The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-04-18
"SeVen Last Words Of Christ"-Re-
peated at Evening Services to a
Large and Appreciative Audience
by that MachIess Choir-Reviewed
by C. A. Starks.

by C. A. Starks.
Comment is only valuable in so far
as it is honest, proceeding from an un-
biased conviction. The writer keeps
this steadily in mind when he at
tempts to review this Great Song and
singing, with his limited powers of
understanding and elucidation. Easter
Sunday at this great church was duly
celebrated with appropriate services.
The audience at all times was COM
posed of apparently sober-minded peo-
pie, well dressed but distinctly diff
ferent from the Annual Easterite, who
is a painful representative of fashion
rather than an advanced thought on
the importance of the resurrection.
So it was an audience that loves the
best in everything which greeted the
second proclamation of the now much
talked of Seven Words" 20, all We
who travel upon the highway, hearken
to me, and hehold me: Was e'er sor.
row like unto my sorrow? For the
Lord Almighty hath dealt bitterly
with me. Call me now no more
Naomi (pleasant) from today call me
Mara (sad). These words rang out in
that great auditorium and truly ex-
pressed the anguish and sadness of
Ruth to those who travel upon the
highway" 1t was the introduction
to the "Seven last words of Christ
and was sung by Mrs. l.. j. Bacote,
aesthetic scholar of music and direct
ress of choir that really sings. In
speech-making we would have said
| thatthe speaker introduced the main
feature in a clear and comprehensive
manner, but music hath it's peculiar
charms, therefore the singer reached
an element in expression far beyond
so-called eloquence, making the clear
est presentation imaginable with q
, happy enunciation and tone quality
nothing less than faultless.
The First Word" carried us intc
the presence of Jesus who stood be
fore his accusers, and the deep
voiced bass of James Anderson
charged with spiritual intimations de
livers this immortal injunction: Fa
ther forgive them, for they know no
what they do And the people clam
ored: "He is death guilty, take hin
let us cruelty him! The bowling mol
the clamoring voices, the loud pre-
testations, the dramatic intensit
were all brought out successfully b.
the chorus. They attacking that part
He is Death guilty." with admit
able alacrity. producing a thrilling
effect, and showing to good advant
age Mr.. Fitchue's powerful tenor.
was his voice that echoed this to
solemn fact: Then they did crucif
Jesus, and the two thieves, one at hi
right hand the other at his left hand.
The Second Word" finds the lead
ing soprano and baritone soundin
that never-to-be-forgotten reply to tn
repentant thief: "Varily thou shal
be in Paridise today with me, Amen!
Lester and Anderson had these part
; All was well.
!, See, o Woman Here behold tn
J. son beloved" was the Introduction
command in the Third Word" Th
) mental anguish that these words in
: ply is indescribable with pen but ii
, vested choir fairly interpreted tn
ironical exhortation of the Mastt
' which was addressed to Mary Il
E mother of Jesus, the singers voicin
r this part with feeling and conviction
: The number was good.
S The Fourth Word" was a continu
tion of the thought expressed in ii
: preceding Word" and was carried /
the premier basso of the evening. tt