The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-05-28

CONGRESS
Of SONG
Three Hundred Honolulu
School Pupils Give
Grand Concert.

That the Congress of Song at the
Opera House lase night was a musical
treat is hardly expressive of the sur
prise for the audience when the rising
of the curtain discovered three hum
dred singers arranged on the stage and
the burst of harmony that proceeded
from the big chorus. The concert
scored great success for those who
had labored so long and faithfully in
bringing out all that was best and
harmonious in the little army of vocal
lists that had been impressed into SER
vice Not only was the success a
credit to the directors of the grand
Congress of Song, but it has fully
demonstrated that an unknown fund
of musical talent has been latent and
undeveloped for many years in this
community.
Considering the short time in which
Prof. Barton has had the big chorus
they did remarkably WELL
The Congress of Song is only a fore
runner of music festivals to be held
annually in Honolulu. 1T has been
suggested by a number Of public
spirited musicians that May Day OF
every year be taken for this occasion
and have combined Herewith parade
of floats decorated with flowers. The
festival could be entirely an outdoor
affair, In oratorio style with orches-
trail accompaniment and augmented
by soloists brought from the Coast
The opening number was the
Gloria from the Twelfth Mass" a
composition commonly attributed to
Mozart but a fact long since accepted
by musicians gives the honor to Thorn
as Atwood, one of his pupils. Curl
ously enough the Gloria is the best
known and most popular OF songs un-
der the signature of Mozart.
The attack and spirit in which It
was sung left nothing to be desired
unless a little more bass and tenor.
as soprano and alto greatly out-num-
berad male voices. Prof. Barton great.
" appreciates the attention given to
his direction by the singers and says
he has never had a chorus under more
perfect control
The second number consisted OF two
selections by the High School students
and showed an excellent quality of
voices. Some of the singers found diff
ficulty in the time. owing to the dis
lance the piano was below the stage.
The next number, God is My
Guide by the Kamehameha Girls
School, was a pretty display in far-
mony sung in perfect time. The piano
accompaniment played by a Kameha-
meha student gave the leader, Miss
Byington. the opportunity to lead her
singers to the motions OF the baton.
Welcome Lone Spring" the second
number by the Girls School, was
bright and lively, containing many
beautiful harnonies.
1.-THE A1iiler's Wooing was one OF
the best numbers of the evening. It
was sung by a mixed chorus frona the
Kanlehameha Boys and Girls Schools.
Melody and counter-melody were
brought in with perfect time.
without leaving the stage after the
mixed chorus the Kamehameha Boys
Club interpolafed into the otherwise
classical character of the program
Kentucky Baby Bass and tenor
we're evenly balanced, which displayed
he fine harmonies of the selection and,
t was pleasing. ended in imitation 80
he banjo accompaniment. The number
vas greatly appiauded
The second number by the Boys Club
vas the well-known Soldiers Chorus
rom Faust which was sung in true
fashion. This number receiv- !
d such tremendous applause as to re- !
luire an encore consisting of a medley
hawaiian meles. Stanley Livingston
s responsible for the excellent train :
ng this chorus has received.
The largest number of singers from
NY one school was that of the Normal
his group accomplished the exceeding
Y difficult feat of singing Rheinberger's
stars in Heaven without instrument
al aid but following the beats of the
rand in perfect time and absolute
itch The second selection was Hal
.lujah Chorus from the great Beetho-
ems Mount of Olives. . Withstand
lg the difficult character of this selec-
on it was rendered in an astonishing
? artistic manner. The Normal School Z
an excellent sample of the musical
tmesphere enjoyed in Honolulu $ put,-
c institutions and shows the fine work
[ Mrs Tucker to excellent advantage.
A purely Chinese chorus from Mills
1stitute was a specimen of good sing
lg and novelty. Spring Revel
as their contribution to the program
nder the leadership of Mr.. Merrill
eBy the Waters of Babylon by
eidlinger, and wedding March,
ON Soderman, were sung by Hawai-
1ao Seminary. The latter was IN de-
ghtfuI rondo style and showed good
aiming as well as fine quality OF
,ices-
A mixed chorus from Oahu College
.ug a set of quadriIles by John Far I
er, who was for many years teacher
Harrow Schools, England. The seiee-
On was entitled Country Dances
i'd won great applause from the audi
ice. Oahu College has many remark
lie voices and has the great advar1-
ge of the talent of Prof. Gerard Bar
n. Musically and artistieally the
.rnber was perhaps the best on the
ogram, being sung with spirit and de-
.htful style.
The evenings enjoyment was con- I
1ded by the Bridal Chorus" from 9
.ohengrin'' by the united assembly e