The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-29
Mrs Charles B. Bowman Talks About the Musicale This Evening of Which She Is Tn Charge at the
 SOut1sde Baptist Church
is, DoLLY DALHyMpLE

years ago MrS. Charles E. Bowman has not only made a most enviabie and charming position for herself so- cially but she has taken a prominent part In the musical world to which she is is great an addition as to society
 As a musician Mrs. Bowman has no superior, her excellent training and her splendid education fitting her ably to occupy the high place she has attained unsteady and she has at all times been an influential factor in everything connected with the upbuilding of Bir- minghams musical activities
 Mrs. Bowman has been during the past season the director of the South side Baptist church choir and it has been the general comment of the pub lice that no more beautifully traincd and harmonious choir has ever been heard in this city.
 keenly alive to all that Is pleas ing and attractive in church music, Mrs. Bowman has succeeded in giving the best music that is possible and her latest presentation to the public is the musicale which will. be given under her auspices this evening at the SOutnSlue Bapt1St church.
 It Is something of an innovation to hear & programme of choir music at any other time expect on the Sabbath usually Sunday evening being select ed as the time to present a song serv- vice or musicale, and in chatting with Mrs. Bowman yesterday about this idea she said among other things:
 Tt is so seldom that choir singers have an opportunity to see them al oc ntl, ira oil their engagements must necessarily conflict, that we decided to have a musicale on week night so any who were interested might come and hear and see what we are doing. Good mu- sIc of any kind is always worth list cning to and 1t has been my aim ever since l become musician to give the best and only the best, not always the most brilliant, the most difficult, the most strictly classical-but the n. .ost appealing: the music that touches the heart as well as the head.
 "1he organ at the Southside Bap- tist church Is an inspiration in tt self" Mrs. Bowman continued. Ut is a beautiful instrument The range Of stops is particularly well suited tc church uses. The pipes are well mod- ulated and sweet, still there is plenty of volume to be had -on demand. The auditorium is a large one, still the organ fills 1t easily. The acoustics of the building are splendid l have been told by many singers that it is one of the easiest churches to sing in that they've ever seen. The voice floats 1t doesn't come back and hit you in the face, so to speak as so often hap pens. The small voice has as good a chance in 1t as the big one. This IS really a great thing for church qua. . torium-for so very many have the lack of it'
 T have heard the choir this season sev- eral times under your direction and have been very much impressed with it's beau ty. I observed
 ,The choir I have had for this season Is particularly well balanced" Mrs. Dor man said enthusiastically. 'In fact, one of the very best musicians in Birming- ham told me 1t was one of the best choirs he had ever heard here. The mem- bers were chosen mainly for that pecu- liar quality called blending. for please let m< say right here that no matter how. good how fine how brilliant the indi- vidual voices may be, you cannot get smooth ensemble unless you combine those that blend that do not pull apart. Church choirs as a rule have the reputa- ton of being the most likely place in the world for scraps and to the shame of all musicians be it said that the mus ical temperament Is perhaps the quickest to resent sights. nurse grudges, be over- critical and representative. However, there are always exceptions that prove the rule and our choir is one of the these Our work together has been har- monious, delightful, helpful to ourselves. and we hope helpful to the church,
 You have chosen your programme for the musicale. l notice, with much dis crimination and taste,' I suggested,
 'The programme is not long at least. It will last exactly one hour beginning at O clock said Mrs. Dorman. -Four singers outside of the regular choir have Joined with us for the two Dig anthems. the Gloria from Mozarts Twelfth Mass, and the Festival Te Deum' of Dudley Bucks. These singers are well known. Miss Ruth Wier, Miss Georgia Taul Mir Cooper Lawley, MT. H. F. Nor ton-all fine musicians. Mir. William Gus sen has been good enough to assist us, giving variety to our programme. He will play the 'Andante' from the Mo zart Major Concerto for violin. Mir. Gussen as a vioinist Is a great addi- ton to our programme. ana l sure will be heard with pleasure. As for our regular choir our soprano, Miss Eliza beth Cunningham. needs no introduction to Birmingham audience She has been heard numbers of times and has always delighted her hearers. She has a remark able voice, pure coloratura soprano, which will be heard to great advantage in her solo. O, Had I Jubal's Lyre. by Handel It was sung here last fall by Mile. Jenny Dufau, and I don't think would be overstepping my bounds were I to say that in the opinion of many Miss Cunningham can go her one bet ter She and Mr. Farley have voices which accord perfectly, and I am sure