Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-11-26
oTTuMWA CHORAL SOCIETY
TAKES SECOND HoNoRs AT
ALBA ElsTEDDFoD.
Des Meines Won in Having Better
QuaEty Of voices-Dirsctor SWirles
Tells Why ottumwans Lost First
Prize--Wants ottumwans to Heed.

the Ottumwa Choral society, which
won the second prize in the Sl50 emo
rus contest at the Eisteddfod meeting
In Abba yesterday. 'sWe came back
with SIS and we are glad to get 1t be-
cause we need the money"
Eyes, l think Des Moines. perhaps,
won the contest fairly and there is
lesson in the fact of their winning
that | want to impress on the minds
of Ottumwa musicians and singers.
In the matter of applause and favor
from the audience Des Moines was not
in it for moment with us. In the
matter of technical excellence and vol
ume of tone in the rendition of the
chorus according to the statement OF
the adjudicator Ottumwa was easily
the winner. 1t was the quality of the
tone and the excellence Of the voices
in the Des Moines chorus that won
the prize.
The Point to Matter.
"The point to the matter is simply
this, the best of the Des Moines singers
and musicians are not above partici-
pating in chorus work and doing ev
erything in their power to assist in
bringing honor to their city. Frank
Nagel. one of the most noted must
clans in the state of Iowa, came with
the chorus and played the accompani-
ment. In the chorus itself we're many
of the best voices of Des Moines and
many professional and semi-profes-
sional singers.
otturwa Singers Too Proud.
IF the singers of Ottumwa were not
too proud and too afraid Of lowering
their dignity by participating in cho-
rus work. Ottumwa, I honestly believe
from our past experience in these con-
tests, surpass anything in the chorus
line in the state. The only point in
which we are seriously lacking is the
quality of the voices and this is sim
ply due because those who have the
best voices and the best training In
the city will not participate in chorus
work with US.
Coming Concert.
eve are going to begin work again
with fresh determination for our COM
ing concert soon after New Years
when we will give Handels Messiah
with the assistance of number of
out of town soloists. We extend an
other invitation to all singers to join
us.
Well Treated.
We were very we'll treated at Abba
this year, | do not think that we will
go to Des Moines New Years day to
enter the contests there. We will be
too busy preparing in the meantime
for our own concert to devote time to
preparation for that contest
Change Of Adjudicators.
81 think that it is about time to have
| a change in the adjudicator at these
contests. Grant Hadley has per-
formed this service for the past four
| years. While have no complaint
against his decision this time do not
consider him a good or a successful
critic and for one think that change
will be for the better
About Sixty-Five Strong.
The Ottumwa choral society went up
about sixty-five strong. They left on
/ the afternoon Burlington train and re-
turned on No. at 11:25 o'clock The
majority of the members felt decid-
eddy sore at the result of the decision
giving them second place. They felt,
according to the statement of many of
them, that Ottumwa deserved first
I AOnOrs.
ottumWan Presided.
H. L. Waterman presided at the
meeting as the president of the day
and performed that service in his
happy manner. Grant Keyhoe was
one of the contestants in the bass
solo contest and while he received no
prize he received very favorable com.
ment from the adjudicator. Will
Lowry, VINO was also a contestant in
1 the same contest, was ruled out on the
ground that his voice was baritone in.
stead of bass. THE Way of the
Cross" was the song given by Mr..
Keyhoe, and "The Wonders of the
! Deep" by Mr. Lowry.