Putnam patriot., 1911-06-16
The Music Shed

1Uc lusiN CuNu
 What is the Music Shed2 Just inn agine the Worcester Musical Festival transferred to one of the most beautiful country villages in Connecticut and housed in building especially con strueted for it's needs, and you have an idea of the June festival of the Ltteh- field County Choral Union held in the Music Shed at Norfolk.
 Some dozen years ago the Norfolk GIee Club was organized through the efforts of MT. and Ms. Carl Stoeekel who generously provided a conductor. Later they made the same generous ot- fer to societies in Winsted, Torrington, Salisbury, and Canaan, with the result that the Union has an active member ship of 6s5.
 After the organization was complet- ed the festival idea developed, and as Norfolk was the central point, with Salisbury and Canaan to the vest and Winsted and Torrington to the east, it was clear that Norfolk saould be the 
 hostess, but neither village church nor town hall would even accommodate the singers. Mir. Stoeekel said there would be place, and there was. It was called simply the Music Shed, and Is situated on the wood. d.bordered edge of meadow on the spacious grounds of Mr. Stoeckel's estate. The building k plain wooden struct- ure, with stage to seat a chorus of I30, and an orchestra of 75, and an au- ditorium with opera chairs for 1900.
 The interior finish is the natural wood, Portraits of the old masters of music are hung throughout the audi- toiium, which is brilliantly lighted by electricity
 For number of years the musical end of the firm publishing the PArRl. or has had strong desire to attend this festival, and this year through the courtesy of Mir. Carl Stoeckel received an invitation to be one Of the guests Of the Choral Union at the concerts, And so on Tuesday afternoon of last week he was one of many who crowded the aisles and seats of the train for Norfolk nthe CentralNew England railroad- that unique stretch of track on which the train backs out of Hartford, then alternately going ahead and backing, but by some marvellous scheme always advancing, at last brings you to your destination. The atmosphere of the train was Music Shed, passengers and conductor commenting on the festival, as the latter collected his tickets, and when the train left Norfolk, the one remaining passenger had an eNpres. sion on his face that indicated he was thinking that he had made mis- take in not leaving the crew in sole possession of the cars. X half hour later special train of fourteen cars brought the remaining contingent Of out-of- town guests.
 the Norfolk festival We had sntieipa- ted much, but had not realized that we were to hear amid the green hills of this grand old Commonwealth eho- rus singing that was nearer perfection than any we ever heard before, soloists that are world wide in fame, and sn orchestra as responsive 10 the baton, AS an organ to the touch of master.
 The concert of Tuesday evening be. gan with a symphony, North, East, south, West written sy Henry Had ley, especially for this festival, and conducted by the composer, who re- cei we'd an houorarium of slooo. The first movement was characteristic of l the North with it's rugged beauty and | sombre grandeur, and in the second | plaintive and quiet melody Is woven l