The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-04-10

City, rang out through the big audi.
torium of old historic Allen last Fri
day evening stirred by the golden
notes of the cornet, the deep toned
sound ftrombone and the wonderful
vibrations Of the violin. 1t was the
opening number of a classic program
being played by N. Clark Smiths or.
chestra of w. U. students. The build
ing was filled to it's utmost capacity
The new addition being used The
crowd was there because the affair
was well advertised and the board of
ushers who we're in charge had done
their work we'll in every department.
The people were unusually interested
in hearin g"The Seven Last Words of
Christ" an oratorio which was to be
rendered by colossal chorus herald
ed to be hundred strong with twen-
ty-one piece orchestra so that when
the above initial number began it
broke upon as an attentive and fine
looking audience as ever graced
Church or State. Prof. r. G. Jackson,
the indefitagable director was to DEM
onstrate more than ever his superb
style in the gruelling of voices.
Some of the brainless and tasteless
individuals had said he could only be
successful in the Negro idiom of mu-
sic but he was to show them a super
ior Interpretation in a different role.
And he did. First, because he had the
singers upon which to depend; second,
because of his magnetic directing
force; third, because in the accomp-
anying orchestra he had the aid of a
conductor of natinal scope in the train
ing of bands and the creation and
arrangements of two plantation melo-
dies up to the tacksonian standard
but the third number wos to reveal to
the audience a single effort on the
part of Mr.. Baker, young lad who
caught and fairly entranced all with
the most touching heart strains imagi-
nable. 1t was a rich melting and
weeping effusion being poured out by
an exquisite bow. But who can de-
scribe the effect produced va violin
played by heart throbbing musician
and the pure soul of a black man
pouring out his feeling through the
quivering strings. Yes, it was Masse-
net who composed 'Thais" great ve-
hicle for expression but it was young
Baker who was riding in it so wonder
fully and sweetly passionate through
the clouds. Mr.. Boatner led chorus
composed of ladies. They sang List
the Cherubic Host" and Mrs. Emma
Collins Payne gave next a splendid
solo Like as the Heart Desireth."
The effort was not without it's pleas
ing turns. Here the first part of the
program reached a higher point than
ever when the Misses Moore, Mosely
and d-Jessie sang Father Lead Me-"
The trio captured the audience with
fine display of colorturing. Indeed,
the singing reminded one of butter
fly in a serene day of its own accord
because it felt like capering, showing
the healthful varied hues of wings and
frame. So sang the three voices skip
ping and revealing here a deep color
ing of contralto, over here with high
soprano and again with finely render
ed notes till finally, alighting into
sweet harmonious blending as if in
one voice there was just a light no
tice of three happy tone shades. 1t
was good. A plantation melody "The
Crucifixion," arranged by N. Clark
Smith was the last number of the first
part. This indeed, was melodious and
showed peculiar mixture of both the
tragic and the distinctive Negro mel
ody. In a measure these last two
numbers prepared the audience for the
evenings prime occasion.
1.-THE Seven Last Words of Christ"
The spirit of this text is SO engulf-
ing that even the unembellished facts
take hold of the thoughtful mind and
charges with all the force and power
of great actual liging drama full of
heartaches, sighs, strife and murder
GUS acts. The human element here is
strong, but the divine truth is glor-
ious. ''The Seven Last Words OF
Christ" are not really what the text
would imply but more significant,
They are a symposium of important
demonstrations of immortality over the
vain vauntings of morality. The Mas
ter had lived the life OF purity, OF
love and a lofty spiritual ideal. This
offended those who followed the dark
ways of the world and they sought to
slay him. This constitutes the text
in general.
Now in trying to review the recital
on last Friday evening the writer
claims nothing but humble powers in
the consideration of the music and
how it should have been interpreted.
(He poses not as critic) He simply
advances a thonght because his own
soul can feel the deep touching chord
of sadness and sympathy running