Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-12-29
CANTATA AND PAGEANT
Features of Christmas 0bserv-
ance in Brattleboro
pressve Concert-Specia Attractions
for Sunday School Children.

Rarely delightful weather conditions
prevailed during the Christmas obserV-
ances in the Bratteboro churches this
year The sky was clear, the sun shone
bright and warm, and everywhere there
was camness. The congregations were
large and inspiring sermons We're
preached by the various ministers, their
themes having a special relation to the
Christmas season The programs as
published last week were carried out and
gave much satisfaction.
OF special interest was the cantata,
THE Story of Bethlehem" by William
r. Spence, and the organ and orchestral
program, which were given in the Con-
gregat ional church in the evening, the
various congregations uniting. Members
of Leitsinger's orchestra and the choirs
of several churches participated in the
program and the audience filled all the
pews besides many chairs which were
brought in from the vestry. The plat
form had been built higher and wider
to make room for the singers and the
choir loft was occupied by the orches-
ira. The front of the choir loft and the
front of the platform were banked with
hemock boughs and festoons of ground
pine stretched to the top of the organ,
making a beautiful effect. The decora-
tons were put up under the direction of
the church flower committee, of which
Mrs Charles Akeley is chairman.
The congregation was greatly pleased
with the program, many regarding IT as
the best Christmas concert given in town
in recent years. The players in the in
strumental part were as follows: Organ,
+. c. Leitsinger; first violin, c. Nj. Du-
gan; second violin, Alison Dugan; flute,
II. f. Jordan; cornet, Sewall Morse;
cello, Arthur III. Brasor, The program
published last week was rendered and
the great satisfaction which 1t AFFORDED
was apparent from the close attention
given. 1t found expression later in
words of commentator. During this
part of the program there was scrip
ture reading by Rev. f. Q. S. Osgood
and Rev, r. NJ. Houghton and prayer by
Rev. ID. e. Trout.
Those taking part in the cantata were
Miss katherine Martin. Mrs. w. h. Hub
bard, Miss Emma j. Gregg, Mrs. Cortes
e. Farnum and Miss Cora Liscom,
sopranos Mrs. w. II. Bond, Mrs. h. c.
Bacon, Mrs. A. l.. Maynard and Mrs.
Eric Landry, contraltos; A. l., Maynard,
e. V. Morse, George NJ. Clay and w. A.
Gilbert, tenors; A. L. Clapp, f. c. Ad-
ans, +. S. knight, George e. Adams,
c. b. Crowell and Il. IL. Crane, bases.
The chorus was well balanced and the
parts were sung in excellent tune, good
expression and fine musical feeling. Fol
lowing is the program:
PART l. THE SHEPHERDS.
Pastorale, orchestra and organ; tenor
solo and chorus There were shep-
herds" Mr.. Gilbert and chorus; bass
recitative. And 10, the angel of the
Lord" Mr.. Adams; soprano solo, Fear
mott" Miss Martin; tenor recitative. And
suddenly" Mr.. Morse; chorus, GLORY to
God.", bass recitatlve, And 1t came to
pass" Mr. Adams; chorus, Let us now
go even unto Bethlehem; alto recitative,
And they came with haste" Mrs. Bond;
alto solo and chorus, sleep, Holy
Babe" MRS. Bond and chorus; bass
recitative, "And thou, Bethlehem" Mr..
Adams; chorus, HE shall be great"
PART ii. THE MAGI.
Bass recitative, Now when Jesus was