New-York tribune., 1906-04-27
MUSIC FESTIVAL BEGINS
Haydns "The Creation" Sung IA
FIRST of CorneRs Concerts.
Inv T.I.rrnnb "a n. r-In,,na !


ithaca. n Y. April 2s-The annual music fss-
uvaI under the auspices OF the department. OF
music Of Cornell University began in Sage Chapel
this evening. when Haydn's oratorio "The Crea-
ton was performed in exceedingly creditable
manner under the direction Of Hollis f. Damn d.
rector OF the department The forces employed
were chorus OF $50 voices. the large majority OF
the singers being students OF the university; the
Boston symphony Orchestra and the solo singers
who are accompanying the orchestra on fits reg
ular spring tour. They were Miss Josephine
Knight and Leonard B. Merrill. OF Boston. and Al
fred Quesnel, of New York There 20 be five
concerts in all. three evening affairs devoted either
wholly or in part to choral works. and two at
ternoons. given up TO miscellaneous concerts OF
orenestrai music and vocal solos
The choral work is in the hands OF Mr.. Damn. the
orchestral in charge of Emil Molnhaur. Evening
concerts take place in Sage Chapel. the north arm
OF the cross of which is occupied by the choir and
instrumentalists- The performers thus shut out
from the view OF large part of the audience oc-
cupying seats in the nave. but the disposition OF
the forces seems 10 be the only one practicable un-
der the circumstances. The body of performers
being large. the effect is extremely sonOrous and
thrilling, About eight hundred sittings at the left
of the chapel for the listeners and they were
all occupied this evening The festival had there
fore an auspicous opening from both an artistic
and financial point of view
Inc critical interest of visitor from New York
is drawn by the chorus which. in nAmbers and ca
pdcI'N' pears witness to the character of the
scal culture which the university is fostering 1t
Is decidedly capable body. The voices. especially
OF the sopranos and contraltos. are delightfully."-
lresh and fine in quality, prociaiming refinement.
The mems voices less mature. less finely knit In
texture. less effective In resonance.
The whole choir. however. showed itself 10 De let
ter perfect in musical text and superby responsive
10 the call of its leader.
Finer spirit than marked the voices In the stirring
chorus. Awake the Harp could scarcely be
imagined and surely not expected in the nature OF
things Singers in the university choruses must be
largely recruits from the last year and can never
become seasoned in the sense that choirs like the
Oratorio Society of New York and the Handel ana
Hayden Society OF Boston are seasoned. But uni
versity choir must always remain truthful and
there is large compensation in that circumstance.
OF the solo singers Miss knight challenged an
unusual degree Of interest. She is a young singer
with voice Of fine quality which is vet in the
earliest stages Of development. But she has ex-
quiste artistic instincts. which disclose themselves
in phrasing Her voice, too. is naturally flexible.
and with the attainment OF purity and briliancy
will be one 70 be reckoned with by the best Of
Americas experienced singers.
Miss Knight made disclosure of lovely music
this evening. If she grow in the qualities
which are as vet undevelOped and hold on to the
she will be fine conservator of the tradition Of
beautiful singing with which growing more
familiar year by year.
Mr. Merrill not up to ths standard required
by Hayden's music in respect to style, and was
satisfactory only In his low notes. which he pro-
duces with greater steadiness and in better quality
than his medium and high tones.
Mr. Quesnel's voice rang out effectively. except
when the music carried it to low and he exhibited
gratifying distinctness of ennunciation. Flexi-
biity OF utterances and warmth still desirable
In his case. Fl. z. X