The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-17

tival Is the singing Of the trombone choir
III the belfry Of the old church half hour
before the beginning of each service. Men,
women and children of all ages assemble
in the church-yard to listen to the three
chorales Monday and Tuesday the cho-
rales were .''all cheerful" said little
girl outside the church., but Wednesday,
In the dusk OF the lingering twilight as
she stood drinking In each tone. the same
little girl exclaimed as the third chorale
floated out on the air, "Oh. that's a
death tune. and It gives me tho screep5."
It is needless to say she was not q. Mora
Wan. Her com panion, a Mornvian child.
added II like those tunes"
TROMBONE CIOIRS REJECT.
The effect OF this trombone choir can
not be described. It seems the wall from
the earth worn hearts waited to heaven,
but always with pathetic undercurrent
OF hope. The men standing In the belfry
In the evening, with the Pickering lights
above them, take on the seeming Of other
Worldliness
At Easter this trombone choir goes
through the streets singing at the corners.
beginning Mt two o'clock in the morning,
and at five they go into the church and
the Easter service begins, The service
concludes in the Moravlan graveyard Just
belond the church. where lie many OF the
good brothers and sisters. some of whom
were born in the seventeenth century.
Are there many Of the modern boys
who would thrill with delightful recollec-
lions when looking at the grave OF
Tschoop, a Mochican Indian. who was bap-
tized John, and died in 1746 For this was
the veritable Great Serpent. the father OF
uncas, the last of the Mohicans,
There are no monuments in this grave
yard. only small flat slab over each
grave: the dead are buried according to
49,, ,1nIt fhny
the married elsewhere. but no distinction
In the flat stones.
Nowhere are there to be found so many
wild flowers, which seem to be guarding
the graves, and nowhere is there rest
ing place so simple, so beautiful, so I'M
presslve.
When there is death 1t Is announced
by three chornles from the trombone
choir. Music enters into the life OF these
Moravians from the beginning to the end,
Thursday was devoted to the wonderful
est. Matthew Passion" and being divided
In two parts the first was sung IN the ar
ternoon and the second In the evening,
But the simple word sung does not give
even family the idea of the rendition OF
this oratoro.
The sololsts were Mrs, Mary Hlssen De
Moss, soprano; Mrs. Gertrude May Stein.
alto; Mr.. Nicholas Douty, tenor: Mr..
Julian Walker, bass. and Mr.. Herbert
Witherspoon, bass. Mrs. DeMoss sang
With exnlhsitely cultured dignity ana
purity, and Mr.. Douty Is always dram
attic. musical to his flngertips, and thor
oughly sympathetic but SO reverent is
the enforced attitude of the audience that
criticism Is often paralyzed, and stu the
wonder grows, how has this chorus ac-
compllshed It's work and retained from
start to finish Its beauty and vigorous
freshness? But with Mr. Nolle's enthu-
siasm and earnest, perseVering patience,
all things seem possible,
Monday and Tuesday the women in the
chorus wore white; Wednesday and
Thursday black was seen on every
woman In chorus and orchestra. for the
first violns are young girls and other IN
struments are guided by women
The old church was filled, and crowds
fingered outside. No applause is Swallowed,
no full dress, simplicity is regarded IN
all details, but the music. the enjoyment
of each part, fills tho thought of each
man and woman present.
Friday evening two cantatas We're
given. The Heavens Laugh, the Earth
Itself Rejotces., and God Goeth W. Win = y
Shouting, and the soloists were Miss Re-
becca Mackenzie. soprano; Mrs. w. l.,
Estes, alto: Mr. Theodore Van Youe.
tenor; Mr., Julian Walker, bass.
All mourning in garh and tone had been
laid aside and the beauty OF holiness
came forth IN JOY ana Slauness
AUDIENCE JOINED IN,
The chorales often throughout the fes-
tiya had seemed perfect. and at times
large part of the audience has Joined IN
the singing and have sung well, too.
Saturday the festival came to an END
with the Mass In b Minor. The soloists
We're Mrs, Marie Zimmerman, soprano;
Mrs Gertrude May Stein, alto; Mr.. The
odore Van Youe, tenor; Mr., Julian wal
Kerr bass
There were two performances, tho first
in the afternoon and the second IN the
evening,
The interest in the concerts has steadily
increased, as has also sympathy between
nerformers and audlence; enthusiasm has
il, ma means been confined to the sing