Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-12-26
CHORAL SOCIETY TO
BEGIN WORK JAN. 5
Or. J. Fred Wolfe to Direct Rendi-
ton of HandePs Famous
Samson"
ENROLMENT LISTS OPENED
Many New Singers Sign Up For
Festival-Secretary Bretz
Receives Names
ENROLMENT LISTS OPENED

Rehearsals of Handers Samson
the oratorio selected for the Spring
music festival. will he started by the
Harrisburg Choral Society Tuesday
evening, January ), under the direc-
tion of DR.. J. Fred Wolfe conductor
of the famous Bach choir of Bethle-
hem. This will be the big choir's
twentieth year.
DR.. Wolfe won widespread popular
ity in this city among music lovers as
well as the mastery work. The season
of 1914 marked the Bethlehem lead
er's first appearance in Harrisburg as
director of the organization.
Rehearsals will be held every Tues
day evening from now on until the
date of the concert. The singers are
requested 10 be on hand so that the
work can be started promptly at 7:45
o'clock. The enrolment lists have been
opened and Harry NJ. BretZ, the secre-
tary, 222 Market street. is already busy
nlling the membership books. In ad-
dition TO most of the old members
many new singers are enrolling.
DIR. Wolle's Letter
In consenting TO assume the direc-
tton Of the Choral Society for the
Spring festival this year DIR. Wolfe
wrote the following letter:
Bethlehem. Pa. Dec. 21. 1914.
that | look forward to resuming
rehearsals with the Choral Society
on Tuesday. January ). because
my relations with this splendid
body of singers during the past
season were most pleasant Dur
ing those few months the response
of the chorus to their leader was
so prompt and efficient. il is no
wonder that the first year of our
cooperation ended in a blaze of
glory. And after the splendid
achievement of last April, it would
he strange indeed if we do not find
ourselves in this, the twentieth
season of the organization, moving
on to even greater things than
have been done in the past.
Flowers For City's Singers
The call has now gone out for
the resumption of work No
singer of Harrisburg, worthy OF
the name, can we'll afford to refuse
this summons. ! am glad to learn
that former members are re-en-
rolling, but we ought to have a
large number of new MEM
bers from Harrisburgs list
of vocalists. Each musical
organization. including every
church choir, should send its
quota of new members. AL
though / am a teacher, i do not
hesitate to say to each individual
singer that the intimate acquaint-
ance with a choral masterpiece is
worth dozens of private lessons.
and many precious hours often
wasted in practicing in solitary
confinement. Such acquaintance
gives the singer ideas in interpre-
tation. it enlarges the musical
horizon, il induces stability in time
and accuracy in rythm, to say
nothing of the knowledge of mu-
sical structure which is uncon-
sciously gained.
As to Samson"
The work chosen by the board
OF directors to be studied this Win
ter and rendered at the next an
nual festival in Handel's oratorio.
samson. / am sure all are ia
miliar with the power of the solos
and choruses of Handels Mes
siah. Immediately upon the
completion of this oratorio Handel
wrote shis Samson" which is
ranked as high as the Messiah"
by no less Judge than the COM
poser himself For. when he was
asked which of the two oratorios
he considered the better. he re-
piled that he actually did not
know to which he could give a
preference. The work has been
sung to crowded houses, is tune
tul and dramatic, and thus ap-
peals to singer and hearer alike.
| am looking anXiousy forward
to this years work. and ! hone we
can start OFF with a big. weII-bal
anced chorus on January ).
will do my best to make this term
the most successful in the So
cietys history. and ! am sure the
chorus will do likewise,
With the seasons greetings
am,
Very truly yours.
T. ERED NOT 7 L,