Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-27
At THREE CROIRS FESTIVAL.
WorOester'S Gathering that Has En-
.rsf dured for Century and a HALF.
THOUGHTS FOR OMAHA MUSICIANS
Mr.. Kelly Writes of the Great EnEIish
Event and susEests What Might
re tAroccur in Omaha Under the
a., =, RiEht Conditions. H3H

Lgw WORCESTER, England, Sept. 12-The
ayes OF the musical world are upon this
royal old city just now because It is
the week Of the Three Choirs
Festival Worcester, Hereford and
Gloucestsr) and the one hundred
and eighty-fifth annual meeting. 1t Is
worth while to stop and think of that-the
!, one hundred and ~eighty-fifth annual meet
Ing. which is the equivalent Of saying that
hail. century previous to the Declaration
IHf Independence, the Three Choirs Fes-
q sivarr and these annual meetings were in
existence. An interesting item is found In
The statement that since 1857 with the ex-
ception Of one year when the ''clericals"
forbade the oratorio and substituted pray
2 srs and church music') the Messiah" has
a been given at these annual festivals, Is 1t
any wonder then that one approaches a
musical Festival of this nature, with feel
'Ingsgof deep reverence, respect, and humil-
lily OF spirit.
Suppose your grandfather is alive. eighty
years old, that would make his birthday
gs; now suppose his father was thirty
Yearp old when your grandfather was
-borns that brings us back to i7SS; so that
when your grandtsther,s father was an
nfAnt In swsddling clothes, unable to say
ths first prattling words OF childhood
p7e0 thsse festivals were forty-fouT years
cid, Can you imagine that2 Just try to
> saallEe forty-four years before your grand
eathsF's father was born. the FESTIVAL OF
he Three Choirs was started O. its tsmpes-
hous career. n then realize. II you can,
shat for ono hundred and fifty years the
Wesaiah~ oratoAo has been sung at these
festivals. What have not those glorious
apostles OF music lone for US Of the present
dayPs How much we owe to them and
q their successors for the faithful and earnest
work which they. accomplished in order
to make possible much of the musical at
mosphere which England enjoys today, and
which made possible also the existence of
musical critics OF today who sheer glibly
and smartiy at the ''old-fashioned methods
and traditional habits Of an ancient and
honorable association which certain con
SclenoSleSs scrihes go so far as to say has
almost outllved lite usefulness"
ON Atmosphere of Culture.
I have been in the midst OF a most de-
lightful coterie OF journalists, critics and
festival promoters and l have enjoyed
hours OF the most PLEASANT and profitable
discussion Of the history, development and
present status OF this hORT and reverend
old institution. the Three Choirs Festival d
I have been given a most intimate family
account OF the said institution-that Is tC
cay, I have been honorcd with sacred, con.
fidential annals OF the struggles and ex.
lstepce and Enlargement Of the CRANE
scheme; men who have borne the burder
aQd heat of the day have noticed my en-
thnsiasm and have unfolded to me hear
secrets, and were I 10 pubEsA in an Eng
llsh paper all that l have heard about tn,
Three Choir Festivals" IL would be in
terestihg reading. One geutieman-a maj
Of means. very wide culture, broad must
cal knoWledge and a master OF arts CSam
bridgeJ. said TO me last night; "ThTe
years ago 1 closed my twenty fifth yea
" active singing membership in the fes
HvaI and now ] support il In other ways