Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-07-24
RoF. EVAN STEPHENS has at
last concluded the onerous task
OF selecting the 200 voices which

of selecting the 200 voices which
= are to go to Seattle next month,
.,a from which a. chorus of mixed
,cIess OK not less than 10 and not over
,o5 are to compete for the $1,000 prize
,-,ven by the exposition management
patearsals, three and four nights week
~ have been held for the three past
weeks.
The contest choruses are of the high
est rank, each in its own style, and
difflcultfes abound in each. The big
Mendelssohn classic has its strong, mas
siye effects, almost oriental in its clim-
axes and sudden transpositions, while
protheroe's part song is SO dainty and
tender that nothing but blending Of
the natural yet most artistic expression
md feeling will do it any justice what
ever.
Both are now memorized by most of
the singers giving the conductor a
( command Of the work impossible when
yocalists are bloodhound.
prof. Anton Peterson, who listened
for an hour this week unknown to the
leader, is quoted as saying 1t Is al
ready the best singing have yet heard
in Salt Lake
The first opportunity to- hear the
chorus selected will be at the series Oh
grand concerts which will be given at
The tabernacle during g. a. r. week
beginning Aug. .. There will be four
concerts, with changes Of program
each night. The first will be given
Monday night. and the other three will
no rendered "Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday evenings.
Through the courtesy of the choir, g.
A. r. veterans will be given compli-
mentary tickets to these concerts, but
the general public will not be admit
ted free, for the "sinews of war" are
required to make the contemplated con-
cert tour of the northwest possible.
Provided each of the five concerts
which will be given respectively in
Boise, La Grande, Portland, Tacoma
and Seattle, go to Standing room,' the
choir will still need about $4,000 III
order to pay expenses to and from
Seattle.
Professor Stephens himself, while de-
lighted with the progress of the sing
ers so far, is not of the optimistic kind.
Yesterday, in answer to questions, he
said:
Eve may win and we may not, for
we have by no means the advantages
.ti.e T..,1, ON oct OH
and yet they lost. They were at home
and in good natural condition to sing.
We will be weary with six days hard
travel, sightseeing and concert-giving
and in a strange and, to us, perhaps, a
chilly climate. Contests, musical or
nstic, are uncertain quantities. often
turning into victory for the party in
best fettle at the moment. The north
west is filled up with a people whose
refinement and energy is ideal. and we
cannot but doubt that we will have
singing of q very high standard to meet,
and under conditions by no means fa-
I. yorable to our winning.
"Our concert work will be more in
our line and characteristic of our
regular work In this believe we will
give a good account Of ourselves. We
are not, and have little desire to be, n
concert choir. We will do our best
and we and Utah must be satisfied with
the results.
still il our competing will in any
way add to the good name and fame
of the people and the state we repre-
sent 1t will compensate us for what
ever .dlsagreeable incidents there may
bc$in store for u.s."
The full chorus of 200 voices takes
part in each concert.
In addition to the four soloists. Al
fred Best, Mrs. Lizzie Thomas Edward,
Hazel Barnes and Fl, S. Ensign, Prof,
r j. J. Mcclellan and Ed l<imball will be
with the choir in the capacity of ac-
companists. Prof. Mcclellan will ac-
company on grand piano and Mr..
kimball on a cabinet organ. Prof.