The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-05-13

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take place at the Hawaiian Opera
House May "a, and plans have been
completed in which all the schools OF
the higher branches viii participate
The event will be the greatest musical
ASSEMBLY ever held in this city and viii
be under the auspices of Oahu College
1t viii be styled First Music Festival
and viii include choruses of male, fe-
male and mixed voices and a combined
lensembIe of over three hundred singers
under the dictatorship of Prof. Gerard
Barton, with separate choruses under
their individual leaders.
The congress of Song is an out
growth of the ancient Eisteddfod, or
national music festival Of Wales, which
was instituted as far back as the
twelfth century for. the purpose of fos-
tering and maintaining the music OF
the people. The first account of which
there is any record tells of Maelgwn
Gwynedd. Prince of Wales, and how he
undertook TO prove the superiority OF
vocal song. over instrumental music
Maelgwn on this occasion offered re-
ward to such bards and minstrels as
should swim over the Conway. There
were several competitors. but upon
| their arrival on the opposite shore. the
harpers found themselves unable to
| play owing to the injury their harps had
sustained from the water, while the
lizards We're in as good tune as ever.
thus giving them an easy victory.
| The congress of Song should be
heard to better advantage in Honolulu
perhaps than in any other part of the
word as the people of Hawaii are not
only music loving, bat also music pro-
ducing and it is high time that some
thing of the kind should be brought out.
The recent operate performances by To-
lcal talent have amply demonstrated the
wealth of latent musical talent among
Ithe people, which, although not abb
solute1y neglected, has never been de-
veloped to its highest possibilities. The
song festival will bring out the full
power in regular oratorio style, and in
time It win undoubtedly be one of Ha-
waits greatest attractions, as it is the
Intention of the promoters to make the
occasion an annual one and add to its
scope each year by bringing special
artists from the States.
The congress of Song carries out
| the old educational idea of the Welsh
/ and will give a fresh impetus to the
music of the schools, where the folinda-
ton OF Nations musical taste is al
ways laid. To the average listener there
| is nothing more inspiring than that of
trained voices singing in unison and
these will be under the leadership of
Honolalu,s finest musicians, making 8
combination that win be truly mag
nifcent.
One of the problems that confronted
! the leaders was how to get 800 people
/ on the Opera House stage at one tins
but this has been solved most salts
i factoriIy as will be seen the night OF
i the event. Not only will this immense
chorus be on the stage singing atone
i time but they will present a most strik-
ling appearance wearing their college
and school colors and the whole audi
forum will be decorated as it has never
Ihaan before. class colors predominating
l. Those who will lead the separate
lchoruses are: Miss Byington, KaIneha-
meha Girls School; Mrs. Yarndley
Hieb school; Mrs. Tucker, Norma
school. Miss Coolidge, Kawaiahao
Stanley Livingston, Kamehamehs
1 Manual; Mr.. Merrill, Mills Institute
and Prof. Barton, Punahou. Prepare
lions for the big event are going OF
rapidly at all the schools and the pro
gram viii be in part as follows:
!
Wedding March. Arr from Sodermar
by the Waters of Babylon" $1,000,
. ...-........- Neidhngel
Kawaiahao Seminary.
Spring Revef' ......... Cursch-Buhri
Mills Institute.
stars in Heaven ....-.... Rheinbergel
ls.fIallelujah' ........-.-..--- BeetnoVel
Normal School.
.aThe Lost Chord Sullivan
t..Gypsy Rondo'' --...-...-..-.---. Becker
High School.
"G1oria from Twelfth Mass Mozar
Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin ..-
/ Wagnel
United Chorus 600 voices).
/ Country Dances -. f aIn1el
Oahu College.
/ selections by Kamehameha Schools.
The usual Opera House prices vii
prevail and tickets are now being sold
Following the Music Festival at tbs
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