The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-22

of the programs and the selecting o.
the artists who wilI assist the clui
In presenting those programs. have
now been completed.
During the winter the board of gov
crnors OF the club has held sevcra
meetings for the discussion of clul
affairs. and at all OF these meeting,
the question OF the character OF til:
music TO be offered this year has beer
very prominent. The board has fcl
that while tlie standard of the music
must be kept up. everything possibl,
should be done TO provide music o
such a varied character that no patror
of the club may have cause 10 be dis
appointed.
Through Its music committee the
board has studied this question vcrS
carefully, and as a result of its labors
1t now confidently offers five concert
programs. all of which arc excellent
no two of which arc in the least alike
and each one of which Will satisfy tls
most eAacting tastes.
Remarkable Work.
One or more concerts of musica
festival are usually devoted to orato-io
The custom has been generally follow
ed by tile Wednesday Club, but this
year the works offered on the opening
night are of such a character as to de-
serve particular mention.
The Bcatitudes." by Cesar Frapck,
is the most modern oratorio OF any
note in existence. 1t belongs to the
modern French school OF compositions,
and while the work Is termed an ora
,orio. IT does not follow the we'll
known form OF composition with which
the public is SO familiar. 1T Is deep
ziy religious drama. 1t ls fabric
woven OF most exquisite coiors. dcftly
arranged. The composer presents The
Beatitudes" in q series of eight nlilIr-
hers. In which two soprano soloists
two tenor soloists, baritone and bass
soloists. chorus and orchestra take
part. Every variety of form--solo,
duet, trio. quartet. quintet, chorus and
double chorus--is made use of. In
each beatitude, the composer intro
dnces in the text much that is antag-
onistic to them. only to bring out later
the spirit of the beaItude itself
through the agency of the beautiful
music allotted to The Voice of Christ"
and to a Celestial Choir. The sklll
with which Franck introduces this
Voice OF Christ with quiet. calm dig
nifty and strength. in the midst of all
the confusion and turmoil produced by
the terrestrial beings ny-their antago-
nism to the celestial choirs, in the
midst of the ragings of Satan and the
multitude, is very beautiful.
Celebrated Cantnta.
In most pronounced contrast to this
Is the cantata The Hymn of Praise, "
by Felix Mendclssohn Bartholdy, which
will form the second part of this pro-
gram This beautiful work is SO we'll
known that one need only say In pass
ing, for the benefit of some who may
have forgotten. that in this compost
tion is the celebrated duet for two So
pranos and chorus. II Waited for the
Lord. the even more celebrated choral,
Let All Men Praise the Lord, and
the still more Neutrality-suspicious. the
greatest tenor solo of its kind ever
written-"trhe Sorrows of Death In
which occurs that wonderful and Oft
repeated cry. "Watchman, will the
might soon pass?'
On the second night of the festival
the club will offer a program of secu-
lar and What may be termed light nu-
BIC. and most attractive one 1t will
include FOR the orchestra three bril-
liant numbers. and also the Peer Gynt'
Suite of Grieg. well-known to most,
but probably only in It's pianistic form.
1t will be a, great treat to hear 1t
played BY the orchestra. For soprano,
rontralto and tenor sooists there are
songs and groups of songs. all to be
sung In English, and with orchestral
accompaniment. This to many will be
most attractive feature of the pro-
gram.
Mr.. Carl Webster, the gifted young
'cellist. will be presented in a brilliant
number, and the club will be heard in
part song and with soprano. tenor and
orchestra in Gorins Thomass choral
ode. THE Sun Worshipers'' This
beautiful ode to the sun was composed
expressly for the Norfolk and Norwich
musical festival of 1881, and it affords
very fine solo work for the tenor. who
takes the principal part, and for the
soprano. who sings most attractive
number with female chorus. The finale
is a stirring number for tenor and
soprano soil, full chorus and orchestra
Childrcn's Chorus.
The Children's Chorus will delight its
friends at the matinee on Friday, May
0th. They will he assisted in their
principal work by three artists--two
aopranos and one contralto. Mr.. Fred
eric Martin, the popular basso, will
lend contrast to the program In song
The Saturday matinee concert, MAY
eth Will also be very popular one
This is usually known as the symphony
concert because only one symphony Is
played. Now symphonies do not as .
rule attract any but the very musical
or that which wishes to be, OF thinks
IT is, the very musical public,
Hitherto there have been heard here
only few of the more modern ones
by Tschaikowslly and others. But this
year there is to be what Hector
Berlioz has said Is the great
/ est symphony ever written Bee ethoven's
Fifth symphony, in G minor, ManA
know it In its piano form, and vii
greatly enjoy hearing 1t given by ths