The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-03

The feature Of the closing concert of
the festival series at the Auditorium
tomorrow night will be the singing of
the children s chorus, organized from
pupils Of the public school and directed
by Miss Helen w. Trask, supervisor of
music. For this work 1000 children
were selected by the principals Of the
schools in proportion to the enrolment
Of the buildings, so the chorus gives
equal representation to every section
of the city. Forced absences from re-
hearsals have cut down the chorus to
slight extent as only those able to at
tend regularly will be permitted to par
ticipate.
In planning the chorus, stage condi-
tions were not fully understood and it
has been found impossible to arrange
the entire chorus with the addition of
the Philharmonic and Orpheus club
singers as the building inspector will
not permit so large number on the
stage at once. For this reason the chill
dren's chorus, according to present ar
rangement, will be divided, 400 being
in the ends Of the second balcony. All
of the little girls will be dressed in
white and by alternating the girls with
the boys in their dark suits pretty eff
feet will be shown in the appearance Of
the chorus.
There have been six rehearsals, chief
" on Beethoven s "Creation Hymn"
and Handel's Largo, which were en-
tirely new to the children. The way
in which these young musicians read
the music Of these was an excellent
demonstration Of the substantial char
acter Of the musical training received
In the schools.
= The children have taken deep in
terest in their concert and have worked
Q,.nx l.>s-
singing tomorrow night. The chorus will
sing the two numbers, for which they
were specially trained by Miss Trask
under her direction. The closing pa
triotic numbers, ''The Star Spangied
Banner' by the children and f'Amer
ica,' in which they will be supported
by the adult choruses and the orches
ira, Mr. Oberhoffer will conduct These
are to be made the climax Of a fine
thought Of celebrating Inauguration day
In a fitting manner.
The Mechanical Part.
The gradations in the stage platform
carrying the huge choruses are made
by using the bridges under the stage
There are ten Of these, each of whicl
carries section of floor, so that the,
can be raised together Or separately t.
any height or series Of heights.
It has come to the knowledge of tn
festival management that several pa
irons Of the course have stayed ava,
from the Auditorium, losing their seats
because they were afraid Of the build
ing.
The idea was declared preposterous
but an investigation developed that tn
whole trouble arose because the crow
Of bystanders who have religiousl
watched the evolution Of the building
failed to realize that the wood false
work used as forms for the concret
floors was only a temporary feature.
A. B. Chamberlin, one Of the arch
tects, calls attention to the fact tina
the main floor and the balcony foo1
as well as the floors of the corridors
main hall floor has wood GOVERN
over the concrete slabs. Promenader
during the intermission could have n
more definite assurance Of the securit
of the building, he asserts, than tn
knowledge that they are walking o
cement floors, with absolutely no cove,
ing, and that, save for door casing
and the material in the seats, there
no wood used in the building.
One unique feature looking to tn
quick and safe exit of audiences j
case of need, is that only one door he
lock on it, and that is the main fror
street, or to the fire escapes, are secure
from the inside by such style of a
tachment that the slightest turning
the knobs instantly releases the door
Bid Bouquet for Oberhoffer.
Vladimir de Pachmann, the Russia
pianist, who played last night, sa