The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-10-01

whereof 1t sings, was the Ode to Irriga
tlon by the great chorus under the d.
rection of It's composer, ]. j. Mcclellan.
Twelve thousand persons within the
building and hundreds held perforce
without the wide flung doors. thrilled to
silence. heard the magnificent compost
tion from its dramatic beginning to It's
tumultuous. triumphant conclusion and
then went wild in appiauding Thirty
minutes were required for the rendition.
Army Of Singers.
It was the first time the ode had ever
been given in IT'S entirety, though for
several years II has been a feature OF the
Irrigation congress. More than 400
voices made up the chorus. twice as many
as ever sang the song before. This, cou-
pied with the fact that Mr. Mcclellan
had personal charge Of the undertaking,
produced An effect far outstripping pre-
vious performances Of the piece.
The noble melody, vlvidly portraytng It's
noble theme. found a vehicle Of express
sion in the great organ, tho augmented
orchestra and tremendously powerful
chorus that probably never will BIO en-
sembled for It again. 1t rose In splendid
waves OF sound, laundering and rolling
under the vast dome Of the building un-
I'll the air was vibrant with tumult OF
harmony and the car thrilled with the
glory OF It Here and there the music
was low and soft and sweet as 1t told
In poetic narrative Of the green fields
and running waters where once was the
desert. Then it sprang In leaps and
bounds to ponderous, gladsome grandeur
TO tell the dramatic cllmaSes OF the won
derful story. Then again 1t swept with
swift, rotous movement like a desert
wind, as though to sing OF tho fierce
struggles of mon to hold dominion over
arid wastes.
soloists Excellent.
The singing Of Mrs. Hazel Taylor Peery
in the soprano solo parts rnn through
tho great mass Of melody like bright
silver thread. her clear, high tones pene-
tratlng the fartherest point Of the build
ing with sweet inslstence- John t.
Hand in the tenor solos was also eN-
ccllent
As the beautiful music died away with
haunting echoes the audience rose 10
It's feet and appiauded for many minutes
Half a dozen visiting delegates moved
s,m,,Itaneously that the National Irrign-
t,on congress give hearty vote OF thanks
., Mr.. Mcclellan for. having composed the
r,,sIc. 10 Mrs Gilbert McClurg, who
w,ote the words Of the ode. and TO the
entire chorus. the soloists and the or
ranist. Edwin r. Kimball, for one OF the
most naasnificent renditions OF musical
number 1t had ever been their lot to
enjoy. Needless to say the whole was
adopted enthusiastically.
AS early as o'clock In the morning the
tabernacle began TO I'LL with eSpectant
crowds, At 10 o'clock the building was
hacked to the uttermost tier and when
tho programme began fifteen minutes lat
or hundreds OF persons were struggling
TO get positions Of advantage near the
various entrances.
Decorations Appeal.
The big structure was impressively
adorned for the occasion. American
nagH md bunting covered the rail-
ings of the gallery and extended
about the building wherever oppor-
tunity for decoration WIS presented.
Two monster flags draped the organ and
1 above IL the star of Utah blazed forth It's
inca ndescent welcome Within the star
tho beehive, emblem of the state. blinked
It's striking mimIcry Of busy bees,
Upon the stand were seated many not
able men including the national officers
of the congress, members of the Utah
board Of control. Senators Reed Snoot.
George Sutherland and Francis G. New
lands, number OF foreign cnyoys, Gov
ernor Spry. Mayor Park and local men
Of prominence.
The programme began with n selection
ffrom Carmen" by the organ and the or
lthestra This was followed by the "Star-
spangled Banner" with the audience
| Joining in. Then the voice Of Douglas