Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-30
REUNION CONCERT
IS MUSICAL EVENT
More Than 600 of Best Trained
Voices in Richmond to
Take Part.
WALTER C. MERCER IN CHARGE
Both Popular and Classical Music
on Well-Arranged
Program.

Notable even at 4 time so notable
ana so memorable as Reunion Week
Will he the great concert to be given
AT the city Auditorium on Wednesday
night. at SEQ o'clock. when more than
GOO Of the best singers in Richmond
accompanied by an orchestra of sixty.
five pieces. all under the direction OF
Walter g. Mercer, will gladly give O.
their best for the entertainment and
pleasure of the veterans and thei,
friends. who will be the city's honored
guests.
When Mr.. Mercer. who is director of
music in the public schools. and who
had charge OF the concert given dur
ing the last reunion, set about organ
izing n chorus to take part in this
concert, he found that his principal
difficulty lay in selecting singers
rather than in enlisting them. Prac-
tically every singer of any worth in
Richmond. professional, semiprofes-
sional and amateur, was only too will
ing to do everything possible TO con-
tribute to the success OF the undertake.
ing. With one single exception, saws
MIR. Mercer. every highly paid profess
sional in the city gladly agreed to take
part in the concert.
GREAT CHORUS REHEARsEs
WELL-KNOWN MUSIC
After going over all the lists of
available musicians, Mr. Mercer scnt
out letters asking the recipients to at
tend the few rehearsals required Of
the experienced singers chosen, and al
most to mainland woman-they re.
sponded. Men and women of MANY en-
gagements and of many demands upon
their time put aside everything and
assembled for the purpose of learning
the songs and anthems selected by Mr..
Mercer. In consequence of the ready
response of the singers and of their
promptness in attendance at rehearsals.
as well as of their serious and patient
work while the numbers were being
studied. the great choir-doubtless, the
largest choir of adults ever organized
in Richmond-is already prepared to
sing, not only the simple familiar tunes
that form large part Of the program,
nut the more elaborate choruses, which
are quite a s beautiful as the old songs.
though much more difficult to learn.
Cor the first number of the program,
Mr. Mercer has selected ringing
chorus from Verdis "Ernani," "Oh.
Hail Us. Ye Free" which, by reason
OF its many passages for full-voiced
chorus, is peculiarly appropriate as
sort of overture. Then will follow the
Gloria in EXcelsis" from Mozart's
Twelfth Mass, splendid musical exul-
tation in the glory and wonder of tho
Almighty.
ROTH POPULAR AND CLASSIC
MUSIC ON PROGRAM
Pinsutfs familiar and infectious
Spring Song" will lead to a four-part
arrangement of the lovely "Barca-
role" from Offenbach's Tales of Hoff-
man, and another song to the spring
VIII follow. to a tune that will he
known to every man in the audience,
no matter how aged n veteran he may
be-the blue Danube Waltz"
one of the most beautiful and in
spring numbers in the whole library
OF sacred music will also be sunC-the
Jerusalem Chorus and Obligato," from
Gounods "Gallia." This motel is also
a most appropriate selection, in view
OF the commemorative nature of the
week. since it was written by Gounod
after the fall of Paris. The music is
written and the changes are runs
around the words: Now behold, o Lord.
look Thou on my afliction. See the foo
hath maSnfed himself" and upon the
answering words, Jerusalem, o turn
thee to the Lord, thy God"
Lest the concert remain at too ex
allied a pitch. however, Mr.. Mercer has
arranged that this great motel shall
be followed by Use Gwine Back to
Dixie. TO be sung only by the men,
and by an arrangement of Dvorak's
HumoresHue" to negro lullaby.
WILL STAND DURING SINGING
OF HANDLES ayJESSI nv
For a fitting climax and finale, the
huge choir will sing the majestic Hal
lelujah Chorus from Handlers Mes
siah." during which, according to con-
vention. the audience will rise and
stand.
Several OF the numbers contain pas
sages for solo voices. but, because of
the unusual size of his chorus, Mr..
Mercer thought it unadvisable to call
upon any voice to sing alone, or even
upon any two. three or four. He there
fore selected seventeen OF the best
singers in his choir to serve as a
quartet" and, in addition to the parts
written for solo voices. these will sing
Annie Laurie" the sextct from Lucia"
and other numbers.
The quartet" is composed of the fol.
lowing: sopranos. Mrs. Walter c. Mer-
Ger. Mrs. {. r. Van Ripper Mrs William
Reinhardt and Miss Lucille Culling-
worth; contraltos. Mrs George W.
Bethel. Mrs. Thomas Ferrall. Miss
Amorctte Allen and Miss Corinne
Samucls: tenors, Joseph Whittemore.
Lynn Tucker. w. II. Belts. Dr. Maurice
koblenzer and r. S. MacGregor: basses,
Norman Call. Joseph F.. White. \. w.
Nar al