The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-07-01
The Morrison Concert.

oPPoatuhiey w ouJoy pi0os NOiiS Nv
full musical program at Grange Hall
on Friday evening of last week in
which the entertainers we're Mr.. Don
Morrison, Miss Margery Morrison
and Mrs. Agnes Steward. There
were many things to heighten the
interest in this entertainment, not
the least of which was the thought
that it was concert by home talent
but of professional excellence. In
fact, though Skowhegan folks will
always think of Mrs. Steward and the
Morrisons-brother and sister, as our
own people, the latter have for some
time been counted among the dis
tinguished professional players, Miss
Morrison in New York City and Mr..
Morrison at Oberlin and at other
places where he has filed notable
engagements.
Of the pieces played by Mr.. Morri-
son, three were his own compositions
and one of the songs given by Mrs.
ooOWoiu was dioO VI his "oiiiooh
composing, written especially for
Mrs. Stewards voice and dedicated
to her upon its publication. AT Ober-
lin University in Ohio, where Mr..
Morrison has been pursuing his
studies for some years, all the students
are required to compose for the
violin, piano and the voice, much
after the manner in which students in
English in our High Schools and col
leges are asked to write pieces in
prose and verse. With most of the
music that is thus written at Oberlin
as a part of the regular course of
study, there is very little thought Of
its publication and the pieces played
by Mr.. Morrison last Friday evening
are among the few written by him
self and his classmates that have
been issued in permanent form.
1t may be of interest to know, re-
garding the pieces of his own, played
by Mr.. Morrison, aud the piece writ
ten for Mrs. Steward, that they had
their origin in improvisations, that is,
the themes were discovered in a
somewhat accidental way, while in
practice or before small audiences
where impromtu music only was ex-
pected to be played. The "Carnival,"
the last piece on the program, was
the result of the last mentioned cir
cumstances. 1t seems that in Ober-
lin there was small company of
musical people, some of them stu
dents at the University but more of
them citizens Of that city, who were
accustomed to meet once each month.
A banquet was often served and fol-
lowing this or in any case, at some
time during the evening, each mem
Der present was required to give
something original, poem, instru-
mental or vocal solo, entirely i'm
promptu. Circum stances better cal
culated TO bring out the most brilliant
talent of those present could not be
imagined and the inspiration for The
Carnival came to Mr.. Morrison as he
took his place before his fellow club
members at one OF the meetings
above described.
The Confessional, dedicated to Mr..
Morrison by its composer, was writ
ten by Robert Nathaniel Dett, young
man of full negro blood, student at
Oberlin. This is of rather unusual
interest as coming from race which
is by nature very musical but which
has produced few composers.
Some mention should be made of
the violin used by Mr.. Morrison on
Friday evening. 1t is an instrument
formerly used by the late Samuel f..
Morrill,, who in years gone by was a
member of an orchestra led by l. l..
Morrison, Mr.. Donald Morrison's
father. 1t bears the date of 1916,
lightly engraved in the wood with
the name of the maker, Gasparot
Dasalo Nepos, it is believed to be, as
this imprint would indicate, 1893 years
of age and is of unusually fine tone.
1t is now the property of Geo. IL.
Morrill,, son OF Samuel e. Morrill,
above mentioned.
Miss Morrison, gave a short expla-
nation of her first piece, Rhapsodie
by Brahms, much as she is accustom-
ed to do with pieces played by her at
recitals given here during the sum-
mer and during the winter in New
York City, adding much to its inter
est. A magnificent bouquet of peo-
MES was sent to the stage by some of
her Skowhegan friends after the two
selections, "Minuetn and "Arabes-
que," played as her second contribu
ton to the program.
The number in attendance was very
gratifying, listening to each piece
with earnest attention and showing
their appreciation by enthusiastic
applause.