The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-13

ian selections by the Thomas orchestra
with the playing of the same numbers
by the concert bands which have been
at the Auditorium.
There is nothing unusual in the in
strumentat ton of the Thomas orchestra
No patent" instruments are carried.
The only instrument which demands
special attention IS. or are, the cymbals.
The man who plays them is Frank
Wagner. In numbers, where there is no
part for the cymbals. he plays the vio-
lin Wagner is the finest cynba1 player
in the country. Those who laugh al the
mention of cymbal players should hear
what Manager Vessels of the orchestra
has to say of Wagner. He says there
is no cymbal player in the country who
can produce so soft, even and ringing
a tone from the brasses as can he.
Wagner played the cymbals while sew
eral of the soloists were singing. Not
when they We're singing at the tops of
their voices either, but when the music
was soft and low.
The Tuesday afternoon concert by
the Thomas orchestra and Miss Mabelle
Crawford and Mrs. George W. Park
hurst, soloists, was of lighter and
more popular vein than any of the
others.
The opening number was the march
from Wagner'S .tTannhauser'' and the
closing number was Tchaikowsky'
"CapricciO Italien." Between were Sc
lections that appealed to those who
complain of the heavy numbers
Everyone, who ever went to a country
dance in new barn was ready to try
to dance when Strauss "On The Beau
tiful Blue Danube was played THE
Funeral March of a Marionette" was a
catchy piece and here Gounod, who
seems to be the favorite composer with
the audiences. was thoroughly appre-
ciated.
Mrs. Geo. W. Parkhurst's solo was the
aria from Gounod's Queen of Sheba. -
There was no little interest manifest
over the appearance of a Topeka singer
and Mrs. Parkhurst was recalled sew
eral times but declined to respond. She
sang with the orchestra with the sans
ease which marks the singing Of the
professionals.
Miss Mabelle Crawford. formerly of
Topeka. sang for the first time during
the festival. at the afternoon concert
That she is a remarkable contralto can
not be disputed. Her voice filled the
Auditorium and she sang without any
apparent effort. Her first number was
an aria from Saint Saens Samson and
Dehlah, with orchestral accOmpani-
ment She responded with an old Eng
lish ballad called Come Lads and
Lasses-" It was a simple ballad which
caught the fancy of the audience and
MISS Crawford was called upon to re-
Mrs Parkhurst and Miss Crawford
sank as duet Rossini's '.Stabat Ma
ter. The voices of the singers blended
Wen ana the duet was brilliantly given
Three times during the afternoon con-
cert frederick Stock, conductor of the
orchestra, stopped the players laid his
baton on the music rack in front of him
and waited for quiet. The orchestra
was playing the soft passages of the
numbers and with the constant noise
and confusion it was impossible to hear
IN the rear of the building Mr.. Stock
demanded a proper degree of quietness
and he received it before he continued.
1t was a good lesson which the public
should remember.
MUSICAL PEOPLES AIISTAK FES
At the Tuesday afternoon concert at
the auditorium a woman, a very must
cal woman, made a mistake which lar
red her musical reputation severely.
She carried a music roll as big round
as a fence post She was music all over
and knew music like most people know
their a, b, c's. Her music role proved
that An encore was played. That
threw her off the track and she lost
count on the programme. She thought
the next number ought to be so and so.
She heard it It was grand. Wash
that Funeral march of a MariOnette'
just simply grand, exquisite she said
to a friend I like it so much. It is
such a beautiful thing" The fact was
that another number was TO come be-
fore the funeral march and the must
cal woman did not 50 readily s'recog-
nize the piece as she would have peo-
pie think