The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1905-11-07


made good. 1t has been established that.
given the opportunity. people who york
during the week will gladly give up
portion of the day OF rest to singing the
best music and will find themselves as
a result better and stronger men ana
women during all the subsequent week.
In the eight years and more since the
peoples singing classes were nrst
started in Bosom by Miss Rose Dexter
pouular enthusiasm for them has stead
ily increased. There has never been
lapse Of interest. The elementary, or
preparatory, classes have always been
well attended. They have been found
necessary in order to get average citi-
zens ready for rather difficult music.
Those who have learned to sing In the
beginners sections, or who have other
wise shown capacity by sight reading
test, are eligible for theadvanced class,
or Choral Union. The attendance at
the latter, representing a picked body
of singers, averages 40 through the
season. Recruited year by year from
below 1t has steadily improved until 1t
now ranks well among the other must
cal organizations of the city.
Nothing keeps the enthusiasts away
The classes are a spopular as ever a
singing school was. held in the little
red schoolhouse. One Sunday two or
three years ago happened to coincide
with a big blizzard. one that tied up
the suburban transportation lines,
blockaded the streets and kept all Bos-
ton guessing as to when ordinary BUSH
ness would be resumed. Although the
day was such that he predicted not
soul would turn up for the singing, the
conductor arrived through the drifts
to find a faithful forty awaiting him.
Some of these had walked from several
miles away.
The personality of the director neces-
sarily Is a main factor in the success
of such an organization. He makes or
mars IL. The people are the instrument
on which he plays. Mr.. Cole, the con-
ductor of the classes In Boston, who
gives his time and strength gratui-
tously to this work-as do a number
of the cfficials-is of that sturdy, en-
thusiastic temperament which nearly
all the leaders of popular music have
possessed To play as upon a delicate
musical instrument on a crowd of anna
tours is in reality triumph of applied
psychology as well as of technical
knowledge. The man who Is able to
get music from the mob must be past
master OF encouragement and suasion.
OF such sort is William L. Tomlins, who
directed the big chorus at the Chicago
Exposition in 1898. OF such sort is
Frank ramrosch. Samuel w. Cole too,
mas NHt tSStHNldi Bllt. Tie is peTNdSINc
and persuasive. The conductor of
trained musicians may Rave a repres-
siNe personality; his performers as Of
ten need toning down as drawing out
But the conductor of people OF all sorts.
all of when personally want to sing
but many of whom don't just dare to
let themselves go. must be pre-eminent-
ly expansive and full or vitality. His
tones must ring out hortatory and ca
1Olin2. "A first GannnIp
We want little more of II. Now, al
together. More power now; more
power" The task in some respects is
not so unlike leading the cheering at a
football game.
Mr. Cole has conducted the peoples
classes from the beginning. He has in
terested in them thousands of citizens.
including some of the first people of the
city He has encouraged students of
music at the New England Conserva-
tory to join his classes, not only
for the benefit of the instruction but in
order that they may observe the musi-
cal capacities of average people. He
has given the whole undertaking a
unique Importance in the community.
Admission to the peoples classes
may be had by any woman over sixteen
or any man over eighteen. No knowl-
edge of singing is presupposed of those
VINO enter the elementary classes. Many
of the newcomers, the younger ones.
especially, have had good training in
the public schools but nobody is bar
red out for want of previous musical
education. Various nationalities ma
turally are represented. Germans. as
might be expected, are numerous. 1t Is
curious fact that hardly any Italians.
of whom there are so many in Boston.
and who might be supposed to be mus
ElCAlIV inclined haUa aftAm0ed kh6
singing exercises and thai an attempt