The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1908-05-08

The two renditions of Mendelssohn's
Elijah by the Mozart Society of Fisk
University, Friday and Saturday, May
list and End, were a marked success in
more ways than one. 1t was probably
more largely attended than any pre-
vious concert of this famous organlza-
ton, and tho chorus scored triumph.
This last remark applies particularly
to Friday evenings concert. The mu-
steal intelligence of the singers was
very noticeable and refreshing and
the fire and dash with which the mag
nificent and difficult numbers were
given, added much to the already fine
reputation of the Society. The mighty
climaxes were all given with due ap-
probation and the pianissimo passages
were finely executed. Without doubt
the best piece of execution was
Thanks be to Cod" which closed the
first part.
If in the whole concert anything
was preeminent it was the excellence
of the chorus work, and, too, much
credit cannot be given Prof. H. H.
Wright conductor, and Miss Alice M.
Grass, who presided at the organ. The
solo work was good of course, but not
so good as ordinarily, in this annual
concert. Some parts were distributed
without much regard for adaptibility
Some singers excel in dramatic, and
others in lighter scores; some in
recitation and others in aria; but
it seemed that this fact was, to a GER
tain degree, lost sight of in distribu
tion of solo parts.
Mr.. W. B. Merrill sang his part "It
with all your hearts" preceded by the
recitation, Eye people, rend YOU
hearts," very intelligently and witt
precision. as he always sings, anC
considering the make up of his voice
deserves much credit for his effort
This beautiful solo, however, calls TO
a voice more robust and one freightet
with more emotion than Mr.. Merrill's
Mr.. J. A. Meyers took most of tn
tenor recitative parts, and did hi
work in tip-top shape Indeed it wa
almost perfect, probably the only faul
being, the use of open tones on hi
high notes, once or twice, producin
an effect undesirable and unnecessary
He had the fire, the pathos, and was i
fine voice.
Prof. John w. Work, Jr., who's
magnificent tenor has been heard t
great advantage in previous concert
of the Mozart Society, had but on
solo, This, as was to have been e.
pected, was executed faultlessly.
Mr. N. W. Ryder, who sang the pal
of Elijah had the burden of the col
cert to sustain, and did it commend
ably His best work was that done O
the piano passages, where his voiC
assumed a quality rarely found in
bass voice. He was at a considerab
disadvantage in that this part of ri
iah is essentially baritone and range
quite high for the most part and M
Ryder's voice is true bass. He d
not attempt more than once or twit
to get those forte effects on the his
notes, in which very thing, he Shove
cOnsummate, good judgment; for !
seemed to understand his limitation
IT was unfortunate, however, that
did not have more aria work, al
more so, that at is enough" had to
omitted. Tt reminded one of "The pl;
Hamlet, with Hamlet left out"
Miss Elsie Taylor seemed to be Il
versatile genius of the production, f
she took the parts of the youth, Il
queen, the angel and the widow, /
sides taking all the contralto wo
save the Crest in the Lord" In t
intensely dramatic parts such as til
Of the queen, she was at her best,
in the part of the widow she lack