The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-06-23
Observation-Disclosures
BY w. J. BENIN, NJ. ..

isfaction where CHORAL societies can
not be maintained. and musical at
fractions which mean so much to a
community are lost to cities in which
the standard OF music is not elevated.
There is nothing in the line of re-
Taxation or entertainment or pleasure
which will quite take the place of a
musical festival. The moving picture
will entertain, and will leave an i'm
preston on the mind which may last
until you get home, and you may think
for time of cowboys and girls and
impossible Indians and more impos-
sible narrow escapes and thrilling stu
atoms. The vaudeville pleases for a
short time. and the variety of the per-
Torrance is more or less inviting and
invigorating. The drama interests only
a few OF any audience before which it
Is produced. The time honored min
strel show, with it's inirth- provoking
end-men, would be the --LATEST of
failures as an entertainment without
its musical numbers, and even the cir
Gus must have it's excellent band and
musical selections must intersperse
the programme. The opera, light or
grand, appears to be the nearest ap
proach to satisfying soul refreshing.
body resting entertainment, and it is
nearly all music.
Attraction Par Excellence.
But for downright exhilaration, for
pure and unalIoyed relaxation, the mu-
sic festival is the attraction par excel
lence. Now everyone who can sing
and some who cannot-join the chorus.
and rehearsals are held once or twice
week for two or three months. At
first the work is hard and uninterest-
Ing, for 1t is difficult of Interpretation
and does not appeal to the majority
of those singing in the chorus. Gradu-
ally the singers become more familiar
with their work. Then they begin to
talk about what a grand thing 1t is to
be able to sing such beautiful music.
Their friends become interested, and
long for the rehearsals to cease and
time of production to arrive. The first
few dry, undressing rehearsals have
given place to evenings of pleasure and
the members of the chorus come earlier
and stay later. Those who cannot sing
come. too, but they are just as happy
as the singers, and all is well. The
directors face wears a smile. His
work is not so disagreeable. There is
better understanding, a keener ap-
probation. a greater sympathy exist
ing between him and the chorus. The
soloists are engaged, the orchestra has
been notified, the date of production
has been announced. Now young and
old, great and small, rich and poor are
straining for tickets. The. opening
night has arrived, the chorus and the
soloists and the orchestra are in their
places on the stage. The orchestra has
tuned up" amid the buzz and hum of
the chorus. The house" is packed
Business men have forgotten their
business. and are in the audience with
their neighbors. Everyone who can
get into the building is there. The
director steps before the performers,
raises his baton for silence, and says
few words to thank the chorus for
it's splendid work and fine appearance.
The curtain rises amid the deafening
applause of the audience. The orches-
ira takes up the strains of the over
ture, now soft and flowing, now loud
and laundering and tearing as If there
were too little power in the drums and
tympani and double bass and oboes