Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-05-14
Sacred Concert.
(By Henry G. Gilmore. J

the Presbyterian church of this city,
and his pupil, Mr.. A. l.. Strickland,
have, in their day and generation,
done not little to enhance the repu-
tation of Ashland as an aspiring mu-
sical community, and no better evil
dence has yet been furnished than
that vouchsafed at the Presbyterian
church on Sunday evening last, in the
presence OF large and appreciative
congregation, corroborative of this
statement. Both Professor MacMur-
ray and Mr.. Strickland have natural
ly capital baritone voices, and with
training that has been directed strict
ly to the point OF producing the right
kind OF results. Breath control, with
plenty of reserved vocal force. a
facile emission of tone, whether loud
or soft, and an enunciation and pro-
nunciation that leaves no doubt in
the mind of the listener whether the
vocalist is singing in the English or
some foreign tongue dominant in the
wilds of Africa, are matters that have
largely and wisely engaged the seri-
Gus attention both of Mr.. MaeMurray
and Mr.. Strickland. We have more
than once, both in and out of print.
taken vocal measurement of Mr.. Mac
Murray, and purpose on this occasion
to speak more particularly of Mr..
Strickland and Miss Creekpaum-
both pupils of Mr.. MacMurray-an
who did especially good work at last
Sundays evening concert. With a
voice of large tension, happy facul-
ty Of blending the full tone with the
sotto voce in smooth and effective
fashion, the invariable maintenance of
true and correct pitch, and, above
all, a musical temperament that
touches directly the heart, ii is lit
tie wonder that Mr.. Strickland's
singing should give so much pleasure
to Ashland au licences.
Although evidently suffering from
cold, Mr.. Strickland, both in his
solo singing and duet, "Eventide,"
with Mr.. MacMurray, did himself"
as always, proud" But in all kind
ness we would suggest that he lose
no time in making himself master of
such arias as Rolling in Foaming
Billows" descending to double d.,
from The Creation" Arm! Arm!
Ye Brave" (HandeD, from Judas
Maccabeus;" the ever-beautiful set
ting Gounod has given GLORY to
Thee, My God, This Night" and
Nazareth" also by Gounod, and
which Sir Charles Santley, the great
est of English baritones, was the
chosen vessel OF giving this magnifi-
cent Christmas creation, its first pub
lie Interpretation. Anent Miss Creek
paum, who has pleasing personality,
we have nothing but words of en-
couragement to offer. She sang
pleasingly and effectively "Callest
Thou Thus, o Master" evincing
voice of sympathetic quality under
good control and capable of accom-
plishing much in the not distant fu-
ture. In the anthem and hymn mu-
sic her voice was heard with telling
effect.
In Come Unto Me" Professor Mac
Murray outdid all his previous efforts
in declamatory and interpretive skill,
and never left his audience in doubt
for moment as to the text of his
discourse.
The choir itself shows proper treat
ment at the hands of Mr.. MacMurray
and sings we'll and effectively
throughout. No volunteer choir
should be harshly judged at any time,
the least so when a Patti, Nordica
or a Melba are not available in a
town of 5000 inhabitants, every day
in the week. The Earth is the
Lords" was, perhaps, the best sung
and most attractive choral number
on the program.
The First Presbyterian has good
grounds for appreciating and Loyalty
supporting its church choir. Mr.. Mac
Murray was at both the organ and
piano during the evening, and Mrs.
Parsons furnished accomplishments
to Messrs. MacMurray and Strick-
lands singing in her usual gracious
and efficient manner.
1t was Mothers Day, and in a SER
monette-which, of course, means
brief sermon in the same sense that
pistol is a small gun-the pastor,
the Rev. DR.. H.. A. Carnahan, dilated
upon the days event as one to be
honored and cherished by the sons
and daughters of our land with un-
abated interest and devotion. DR..
Carnahan might have said two things,
but didn't-that the great Napoleon
once said that there was a time when
what France wanted more than any
thing else was Mothers! Mothers!"
and that another savant uttered the