The San Francisco call., 1910-05-15
2-plano SOLO. ..per 1lndenbsum -.

without question: OdliIOrnld Claim
for attention as a music loving COM
monwealth finds its principal justifica
tion in the Bach choir. It is now in the
second year of its existence, and that
fact is reassuring for the present and a
pleasant prophecy for the future. We
encouraged DR.. Fred ]. Wolfe. the di-
rector and inspirer of the Bach festival
of a year ago, by an overwhelming
audience at the Greek theater when
the first Bach festival was given. Since
that time the chorus has been steadily
and faithfully rehearsing to the end
that next Saturdays presentation of
Bach's Passion" music, according to
St Matthew. may be worthy of the
wonderful composition and of the sa-
cred theme.
Dr. Wolfe is, probably, the greatest
Bach student and authority in America,
and one of the greatest in the world.
This is freely conceded in Europe, as
we'll as in America. His festivals of
similar kind given by him while living
in Bethlehem, Pa, attracted the atten-
ton of the entire world of music to
this champion. not of cult, but of
music in it's highest and purest express
sions-the music of Bach 1t was ap-
parent last year that San Francisco and
the cities of this community appreciated
the value of the offering and the genius
of the man who made it possible.
GREAT SUCCESS
According to Miss Lillian D. Clark,
the interchangeable secretary of the big
choir, this years festival-which takes
place next Saturday-will be as great q
success financially as last years and a
greater artistically.
The finest composers that the world
has listened to agree apparently on but
one thing. That is that, of them all,
Bach is king. No writer of or about
music questions this. 1t is automatic.
After Bach, no position of priority is
unchallenged. Only Bach is agreed upon
a s the master of them all. For dignity.
beauty, celestial melody, profoun
weavings of tonal fabrics, for passion
and splendor, Bach is model and mas
ter. His Passion music is accepted
without a doubt as being the greatest
choral music ever penned. More.
Nothing finer it is safe to say. ever
will be written by mortal man.
In the presentation of next Saturday
there will be a double chorus, a double
orchestra, nine soloists and a children S
choir of 500 voices. A pipe organ will
be erected on the stage of the Greek
theater to reinforce the instrumental
portions of the work, and an orchestra
of 10 musicians will play Bach's score.
It was happy idea of DR.. Wolle's to
purpose is served. The children them
selves come under the influence of the
purest expressions in music, and then
they carry it to their homes. Incal-
culable good is thus done in the musical
development of the people, left other
wise to the ravages of ragtime.
NOTED SoLOISTs
The soloists who will participate in
the noble music are Miss Alice ]. An
drews. Mrs. Orrin Kip McMurray, Mrs.
Frances Thoroughman and Mrs. A. E.
Wood, sopranos; Carl Anderson, tenor;
Henry Mustard, bass; H. ]. Satin,
George Blacker and Arthur George.
Miss Aurora Thompson, who came from
London last year to be the organist for
DR. Wolle's first Bach festival, and until
recently was of the faculty of the
Academy of Music at Highgate, n. Lon
don, will be the organist. Hother Wis
mer will be concert master.
BY a happy coincidence this is the
decennial of the production of the
Passion" play at Oberammergau, and
the anniversary season of the Uni
versity of California as well Every
thing conspires to attract attention to