Prof. Louis Heck cello. O.
W CaIkins: bass Vim. Huston, Arthur
Stewart. B. B. Clary; flutes, oscar Oar
low, Horward Carruth; clarionets,
Frank Lescher, Charles Chapman;
oboe Frank Heck; bassOon, Theo. Muel-
Ter; trombone, CIemOra Hammond !;
horns. John Herzog. John Sheetz;
trumpets p D. Russell, F. W Swear
ingen; tympani, James Cowdrey.
Working Overtime.
Eight hour laws are ignored by those
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