Evening journal., 1909-05-12
HIAWATHA AND
A NIGHT OF SONG
Wilmington Choral Society
Presents LOngfeIlOw's
Poem at the GarriCk


one after another the musical orsaniza-
lions whose concerts 20 10 make up Will
mngton's season OF music are giving
their last concert OF this the present musi-
cal term. last night the Garrck was the
scene OF the last subscription concert OF
the Wilmington Choral Society when this
excellent musical organization. IN fact
the best in this city, gave the third part
OF I1iawatha, Longfellow's celebrated
poem, set 60 music by 5. Colerdge- Tay-
lor, a negro, be IL known. Hiawathas
departure, after the death OF his be-
loved Minnehaha was the excerpt mus
ically rendered last night, the two other
parts having been given heretofore r.
Leslie Carpenter. Mus. Bac., conducted.
The chorus was much better heard
last night than on its previous con-
certs. due. perhaps. 70 the acoustic pro-
perties OF the Garrick which are excel
lent The chief element OF praise about
the entire program was its distinct
freshness and there was no feeling of
WEAKNESS which generally abounds in
many local concerts due solely TO the
staleness OF some of the numbers The
third part OF this poem Is by no means
the best of the three-the second part
has this honor.
The music OF Hiawatha as Coleridge-
Taylor set II down, may or may not
lhave been inspired from sources for
eign to an Indians idea OF music but
one would go far TO find a better COM
poser who wove poetry into music and
music into poetry. interlining II with
mosphere--musically so-called-into
musical poem out OF which tone pic
lures Of pathos and simple beauty
pictures that graphically set forth
characters such as one learned 20 know
and love them In ones school days than
he whose music paints the ever living
characters OF Longfellows immortal
poem. The music itself IS so full OF
charm. so clear and ingenious so en-
tirely plausible that the ordinary needs
no synopsis nor commentary TO explain
to him why ,he should be interested.
Melodious ebb and flow keeps the in
terest even. There Is no tension from
the ideal element in Hawatha and
the music is never too energetic 10 can
truly be said of the music of this poem:
when It's most intense II is the most
lyrical--when most significant least
demonstrative.
About the only fault found with the
singing of the third part OF the poem
was its brevity. but OF course Mr.. Long,
fellow is TO blame for this. To Fred
erick w. Wyatt, basso, fell the prin-
cipal part OF the work Mr.. Wyatt
Interested his audience at once, but he
strained for too much effect. which
! adduced too emphatic articulation and
pronunciation. Moreover. he dragged
his first solo part assuming too much
Ffsi-. a.. -
commendable, however. He has a
pleasing voice, Of some culture and
qualities that may ripen as he gains
In experience.
Mrs William Il. Smaley sustained
} the soprano parts. She sang in splen-
did voice. as she usually does, but
strange TO say, she displayed nervous
e mess at the opening of her part an effec
n which accomplished a harshnoss IN he
q high notes and head tones, some O
IS which she sang with a pinched glottis
-t The descending scales she sang beau
tifully. with perfect smoothness ant
II clear articulation. To sing staccat
{ pleasingly a singer must be well train
It ed in correct breathing. Mrs. Smallel
e has been heard to better advantage be
~ fore
Il The tenor work was done by ]. Franl
II Ayres. What he had to do Mr.. Ayre
n did WELL but he needs TO put NOR
n enthusiasm into his singing.
After the rendition Of the poem. Mis-
e Cora Taggart. contralto. opened III
u miscellaneous part OF the program witt
Is a Bedouin Love Song. Miss Taggart'
vocal expression is good and her voic
l. is rich and Of considerable compass
p She was literally applauded and 10
n an encore she sang. Voices I'm tn
Wood, set to Rubenstein's Melody In I
Mrs. William Arthur Faulkner. VIC
linist. charmed her audience with he
splendid playing Of sgambatrs Neapol
itan Serenade and Mendelssohn's Con
II certo. It's needless TO comment on he
! playing. Her skill on this instrumen
Is too we'll known for superfluous com
ment. Mrs. Faulkner was easily on
Of the musical treats Of the program
y. The real music lovers Of this city Ow
:, Mr.. Carpenter, director Of the society
Ia debt OF thanks. The three concerts give
r under his direction were delights an
- an edincation. BY dint Of patience an
hard work he has attuned the organ
=, ization 10 a standard Of excellence hard
- ~ equally by any local organizatio
= since the days of the Tuesday Clul
- Mr.. Carpenter. of course. Is proud c
~ the society and he SHOULD be. TIL
~ chorus work last night all the wa
: through left nothing TO be desire'
,s Fanings Nagabonds proved q charmif
little work and il pleased immensel.
as did the song OF the Vikings.
When one considers that Mrs. Ellwoo
10. jackson and Miss Elizabeth Cond
OF were at the piano, dividing honors a
III accompanies. nothing more need .
Z cafd