Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-23
s. COLERIDGE TAYLOR
HIS TRILoGY OF "HIAWATHA' TO
BE SUNG TONIGHT.
Society Of Colored Vocalists to Give an
Adequate Interpretation OF
the Work.

Celebrated in England and America as an
abiding work of genius, the "aiawatha" OF
s. Colertdge-Taylor, with full orchestral
accompaniment, Is to be sung, by wash
ington society bearing the composers name
tonight at the Metropolitan A. M. E.
Church. Considerable interest attaches to
this performance. not only because it tn
PRODUCES this work in Washington for tho
first time, but because 1t marks a decided
advance in musical effort among the COL
ored musicians of this city. The cantata
of 'Hiawatha" being serious and Diff
cult work, 1t might be surprising to the
uninformed that this attempt is made. 1t
might be well to say here, therefore, that
the forthcoming performance Is In no sense
in pretentious imitation OF the established
Choral Society, but is the expression of the
musical culture actually attained by a very
large part of the cOlOred people OF this
city. Classical musicales among them IS
no uncommon occurrence, and several or
their churches support well-paid choirs OF
trained musicians, which at regular inter-
walls have evening song services devoted
exclusively to such composers as Stalner,
Sullivan, Gounod, Mendelssohn.
The Society.
The S. Coleridge-Taylor Choral Society,
as it's announcement states, was organ
lied under the stimulus of proposed visit
to Washington of the eminent Anglo-Afr1-
can composer of London, England, for
whom the society Is named Its object is to
develop wider interest In the master
pieces of the great composers and espe-
cially to diffuse among the masses higher
musical culture. The chorus numbers 16O
voices, under the direction of Mr. John Z.
Layton. a veteran choir leader and one OF
the instructors of music in the city public
schools. Mr.. John F. Cook is the presi
dent. Mr.. Arthur S. Gray, secretary and
Mr.. Andrew F. Hilyer, treasurer and man.
ager. The society has had weekly re-
hearsals for several months. and the Choir
uses give promise of effective rendering.
From time to time leading musicians have
visited the rehearsals. among them DR.
Kimbal Mr.. Josef Kaspar and Mr.. King of
the Washington CHORAL Society, who COM
mend the excellence of the work.
The solists are all highly cultivated col
ored singers. The soprano, Mrs. Kathyrine
Skeene- Mitchell, received her training UNI
der the best musicians in Cleveland, and at
present is the solo soprano in the Taylor
Street Congregational Church a leading
white church of that city. Mr.. Harry Bur-
leigh, baritone, is graduate of and teacher
in the New York Conservatory of Music.
He is also soloist at St. Georges P. E.
Church, New York city. Mr.. Sidney Wood
Europe but owes most of his training to
the city of Boston. where for years he was
a member Of noted quartet.
"Hiawatha"
Hiawatha is a cantata with orchestral
accompaniment, based upon Longfellow's
|, poem. 1t is triology consisting of "Hia-
watha's Wedding Feast" the Death of
Minnehaha" and 'Hiawatha's Departure"
Each part is complete in itself, having no
connection whatever. save that each is
based upon scene from the same poem.
The musical idea of each part, therefore, is
distinct, and developed without reference
to the others Mr.. Coleridge-Taylor gives,
however three musical pictures which may
be helpfully studied side by side. In 'Hia-
watha S Wedding Feast there is the Joy
and merriment incident to q nuptial scene,
and the music is buoyant, cheerful and
jubilant.
In the Death Of Minnehaha" is heard
the SaddeSt of stories, but beautifully told.
Soul-stirring indeed is the scene in which
one hears the wailing of faithful old No
kom1s and witnesses the deadly sorrow Of
stricken Hiawatha as the specters Famine
and Fever enter his wigwam and bear
away the lovely Mnnehaha In this second
Fart IS doubtless the best of the triology
not, however, because here the composer
reaches the elimination of his art but be-
cause the poem at this point lends itself to
higher or rather a more dramatic must
cal treatment.
Speaking of his attitude in composing
"Hiawatha" Mr.. Colerjdse-Tavlor saws.
1.-The essential beauty of the poem is it's
naive simplicity it's unaffected expression
| its enforced ideality.' Hence there is found
In the work few themes and yet no mo-
notony. for these few themes are so varied
ly developed, so appropriately contrasted
and so 1ntell1gent1y and beautifully embel-
ilshed as never to tire. but always to afford
increasing interest and new delights. II
take It," continues Mr.. Coleridee-Taylor
Ito be an artistic crime In the musical
treatment or poem to make 1t subordinate
to orchestral effect. The music is ONLY
justified if it speaks in the language of the
poem"