The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-05-07
SING HIAWATHA WEDDING FEAST
Chorus Under the Direction of William
H. Knapp Shows Perfect Training
and Instrumental Accompaniment Is
Pleasing-Worthy of Better Support.
(bv Mrs. Beatrice Ives Welles. J

Kenosha may well be proud Of it's
Choral Society and owes debt of
gratitude to the society for raising the
or any other large city, does not boast
of chorus that can present more
artistically finished program than was
given at the Coliseum last evening.
Mr.. Knapp is real musician who I'M
derstands the value of the individual
voice and knows how to develop the
technical construction that enable
horus to give program as difficult and
varied as it was Kenosha's privilege
to hear last night. Years of expert
ence in ensemble work equips Mr..
Knapp for an able handling of the or
chestra with which, it should be noted,
the chorus has but one rehearsal. The
men from the Christopher Bach Sym
phony Orchestra gave a most excellent
and musicianly reading of their score
and were wholly in sympathy with
the voices.
Heretofore there has been something
radically wrong with the orchestral
part of the programs, and it is ere
dit to the director that the difficulty
has been overcome or eliminated.
"Hear My Prayer by Mendelssohn
was exquisitely done by Mrs. Helen
Buckley Lee, whose rich and sympathe-
tic quality of voice and clear enuncia-
tion were a joy to hear, In this num-
her the chorus sustained a beautifully
blended background of harmony for
the solo which proved beyond question
the value of their coaching. In CON
trast to the Mendelssohn 'FThe Fair
les" by Henry X. Hadley, gave the
chorus opportunity to display their
versatility and also to ALLOW the au-
dience to hear Mrs. Lee in
charming solo.
"The Hong Kong Romance" was an
interesting bit of characteristic music
admirably sung by the chorus and was
so well received that the audience
demanded its repetition.
John B. Miller responded to an en-
core following that difficult "Lend Me
Your Aid" by Gounod, giving the
tenor, solo "Woman So Changeable, -
from Rigoletto, both of which were
splendidly done in a manner possible
only to an artist of Mr. Miller s ability.
"Hiawatha's Wedding Feast" was
the big thing of the evening, and is
one of the really fine contributions to
modern musical literature, by Coleridge-
Taylor. No one could fail to appreciate
the beauty of this work, and every
member of the chorus deserves individ-
ual praise for its intelligent and artis-
tic rendering. The Interpretation of
the solo, 'FOnaway, Awake, 7" by Mr..
Miller, is the last word in artistic per-
lection. AS sung by him it appears to
be the simplest Of melodies, when in
truth it is thing but few attempt and
much less accomplish with any degree
of success. e.
1t has been struggle to keep the
society alive and now that it has de-
veloped with such splendid organi-
cation, it will reflect great discredit
on Kenosha if the cooperation and
support necessary to any musical or
ganlzation are withheld.
Everyone recognizes the power for
good in the influence of art on a com
munity-music more than the other fine
arts, because it is accessible to all,
whether students or not. The oppor.
tunlty afforded those who have not time
nor means to give it individual study
IS far greater than is realized by many.
When it is possible to see what has
been accomplished by the society I'M
der Mr.. Knapp it will be strange if
the active membership is not doubled
during the coming year. If students
recognized that individual training
with the most advanced methods is
possible right here in Kenosha, it would
be esteemed privilege to belong
to the chorus.
The Kenosha Choral Society has be-
come one of our big civic assets and
we must guard it and look to it that
through no lack of proper apprecia-
ton we are deprived of its service to
the community.