Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-17

prepared a tentative program for the mu-
sical events that is elaborate in the eX-
treme. He was in Norfolk all of last Sat-
urday and Sunday. comforting with Mr.. r.
H. Sexton, chief Of the department of con-
crosses and special events. and Mr.. VIM.
Wall Whiddit, superintendent of music. and
after due and careful consideration adopted
a program for the music Of the exposition,
which he has placed before the board of
governors to be passed upon in the very
near future, after which the final arrange
ments will be made.
The plan in many ways differs from any
music that has ever been given at any pre-
vious exposition. The Washington Choral
Society will augment a chorus of 500 voices
being organized in Norfolk, for the opening
exercises of the exposition, which will take
place at IL o'clock on Friday, April % This
chorus will give four numbers. the first
being special ode and hymn now being
written by Mr.. Wilberfoss G.. Owst of Bartf-
more who was especially invited by Mr.
Wrightson to undertake this work Second.
.,Ihe, heavens Are Telling" from 'Crea-
ton Third, THE Hallelujah Chorus"
from the Messiah" which will be sung i'm
mediately after the President has announce
ed that the exposition is open, and the last
number. America" Mr.. Wrightson has in
vtted Mr.. Whiddit, superintendent of music
to conduct three of these choruses and
VIII personally conduct the "Hallelujah"
chorus The program for the afternoon has
not yet been adopted, but in the evening
the Washington Choral Society, augmented
by chorus of 100 picked voices from Nor
folk. will give the Messiah" The soprano.
tenor and bass will be engaged from New
York, and Miss Clara Drew of this city has
had the honor of being engaged as con-
tralto. An orchestra will be engaged for
this performance and the entire oratorio
will be conducted by Mr.. Wrightson In
the event of an organ being used, Mr.. S.
Frederick Smith will preside at same The
morning exercises will be held in the Audi
torium but the Messiah" will be given I'm
the evening in Convention Hail. which seats
4 0DD DeOplp and ui he DIV
prices. This opening day program has been
adopted as a settled matter. The rest of
the plans are liable to be changed in some
of the details 1t is proposed on the 18th
of May to have a childrens chorus of 500
voices to provide the music for the morning
and on that evening the big $4,000 pipe
organ will be dedicated. and a series of six
recitals given that week by the organist
engaged, and it is hoped now to secure the
services of Mr. Clarence Eddy.
A regular chorus of fifty picked voices
will be organized which will be known as
the exposition chorus, and will sing once
a week at the exposition as 1t has been
planned that on three evenings of each
week-Mondays. Wednesdays and Fridays,
or Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays.
the Auditorium shall be at the disposal of
the music department, and either organ re-
citals. local or outside artists, including
vocalists, violinists and panists. shall be
engaged, and 1t shall be known that on
three evenings of each week musical events
of great Importance Will be held. 1t Is
further the policy of the music department
to bring to the exposition, the biggest ar
lists in the world, especially favoring
American artists, foreign artists who
have become American citizens. and for
these events the dates May %, June p.
July II, August 81, September 13, October
10, November 20 have been set apart. All
Of these artists will appear at popular
prices. 1t is further suggested that the
board of governors shall offer two cups
one valued at $3.50 for choral contests, and
another valued at $50 for glee club con-
tests; that five prominent musicians from
the south from the cities OF Norfolk,
Washington, Richmond. Atlanta and Bal
timore be invited by Mr.. Wrightson to
serve as judges, and that the music de-
partment shall invite the choral societies
of the south to come to the exposition and
compete for the cup which will be awarded
by this board at the close of the EXPOSE
ton; and that the glee clubs of the diff
the country shall be invited to compete
for the glee club cup. In addition to these
musical events already planned, twelve con-
certs will be given by strictly leading
American artists from time to time during
the exposition. 1t will also be the policy
to engage four of the leading orchestras
of the country to I'LL engagements of four
weeks each and four of the leading bands
for engagements of the same period dur
ing the exposition.
This Is one of the most elaborate plans
that has ever been laid before an exposi-
ton board, and In addition to all of these
vail, band concerts by the different bands
of the foreign nations visiting the EXPOSE
ton for the naval display will be given
around the grounds.