Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-10-06
FESTIVAL SPLENDOBS
AT BANGOR THIS WEEK-PORT-
LAND NEXT WEEK.
INTERESTING COMMENTS ON ARTISTS
AND PRoGRAMs-THE CHORUS
AND ORCHESTRA.

[Abby N. Garland in Bangor Nsscs.
Five strong, we'll balanced programs
have been arranged for the concerts Of the
Maine music festival Of 1903. Not . con-
cert can one afford to omit this year. II
forced to stay at home from any, it will be
Q difficult matter to decide which one to
lose. The afternoon concerts, which in
clude an orchestra feast ON Friday and the
lovely program Of the Mendelssohn con-
tenary celebration ON Saturday, would
surely have to be heard; then with each
evening concert . new prima donna in .
variety Of fine selectionsl Surely, we
have the greatest programs ever given Us.
The array Of solo talent, the splendid or
chestra and chorus to render these choice
programs, must satisfy and fill the hearts
OF all music lovers with gratitude that
such a feast can be had in eastern Maine.
The amount Of thought and business
ability required to bring all this to us
cannot be appreciated or estimated by
mortals who have never had to engage
srtists and arrange programs. The great
variety and balance OF these programs
show the ripe judgment OF Mr.. Chapman
to marked degree. Not one concert can
be called heavy and classic. In every one
chorus and orchestra have bright and
light short numbers, and each great artist
sings one or more great operatic arias and
group OF songs containing the best of
art songs, ballad and folk-song; thus, the
versatility OF each artist will be shown to
the greatest advantage.
This country, in order to attain high
rank in music, must give more encourage
ment to those who study music here with
out having to get foreign approval first by
being obliged to travel back and forth to
Europe and have great newspaper notices
before we accept and honor their talent.
The stir and enthusiasm aroused at
these festivals must have the highest edu-
cational power. Mr.. Chapman has always
tried to have good representation of
American talent at the festival concerts,
and this year we find many names of
American composers, chief among whom
are Prof. John Knowles Paine with the
Song OF Promise, the work of Friday
evening, and Blair Fairchild, whose SYM
phonic poem will be performed Friday
afternoon.
THE FIRST CONCERT
pens with the great overture from
Wagner's Mastersingers Of Nuremberg.
This brilliant overture with its full har-
mony makes fine beginning for the
festival. The pompous, pedantic march
themes OF the opera are scored witha boun-
tiful use OF brass. The beautiful air OF the
Prizlied and Werbelied offer lyrical con-
trast and treatment, and are developed in
Wagner's best manner. The close brings
a return OF the first themes, fortissimo.
The old classic oratorio writers do not
appear this season, save Handel, whose
Hallelujah chorus is always sung for the
opening chorus. Let Handel have all
honor, as this year is the 150th anniyer-
sary of his death.
Reinald Werrenrath, who makes his
first appearance in the heroic ballad of
Lochinvar, will surely win his audience
in his great song with his fine baritone
voice. Lochinvar, with words from the
ballad by Sir Walter Scott and music by
the noted Boston composer, Geo. w.
Chadwick, is musical drama by itself.
1t was written for Max Heinrich, who is
generally conceded to be the most dra-
matte singer OF art songs in this country.
For chorus music, the first concert is
named the Elgar night, as four choruses
will be given representing the climax of
four different works of this great COM
poser, who is now living, and the fore
III
SIT Comes from the Misty Ages'' from the
"Banner Of st. George, has a stirring
march rhythm with words extolling the
legendary virtues of st. George, the
patron saint of England. This work was
produced in 1897.
cigars MASTERPIECE.
The second number of Elgar will be
solo and chorus from SThe Dream of
Gerontius", considered by many to be
masterpiece. This work was first pro-
duced at the Birmingham, Eng, festival
in 1900, and at the Lower Rhine festival in
1902. 1t was better performed and created
the greatest interest in Germany, where
Richard Strauss gave it public praise and
pronounced Elgar Sthe most forward man
Of modern music. This remark made
him famous in England for all time.
Gerontius, now, is a great drawing ora
torio at English festivals.
The scene Of the solo and chorus is the
deathbed Of Gerontius, a simple Christian
character, who is conscious and overcome
by approaching death. The priests and
assistants sing: go forth upon thy
Journey, Christian Soul' as the spirit
takes its fight.
The third Elgar chorus is an anthem of
high praise from 1.-THE Light of Life".
The fourth, brilliant chorus, 81 Am the
God Thor" is in 3-4 rhythm, strongly
accented with brilliant orchestration in
the accompaniment. The sentiment rep
resents the Pagan god boasting Of his
superhumaq strength as challenge to the
powers OF Christ.