Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-05
WATERvILLE.
The Aim Of the Cecilia Choral Society

An organization embracing so many
individuals binding together n half
dozen towns. fusing into an cnthusas-
tic unit persons of different national
tiles and religious affiliations, and es-
ia Dlishing a fine spirit of enthusiasm
and disinterestedness for public service
certainly deserves study and right I'M
derstanding. We have interviewed the
directors of the Cecilia Choral society
to get at their conception OF the SER
vice this society is attempting to rem
der to the whole community and their
ideas as to its future development. We
believe the ideas cherished by these
directors are significant, and worthy
of attention not only for their special
interest in relation to the Choral So
ciety. but for their value as q symptom
of the higher life of the city manifested
in so many ways. 1t is evident that
Waterville is stretching out with fine
vigor, and is bound to become 9 lead
er in all that concerns the growth Of
Maine.
The directors call attention TO the
rapid growth Of musical culture im the
United States: the great extension of
popular interest in operate and or
chestral, as Well as other forms OF mu-
sic; the increased efficiency of mus
cal training in the public and private
schools: the enlarged facilities, espe-
cially in the larger cities, for public
enjoyment of the best music IN the
larger forms; the striking success OF
late of American voices in all the great
musical centers of Europe, where the
standards and traditions are far more
eXactin2 than here. The rise of so
many American singers of both sexes
to front rank, despite prejudices al
most unsurmountable against them.
indicates the wealth of American ma
terial and capacity, if given chance.
The Cecilia Choral Society exists to
stimulate and develop the most prom
ising talent here, and to give to all the
people the joy and uplift of the best
possible use of available talent, to-
gether with importations of outside
aid up to the limit of it's funds.
The society has demonstrated the
feasibility of making Waterville CEN
ter of high grade musical expression
and culture. But much larger public
interest and pride in the undertaking
is needed. The proposed new Board of
Commerce is no more symptomatic of
the new life of the city than is the Ce-
ella Choral Society. At bottom they
mean much the same thing. The city
is stretching with growing pains of a
new and more efficient life in many
directions. It's effort for better char
ter. its undertaking to fight the white
plague with scientific skill and the CO.
operation of the whole people of this
l.
pital adequate to the communitys
needs, its union to provide r. r. Y.
NJ. c. A.-alI these movements betray
the same spirit which is working like
an irresistible ferment to make Water
vile better center in which to live.
Success for the Choral Society means
that every acre of land, every parcel OF
real estate, every organ of trade and
industry, every institution of learning,
will be lifted in value. 1t is recognized
that communities are organic units.
Whenever any phase of the higher life
of the community is carried to new
levels OF power the general life-level
is elevated.
1t is matter of congratulatiOn for
the whole community, then, that the
chorus is enlarged by a third, that the
orchestra is greatly improved and is
local in personnel, and that the coming
concert will be greatly improved in
finish of production and in variety and
wealth of material. A wide-awake,
practical interest is needed to fill every
seat at the coming concert. If that oc-
ours Waterville and the other towns
concerned will have proved once more
their intention of making this the most
live and progressive spot on the map
of Maine.