St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-03-11
CHORAL UNION FESTIVAL.
A Musical and Financial Success.


Thursday and Friday of last week
were gala days for st. Johnsbury and all
music lovers in this town and vicinity
were at Music Hall listening to the in.
spring music of the eighth annual testi.
val. From a musical standpoint it was
up to the high standard of previous
years and was as thoroughly enjoyed by
the audiences as any festival that has
ever been given. The chorus Of about
1875 voices did not have as much work,
but they had been excellently trained
through the winter months and es-
pecially at the first evening concert
showed to great advantage.
The experiment of raising the price Of
the matinee tickets did not keep the
people away and there was a good audi
ence at the first matinee on Thursday.
A special feature of this concert was the
appearance of the chorus OF $50 school
children. They had been splendidly
trained by Miss Nichols, the supervisor
OF music, and never sang better. They
essayed difficult music and succeeded ad
mirably and as long as there is such
chorus in our public schools there will be
material for a Choral Union. Mrs.
Hooker OF Bradford sang with the or
chestral accompaniment and was we'll
received. The introduction of an enter
tainer was new feature Of festival week,
but it was successful experiment and at
both the afternoon and evening concerts
on Thursday Mr.. Kendall furnished
plenty of amusement and was repeatedly
enccred. He has good voice, too, and
his encore at the matinee The Jolly
Monk" was unquestionably his best ef-
fort. Miss Hutchinson of Lyndonville,
who is no stranger to st. Johnsbury au
diences, sang a sweet solo with violin
obligato and Miss Maude E. Caldbeck's S
two songs were given with artistic finish.
1t was disappointment to all that Mrs.
P. F. Hazen could not appear in the tes-
tival and in her place Mrs. Emma Shu-
felt Moore sang solo to the great de-
light of her many friends. Prof. Crump-
lin played two piano selections with his
usual wonderful skill and ability and the
last number on the progr am was song
by Harry H. May. At many of our fes-
tivals Mr.. May has appeared as sooist,
but he never sang better than in the fes-
tival of 1908.
The concert on Thursday evening was
distinctively for the chorus and though
it was extremely long it was exceedingly
good. 1t opened with the cantata,
"Hiawatha's Wedding Feast, composed
by a talented African composer when
only % years old. The cantata abound
ed in Indian melody and the chorus were
accompanied by Mr.. Harris on the piano,
the New Hampshire Philharmonic or
chestra and solo by DR.. ackson.
The orchestra appeared several times
during the evening and gave choice Sc
lections. This orchestra excels in the
rendering OF music that abounds in deli
cate touches and harmony. Miss Zella
Pauline Blakely appeared once on the
program, and gave a violin solo with
great skill that was heartily appreciated
Solos were given by Miss Griggs and Mr..
| Martin and the program closed with the
presentation OF Hlller's "a Song OF VIC
tory" by the chorus, with solo parts ex-
celently rendered by Miss Anita RIO.
Miss Margaret E. Gorham accompanied
the chorus in this piece with much abil-
lty.
FRIDAYS matinee was the artists con-
cert and a rich treat was in store tor the
many who attended. Mr.. Martins rich
bass voice was splendidly handled in his
numerous solos, Dr. Jackson's "BJnnie
Dundee" was one of the gems of the
whole festival, and Miss Griggs has a
contralto OF great range.
The climax of good music came on
Friday evening when the concert adap'
tation of Gounod's Faust" was present
ed 1t took the entire evening, and
though the solo parts predominated the
chorus had a good share in the honors
OF the evening. Mr. Martin as Mrphls-
topheles had taken the part in the grand
opera and was perfect artist as well as
fine singer. Never has a St. JOhnsbury
audience heard such galaxy OF sololsts
as appeared in the opera OF Faust" and
they showed their appreciation Ut tn, ir
good work by constant applause. Mis-
Rio as Marguerite won much applause
and her clear soprano voice in her solo
work made her deservedly the fayorite
soIoist OF the evening.
| Prot. Baisdel has every reason to be
proud oI the success OF the 1908 festival
aud both he and Mr.. Harris, who has
become so naturally a part of every
festival, deserve great praise for tht ii
arduous labors. The burden of the work
rested upon the executive committee, W
{. Tyler, B. E. Harris, c. H. Turner
| M SIS Nj. c. Goodwin and Mss K J.
Uugan, but the chorus represented the
men behind the guns, and to their faith
tuI work through the winter is due, in a
largt m, asure, the success OF our last and
best festival.