Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-16
IRISH SONG AND sTORY.v
Thoroughly Enjoyed By Large Audi.
 ence at St Patrick's Hall

building last evening was a high class entertainment and thoroughly de- serving the large audience that wit messed 1t. As the program said, the sstory" was told by Miss Nellie Dee, former instructor of music in the publ lie schools, and now of New York, and the song by Misses GIoster and Ryan and Messrs Maher and Gregory, with Edward J. Keegan, accompanist. The entertainment could fitingly be called the story of the music, or the progress of music, or the influence of the Ceit on the music of the world for it was certainly most charming entertain- ment and delightfully."- instructive as well. It was somewhat on the lines of the splendid lecture given by the Rev Dr Conaty, now president of the Washington university, in Naugatuck some years ago. And yet, Miss Dec the delightful story teller of the even ing, said she would have to offer apolo- gies for its incompleteness on account of the hurried change of address she made some months ago.
 The story began with the music of Pagan Ireland, when the bard led armies to war, when he was man of national renown for his ability in song and poetry. Intermingled with this was the folk lore of the country to some extent telling of beautiful legend which introduced the first song of the evening ssSilent o Nfoy1e Be the Roar of the Waters by Miss Ryan. As Miss Dee proceeded the arranged pro- gram was carried out. The story of each song was told and of great many others that were not on the pro- gram. They were mostly Moore's melodies. Many of them were heard before and many were not. sLet Erin Remember was written long after the country had become gem in Eng lands crown. sfRich and Rare Were the Gems She Wore' told its own story, but The Last Rose of Summer sung by Miss Gloster was hallowed
 by romance that was told for the first time last night. Az the world we'll knows this is a classic of the richest and purest nature. So sweet was it considered at one time that it was stolen by a German (Iiss Dee told the namel and inserted in his opera. The opera was fiat failure until "The Last Rose of Summer was sung and then the tuTnult of applause be- came so great the author of the opera in his confused and excited state of
 
 Everybody knows the story of the
 Minstrel Boy.v It tells itself. And s'The Meeting of the Waters sung by Miss Gloster is another gem that has often been heard by the local public. But for the first time here the people heard t1The Song of O'Rouark.' which is popularly called the .svalley Lay Smiling Before Me" The saddest of all of Moore's melodies tells the story of the first blush of shame that came to Ireland with the stranger and i'm vader. This was sung by Miss Ryan. so sweet SO tenderly and expressively that it was the opinion of those who have heard 1t before that it was never sung better. And so the program, delightfully."- full of charming and ex- auisite sound that are contained only in Moore's melodies went along. AI,d Mourn the Hopes That Leave Me- by Miss GlOster was greatly applanded. "Dear Harp of My Country" also by Miss Gloster. and then the story teller drifted into paths by other authors of the sweetest music that was ever written. She told of the great Balfe. l a native of Dublin, who set the world
 of his day singing the most exquisite music of the time. serhe Bohemian
 Girl" Balfe wrote twenty operas.
 Introducing his music Miss GIoster sung selection from HThe Bohemian Girl" II Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls.' Everybody knows the story of the action of this play. Balfe was educted in Italy and sung in opera in that country and France for some time. His voice was so exquisite that an ad- nirer of music made him his protego and had him educated After winning
 a name foremost of the day, Balfe re- turned to his native country and be- gan the writing of his operas, the chief. one of which is 1'The Bohemian Girl. j, which Miss Dee believes will live for ever.
 Another great composer of Irish mrl- sic was Michael Wallace, author of "Maritana, which even to-day is con- sidered one of the sweetest of the class
 les. Wallace was also native of Dublin and Wanderer for a long time from his native country. Miss Dee se- lected from s'Maritana', ssScenes That Are Brightest This was sung by Nfr Gregory with such pathos and feel ing that he was encored until he re- sponded. At this point of the enter fainment it seemed to have dawned upon the audience that encores were alloWanie. The audience had heartily applauded Miss Ryan and Miss Gloster
 but it was received in such manner 1t was supposed that encores were not
 allowed until Mr Gregory, prompted
 by Miss Dee. replied by repeating the last verse of his song.
 Concluding her story Miss Dee told of the misfortunes of Handel, one Of the greatest of modern composers. of the vast sums of money he had lost before he won fame London would not 1istan to Handel He was beau- tfful composer but the London public did not care for him, and he was in the last stages of disappointment and f. nancial ruin and physical decay were evidently to become his unfortunate lot when the public of Dublin, then in in it's heydey Of wealth fashion, and education, invited him to write for them. Then Handel wrote his famous Messiah which has made his name imperishab1e. Dublin received him with hearty arms and thus endorsed, Handel arose from the grave that hhi already opened to receive him, and was the most famous man of the day. .l l Y, sYY