The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-13

the less congratulated upon the posses
sion of a musical personnel which is or
truth musical The construction of this
chorus called for the best of Wichita s
musical timber and it was furnished free
~ and without stint. Let all credit be
given to officers and directors who have
used their valuable time to pilot the cho-
rus to success. Why should Wichita be
proud of this organization? Because it
is proud Of Wichita and does her proud.
After last Thursdays success the most
conservative and even skeptical are
forced to acknowledge that the munifi-
cent prizes to be contested for next Au-
gust at ST. Louis are not now glittering
impossibilities. More effectively than in
any other way can Wichita with her
choral club prove to visitors at the ST.
Louis exposition next summer that not
only in commerce and agriculture does
the new west excel. but also in The art
istic
The rendition of Thursdays program
will bear the closest artistic scrutiny
The chorus, with remarkable nicely of
balance and good voice we'll tuned. did
ample justice to a program requiring the
greatest versatility in execution. Phras-
ing. breathing and pointing left nothing
TO be desired. Piano passages were sung
with 4 smoothness remarkable in such a
large chorus while heavier passages
grading up to fortissimc, were taken
with a forceful power that sent mighty
volumes of song echoing among the trem-
bling flags and bunting of the Auditorium.
1t was new experience for them.
Considering the fact that there is no or
ganization in music more unwieldy than
a large mixed chorus. one of the most
pleasing features of the clubs work was
their excellent attack and while there was
noticeable tendency several times on the
part OF the chorus to accelerate the tenn
po, on the whole passages caTne out with
remarkable uniformity. &c
"A detailed study Of the <afious num-
bers shows every possible phase of mu-
steal construction, from fugue to unison
passage. The cantata, BY Babylon's
Wave paraphrase of Psalm CXXXVII
set to music by Gounod. received wor-
thy rendition. The fugal movement in c
minor. with its close harmony, was es-
pecially well done. When Charles Gou-
nod wrote the Gloria for the Masse Sol
a voice for the soprano aria as is pos
se3sed by Mrs. c. w. Yost. The ineffable
effect OF the single voice filtering through
a body of tone from the chorus, hummed
with closed lips, and the strings played
sordini. made this number seem almost
ethereal. The bass solo in high register
was acceptably done by Mr.. Yost, while
Mr.. Mcconnell did full justice to the
plaintive minor tenor solo. The mighty
fugal ending with its difficult chromatic
progression in the upper register was
magnificently taken with the Invaluable
assistance of the orchestra The Latin
words of the Gloria. as well as the Ger
man of the Rheinberger song furnished
a pleasing innovation. Suivans Lost
Chord received the magnificent rendi-
ton which it deserved. Lonyfellows
Daybreak' has not suffered at the hands
of Eaton Tanning. Neither did Fanning's
beautiful tone poem suffer for want Of
proper rendering at the hands of the cho-
rus Its great contrasts of tone color
ing and construction called for heavy
drains upon the versatile powers Of the
chorus. but these were met fully and to
spare 1t was masterfully done and the
audience appreciated It.
In the solo part Of the king in the
Prayer and Finale (Act lid from Lohen-
grin, Mr.. Harry Stanley was in great
voice. especially in the upper register.
The other four parts of the quintette
were ably handled by Mrs. C. W. Yost.
Mrs W l. Thomas. Mr.. Mcconnell and
Mr.. Harry McCiung. This intricate quin-
tette, banked By rolling unison passage.
sung By male voices. with the interposi-
ton of brilliant bursts b. the female
voices. made fitting climax 10 a grand
program
Since the concert the Choral club has
received several applications from per
sons for active membership. and as II -
now time TO begin WORK or The next con-
cert. when it-<Fin render "Joan of Arc =
1t is desired that All those who desire 10