Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1913-06-19
ORAIOR|O ELUAa'
Presented by Chorus, Orchestra and
SOlOiStS
IN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
InpShau Eupninn In q crphifahlp Manner
Tuesday Evening in Creditable Manner.
Much PrelSe Due Prof. F. VGatCh

Elijah" Mendelssohn's wonderful
oratorio, was given Tuesday evening
in the Presbyterian church by the
Alma Choral club and the College
orchestra, assisted by Charles S.
Wengerd of Chicago, baritone. Carl
Z. Craven, Chicago, tenor; Clara V.
Bales, Chicago, soprano; and Harriet
McGreaham, Alma, contralto.
Elijah" is the most dramatic ora
torio ever written. The text is based
on Scripture references concerning
the life Of the great prophet, starting
with his curse on the people OF Is
rael, their CONSERVATION and vain ap-
peals to their god, Baal, and the
plea of Obadiah that the nation for
sake their idols and return to God.
This is followed by the angels visit
to Elijah urging him to depart and
telling him that God had commanded
the ravens to feed him, and after
Cherith's brook dries up he is told to
go TO Zarephath, where a widow wo-
man had been commanded to care for
him. Then comes the meeting of
Elijah and the widow, and she inn
plores the man of God to help her
for her son is sick, there is no
breath left in him." And Elijah prays
to Jehovah to let the spirit of the
child return. After her son is re-
stored to her the woman turns to
God.
Then follows Eljah's challenge to
the priests of Baal to test their god,
ending by saying, THE God who by
FIRE shall answer, let Him be Cod
Alter repeated calls on Baal and dis
plays of impatience at his lack of re-
sponse, Elijah calls on his God, and
soon the fire descends from heaven
Obadiah then reminds the people that
among their gods there is no one
can send the rain, and Elijah, in pity
for them, implores God to look down
open the heavens and send relief, and
the youth sees small cloud arise
which grows blacker and blacker and
the storm breaks. The people in
gratitude sing a hymn of praise,
Thanks be to God"
The second part opens with a So
prano solo, Hear ye, Israel" and
Elijah reproves Ahab king of Israel |
for leading the people astray and the |
queen in anger arouses the indigna-
tion of the people against Elijah and
condemns him to be slain. Obadiah |
warns him to flee to the wilderness
assuring him that God will not fail
him nor forsake him. Elijah b1esses
Obadiah and turns to God with the
plea, at is enough, O Lord, now take
away my life" and goes to the will
derness where he is guarded by his
God and angels. Weary and almost
exhausted he asks why the Almighty
would allow the people to err in their
ways and still implores that he might
die. The angel sings the beautiful
air, 20 rest in the Lord" and later
tells him to veil his face and stand
on the mount before the Lord The
chorus sings, Behold! God the Lord
passeth by" Elijah rejoices in the
strength of the Lord and breaks forth
in words which appear like burning
torches" A chariot of fire with fiery
horses descends and he is taken to
4lSdNO Oli III d WIFI lWlHu. nc tenor
air, "Then shall the righteous shine
forth" is followed by soprano re-
citative and quartet and the closing
chorus, Then shall your light break
forth"
The work of the soloists was
especially commendable, the voices
excellent and the dramatic interpre-
tation splendid. The parts were taken
as follows: Elijah, Mr.. Wengerd;
Obadiah, Mr.. Craven; the Queen and
an Angel, Miss McGreaham; Voice,
Miss Bales, and the Youth, Miss
Bonnie Fuller The orchestra, as is
true in all oratorio, was a vital fea-
ture of the performance, and the reg
ular college orchestra was augment
ed by players from Mt Pleasant,
Big Rapids, and Saginaw. The chorus
showed the result of careful, ar
duous training; the striking contrasts
of supplication, the oncoming tenn
pests, praise and songs of consola-
ton were particularly good. Prof. r.
r. Veatch, who trained the chorus
and conducted the oratorio, deserves
considerable commentator for his
work which is rapidly gaining for
the School of Music and the city of {
Alma an enviable reputation.