The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-05-24
Director Earhart, the Or
chestra, Chorus and Solo
lists Were Given Ovations
by the Audience.
FINAL CONCERT TO
BE GIVEN TONIGHT
Concert Last Evening Dem
onstrated the Value of the
Annual Musical Event to
Local People.
BY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.

The Sixth Richmond May Festival
opened in the Coliseum last evening
with brilliant musical and social
eclat, the large audience greeting the
members of the chorus, orchestra, the
soloists and Mr.. Earhart, the Direc-
tor, with enthusiasm for their personal
achievements and with intelligent ap-
probation of their musical presenta-
tions.
The latter phase of the temper of the
audience was one Of it's most interest
ing and significant, since it demon
strated the value of the concerts given
by the Symphony orchestra during the
past winter, and that of hearing year
after year body of singers and musi-
clans who have perfected their musical
form through long personal and artis-
tic association and familiarity.
This is the raison d. etre of musical
organizations and their presentments.
Avenue to Culture.
1t is the avenue through which civic
culture is acquired.
And it's efficaciousness in developing
discrimination was shown last even
ing in the applause which punctuated
| the Bizet suite, at the close of it's va
rious movements and that which fol-
lowed the solo and chorus recitatives
in "Olaf Trygvason."
This cannot be emphasized too often
or too insistently.
Nor the splendid disinterestedness
! of the director and the members OF the
orchestra who gave their time and SER
vices to the exploitation of a great
art without any other return than the
pleasure and instruction of the public
and that which it affords them in in
dividual development.
Nor yet the unselfshness of the cit
izens of the community who spend
time and money in the arrangement of
these festivals of music and the per-
fection of the organization giving the
| latter.
The whole is, indeed, as fine an ex-
ample of altrurianism and united civic
effort toward the artistic upbuilding of
a community as could be found in any
town or city either on this or any other
, continent.
An Artistic Success.
Aside from these aspects and remov-
ed from all local and loyal considera-
tions, the concert last evening was en-
| joyable for it's artistic merits alone
The disinterested music lover from the
world outside, who had knowledge of
the local complexion, would have
found himself listening to a choral
and orchestra concert which held it's
own in comparison with professional
organizations of greater reputation
There is no discounting the value of
the existence of two such bodies as
the Symphony orchestra and the May
Festival chorus which are able to con-
tinually rehearse together and whose
interrelation is so pronounced and
ramifying.
The personal element is invaluable
in the development of sympathetic
understanding and Interpretation and
this is heavy asset of the Richmond
May Musical Festival.
| The opening concert was an agreea-
BILE variation from those of one or two
former occasions in that its variety
and brevity gave vivacity to the entire
evening and at no time was the audi
ence wearied by either undue length
or non-comprehension of the compost
tions presented.
! The Initial Number.
Svendsens Coronation March," the
initial number, was a fortunate intro
ductory selection. since it's nature
the greeting of a national ruler
makes an appeal both to the lay and
musical mind, the former being entire
ly able to interpret its civic. as well
as its musical significance through the
intelligent Interpretation given it by
the orchestra.
| This march, as stated in the admira-
BILE program notes" distributed over
town before the beginning of the Fes-
tival and which was not one of the
least of the management's activities,
| was composed for the coronation of
Oscar ii. King of Norway and Sweden,
and of his consort, Queen Sophia.
/ "Svendsen-who died in 1911-was
living in Christiania as conductor of
the Musical Association The corona
ton of the King and Queen took place
twice-at Stockholm. May 26th, 1873.
and in Drontheim Norway, July 18th,
of the same year.
The motif of this composition-the
apotheosis of nations hereditary ru-
lers. the expression of patriotic loyal
ty. the greeting from people joyfully
| welcoming its new monarch without
forgetting tribute to the one whom
he succeeded, and their peculiar Scan
ainayian expression-is one readily
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