The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-04-08
EIGHTY WERE
At REHEARSAL
THOSE WHO ARET PARTICIPATE
IN PRESENTING HAYDN,S "CREA-
TON" ARE SHOWING GREAT
INTEREST.

With a band and chorus numbering
eighty in all, Mr.. j. w. Lurton brought
through yet another successful re-
hearsal of Haydn's Creation" last
evening.
AS the time draws near for the pub
lie performance of this grand oratorio,
there is every indication on the part
OF all concerned that they fully realize
tie responsible task they have under
taken and appreciate its difficulties.
1t is right there where success may
be considered assured. Ignorance of
difficulties is more to be feared than
the difficulties of Ignorance; for the
latter can be overcome by application,
whereas the former is usually self
satisfied and a hopeless proposition.
Digging deep into detail is Mr.. Lur-
tons serious occupation at this stage
and he wouldn't be himself if he didn't
succeed.
In one of the never be forgotten
Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas
there is couplet: with constabulary
duties to be done, a policeman's life is
no. a happy one" and this viii apply
very aptly to Mr.. Lu~ton's position
until he has brought his baton down
on the very last beat of the grand per-
formance of the Creation"
And this anxiety and restlessness
and general uneasiness are the neces-
sary attributes of every conductor
worthy of his position. 1t is the keen
sense of danger which prompts rem
edial or preventive measures and
therefrom spring success. Last nights
rehearsal showed Mr.. Lurton in
critical mood, sensitive, exacting, in
sisting: good, and yet again, good, here
is where the public will get the finish
and the polish which the final per-
Torrance will most certainly show.
Nothing is-more encouraging than to
find that insistent determination on
the part of a conductor to be satisfied
with nothing short of the very best,
and nothing could have been more
satisfying than the keen and alert re-
sponsiveness of every one of the eighty
musicians present, who showed their
appreciation of the approaching climax
to all the fine endeavor of the past six
weeks.
After a careful try-out of the short
chorus I'm the Beginning" a deter
T. ined attack was made upon Achieved
is the Glorious Work. This chorus
simply bristles with difficulties and is
the despair of a conductor who has
weakness in any section of voices.
As has been previously mentioned,
there has been delay in reaching this
number on account of its being the last
on the list, but there is no doubt that,
now it has been taken severely in
hand, 1t will arrive in due course at
the same measure of successful ac-
ccmplishment al, the others have.
The mems sections, both basses and
tenors, show weakness here which
calls for sectional practice, and it is
{, be hoped that ARRANGEMENTS will be
made TO have a couple of extra even
tngs set aside for their especial benefit.
Only by such means, backed up as
rluch as possible by Tome practice,
can the uncertainties that now exist
be removed.
The sopranos. as they have through
out the whole series of rehearsals, ex-
hibited reassuring certainty and relia-
bility, and the altos, though not nu-
mericallv strong. gave a good account
of themselves. As Mr.. Lurton is fully
alive TO the necessities of the case so
far as the mems sections are con-
cerned, and there are still some four
weeks available for rehearsals, there
is no doubt that Achieved is the
Glorious Work will eventually become
a glorious work achieved.
Awake the Harp" The Heavens
Are Telling" and THE Lord is Great"
including the solo parts, which were
sung by Mrs. Mia Osborn Benn, Mr..
". S. Garfield and DR.. c. r. Mitchell,