The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-12
OLD Ellis TUNEFUL
SONS TO SING HERE
Musical Clubs to Be Heard
During the Holidays.
GLEE, BANJO, AND MANDOLIN
Local Alumni Plan to Give Hearty
Greeting to Visiting Aggregation.
Singing of Rare Excellence.

Yale alumni in Washington are making
preparations TO entertain the members
Of the Yale Glee. Banjo, and MandO-
lin Clubs, scheduled to appear here in
the Christmas holidays. The appear
ance Of a gcol college glee club. such
as that which Yale produces this year.
as always the signal for college men to
turn out. and be reminded Of their
undergraduate days, when they had
nothing to do but attend lectures. eat,
sleep. and pretend to be considering the
seriousness OF life. concerning the &C
Qualities Of which they knew and sus-
pected absolutely nothing
The Yale clubs are made up of about
fifty men, who are taking their annual
Christmas trip through the South and
West They travel in two private cars,
and have the kind of time that brings
Joy TO the hearts OF college men.
Development of Clubs.
While it was always safe for a Yale
student to say We smoke our pipes
and sing our glees." yet forty years ago
the only organized effort at singing at
Yale was a large choral society. which
took into its membership those who
could sing al all reasonably. 1t was not
especially necessary that they should
be good and available singers.
About this time it occurred to some Of
the undergraduates that the habit
among the students OF singing their
college songs in an off-hand way in
their rooms. on the campus. and on the
street. might be utilized and developed
by the formation OF a small club, which
should practice together in order TO do
these same ehinss with more finish, add
TO them other light and catchy songs
and sing then for tho u7rhIfo a., sor-v,,arf
The first attempt OF this kind that was
substantial and successful was made IN
1866. when about eight men met and
studied. bes iyies the old songs. a few
additional pieces Of the same character
This club sang on various occasions
where Yale men were interested, such as
the Wooden spoon Exhibition and the
Thanksgiving jubilee
Gantlet to Membership.
Membership IN the club today is only
acquired after running a long gantIet.
At the begin aing Of each college year,
in order to I'LL vacancies made by those
who have graduated or those who have
been adjudged not worthy Of being re-
tanned, competitive examinations are
held at which two hundred or more ap-
plicants are given trials to NIL possibly
ten or fifteen vacancies. After the first
trials the most promising OF the candi-
dates are submitted TO second trials,
and often 70 third and fourth trials,
THAI decisions may be carefully made,
that. in view of the great desire to OBJ
tain positions on the clubs, exact JUS
tice in selecting may be done.
A few moro men are selected at these
early trials than are needed. and all
practice together Until the time for the
-. ri
clubs are cut down to the numbers
needed for the trip. The quota OF the
clubs, when travelling. is forty-three
men. The direct result OF these exact
ing competitions is to induce the stu
dents to prepare for them in advance
under good teachers, and thus the
standard OF the applicants Is raised to
far higher point than II they were mere
IL untutored musicians.
The Glee Club.
On the Glee Club there IS rarely a
member whose voice has not had care
full individual study. and, o. course, on
the Banjo Club previous study is indis-
pensable. After the clubs are made up
they are drilled several hours each
week by exg sTienced and capable in
strUctors.
The charm OF a Glee and Banjo Club
concert is difficult TO explain to one who
has never experienced 1t. -he recitais
are unlike other public performances
ana possess a characteristic fascination
which is felt at once by those who hear
them, whether interested in college
matters or not
This season the Yale club contains
more than usually excellent material.
and the programs prepared have been
given a character that is especially Jolly
and tunefui, illustrating college singing
at its best The large number Of Yale
graduates in Washington. both IN Gov
eminent service and professional life,
viii doubtless insure a cordial welcome
70 the clubs representing Old Elihu