New-York tribune., 1906-04-28
MUSIC AT CORNELL.
Gogoraa Carries off FOCAL Honors
at University FeStiual.
IBy telegraph to The rrlbuns.l

IBy Telegraph to The Tribunsi
Ithaca N ", April 27-Au the second concert Of
the third music festival given by Cornell University
and half the third was devoted to music of the
popular order; that is. music in the shorter and
more easily comprehended forms. but Of high de-
gree of artistic merit.
Only in the first half OF the evening concert when
the chorus sang again. could the visitors from New
York have the experiences which could alone justify
their attendance at the musical meeting To such
visitors orchestral concerts are almost an everyday
occurrence during the musical season and the sing
ing Of the solo vocalsts nothing 10 excite spe-
cial wonder. The opposite Of course is the case
with town we'll gown here when the element
IS provided by the visitors. Yet words are in
vited by the singing OF the soloists to-day.
Very ungallantly Mr.. Gogorza carried of the
honors in the evening when he sang the barytone
solos in the cantata The Seven Words of Christ
by Dubois. head of the Paris Conservatoire.
The choristers found something marvellously in
fectious in Mr.. Gogorza's voice and style. both OF
which have developed greatly since last he was
heard publicly in New York, and cheered him TO the
echo. His companions were Miss knight of whom
I spoke yesterday, and Edward Johnson. the tenor.
whose generous gifts of voice might speedily give
him a commanding place were he more wisely
directed.
Miss Louise Ornsby, of New York, sang Eliza
beths entrance air from ''Tannhauser' in the after
noon. The concert in Sibey Hall. which
scarcely be said to present festal appearance. and
is not calculated to lend effects of beauty TO either
voices instruments. Miss Ormsby exhibited
warmth OF temperament and a pure voice. though
not of heroic mould Mr.. Quesnel also sang
ara in the evening He. too. is growing, though
not so rapidly the admirers of his voice might
wish.
More than on Thursday evening the choir dis
tnguished itself in the evening concert In Sage
Chapel. The music Of Dubois is delightful in its
directness in it's harmonizaton and Orchestration.
and in It's frank unanectedness of expression 1t
strikes fire more often than the sacred music OF
the Frenchmen OF to-day-Gounod, Saint-Saens and
Massenet. for instance-and it is full of dgnifed
beauty. when toward the close 1t wakes senti-
mental. French religious music always does
The choir sang it all. but especially the dramatic
portions with thrilling effect.
This music festival is of the fruits OF the
effort making by Cornell University TO promote
musical culture. department of music was ere
ated three and half years ago and placed in the
hands of Mr.. Hollis z. Damn. who had been at the
head of musical instruction I'm the public schools
OF the city for fifteen years Mr. Damn is strongly
convinced that the proper field Of musical activity
in a university is the creation of appreciation for
the art in the student community and the refine
OF its taste rather than theoretical instrue-
ton. Students in the arts and scientific depart
ments do not expect 10 leave the university ana go
out into the world 10 practise music as profess
sion II should therefore be culture study. cacu-
lated to fit them for the higher enjoyment Of the
art In after life make them intelligent amateurs
In the true Of the word. rather than profess
tcal courses OF study instead Of courses in har-
mouv counterpoint composition etc. The first
course includes elementary work in harmony the
ory, FORM but places greatest stress on vocal sight
reading The second is advanced vocal course
The students IN this course number about one hun
dred and the class coHposes the choir OF Sage
Chapel 1t is a mixed chorus, appropriately gowned'
and provides musical service every Sunday aftef-
noon in the chapel the music sung being OF nigh
order. such as is represented by MendeLssohhS
Ito Mas
Gaurs Holy City for instance This choir Is
supported by an orchestra. composed OF the stu
dents of the third course, who study strtnsed IN
struments and a few professional musicians from
the Ithaca band. an unusually proficient body OF
instrumentalists- The orchestra numbers thirty In
the regular chapel services The university choris
ters compose the bulk OF the festival chorus
Thirty-fve basses out Of forty-two are students;
TWENTY-FIVE tenors out of thirtytwo- Two-thirds OF
the contraltos are young women from Sage College.
The sopranos are largely from the townspeope who
have learned 10 read music and sing in the public
schools The admirable character OF the choral
work which has been commented upon Is hne
testimony TO the soundness of Mr.. Dann's theories
(which are also exemplthed in the musical activities
OF the department OF music in Michigan University
and the excellence OF his training
All the high class musical entertainments, such
as concerts Of chamber music by the kneisel Quar-
.st song recitals, concerts Of symphony ofches-
tras and tho like which the Ithaeans enjoy. are
given under the management Of Cornens depart
ment OF music with the cooperation Oh an adVi-
sorry committee on which the board Of trustees.
the faculty and the city have representation. put
up 10 the present time Mr Damn has not consented
that the university shall assume any nnanciai
responsibility for the festivals Of which two pre-
ceded the present meeting. At the first IN Iso4
Mendelssohn's Elijah" performed twice end
there was an orchestral concert Last year Hos-
sini's "Stabat Mater and Handels Messiah
vrare performed: the oratorio twice This years
scheme tells an eloquent story OF progress enorae
ing as IL does three choral works VIA Hay11-s
Creation" Dubois's Seven Last N9rus ana
Verdrs 'Manzoni Requiem" The festNa4 Is
link in the chain OF festivals which have grown Up
OF late years largely through the activity OF uese
w Stewart and his Boston Festival OrchesIa-
Leaving the management Of the festivals In locai
hands Mr. Stewart makes tour every spi'ns'
providing solo singers and the instrumental niusi-
clans The present tour began IN NewourSp0iS
Mass on April l6 and Mr.. Stewards Hs' %
works performed and projected AFFORDS an interest
ing glimpse OF the state Of choral cnitnrs IN
widely separated sections of the country AHuS
AIDA" has been given in concert form IN Ns"-
buryport. Taunton Boston with the Lynn Nho
rus) and Brockton -Four cities In the state N