The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-29
the spit ball when town ball is the

the spit ball when town ball is the
game"
However, this should not cast any re-
Election upon Mr.. Brigham. When it is
said that the recital lasted almost two
hours and during this whole time the
artist did not use a word or note for
reference it will be seen that the task
is of no light order. In giving both
poem and music from memory with
rich vibrant voice and musical varied
touch at the piano Mr.. Brigham per-
formed unique and grateful task and
provided an evening of rare intellectual
enjoyment.
OF the recitations last night the writ
er was more than pleased with The
Bells by Edgar Allan Poe and "Gunga
DIM by Rudyard Kipling. The former
was beautiful. The bells themselves
deep and powerful voice of the man.
His voice is capable of infinite modula-
ton. He has a clarity Of enunciation.
perfection of English pronunciation
and accent as pronounced and accented
by educated Englishmen. beauty of
phrasing and balance of emphasis and
expression.
1.-The Bells" last night exhibited the
whole range of his wonderful voice. He
rang al the changes on the wedding,
alarum and iron bells and his 'tolling.
tolling, tolling' was like the Dead
March in Saul.
AS a recitalist. Mr. Brigham ranks as
one of the greatest on the American
platform today. His power of painting
word pictures is enormous, and his
unsteady and pianistic ability coupled
with the remarkable quality and
sorority of his voice conspire together
to make him one of the foremost reel
talists of the day.
Mr.. Brigham's programme included
very little comic stuff last night. The
only two recitations of this nature were
hidden by cleverness and technique of
voice. He responded to several encores
after his rendition of THE Bells and
"The Cataract of Lodore." Young
Locbinvar' by Sir walter Scott was
given in such manner that it lent
new life to the poem
In his melodrama 1.-The White Ship
Mr. Brigham portrayed marvellous pow
err. The little piece lasted for fully
half an hour and during the whole time
the artist combined the poem and the
| incidental music. So fully and feel
| ingly did Mr. Brigham absorb the
meaning of both poet and musician that
he brought TO the Interpretation of their
inspirations as equally great express
sion. Nothing would better suit the
| fine dramatic and vocal endowments of
! the artist while nothing could make a
I better test OF them. And withal he
showed himself to be a pianist of really
| phenomenal gifts and a striking indi-
viduality.
In all of his songs last night Mr..
| Brigham played the difficult accom-
paniments with a beauty of touch and
| a wealth of technique, which made one
wish to hear him in solo numbers. The
| writer would choose "Oh, That We two
Were Maying'' as the piece de resist
ance (whatever that isl of the even
ing's recital. 1t is soft and pretty
without the gymnastic side shows on
| the piano and the painful expressions
writ Nv
\ who should be congratulated on his
close proximity to real music-with a
touch of feeling as well as tune His
| tariff is hereby removed
There were several other songs and
recitations last night. Some of them
1 were excellent-and others would De
| better if they were not played up" II
any of the numbers did not clearly sat
isfy the audience it was because they
did not appreciate the programme-not