South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-12-25
MESSIAH PROVES
A MUSICAL TREAT
Four Artists Are Ably Assisted
by Choir in First M. E.
Presentation.

Seldom has a South Bend audi
ence had the pleasure Of hearing
musical production as elaborate
and beautiful as that presented Sun
day afternoon by the chorus choir
of the First NJ. +. church and at the
same time enjoyed the satisfaction
of knowing il TO represent local
talent and enterprise. The choir and
the four artists who assisted il in
the rendition Of HandeIs Messiah ,
are TO be congratulated upon a pro-
duction which would have done
credit 10 a professional organiza-
ton.
The assisting artists were: Mrs.
Helen Protheroe AXtel soprano.
daughter of DR.. Daniel Protheroe,
composer and teacher of Chicago;
Arthur PIatz. tenor, Of the Bach So
ciety and Symphony orchestra, Chi
cago; John Rank, bass, of the RUS
sian Symphony orchestra, the Bach
Choral club, and the Ravenwood
club. and Mrs. William A Swintz.
contralto of South Bend. Mrs.
Swintz took the place of Miss,
Harriet MacConnell Of Chicago,
who was unable to get to the city on
time on account of delayed train
connections. All of the solo work
was of exceptionally high quality
Mrs. Axtell has a voice of a clear
bell-like quality peculiarly suited to
the recitatives and arias Of the
Messiah. Particularly beautiful
was her rendition Of the group.
There Were Shepherds, And Lo
the Angel of the Lord, and And
the Angel Said unto Them
Mrs Swintz, whose voice is too
Wen known to require comment up
on the high quality Of her work,
sang the recitative, Behold a Virgin
Shall Conceive, and the aria, "He
Shall Feed His Flock"
Has Rich Tenor Voice.
Mr. Platz has a rich tenor voice. !
the quality of which is unusually
pleasing and he sang with ease and
expression two difficult groups. the |
first including the beautiful recita- /
tive, Comfort Ye Ny People His
last solos were the recitative, He
That Dwelleth in Heaven and the |
aria. Thou Shalt Break Them"
Thus Saith the Lord" But Who I
May Abide" THE People That /
Walked in Darkness. and why /
do the Nations. were Mr.. Ranks /
most important mum bers. Mr.. Rank !
has a powerful voice and the spirit /
OF his interpretations is especially !
worthy Of comment.
But il is perhaps the work Of the I
choir and its. able second. the orches-
ira. which is Of greatest local inter
est. Composed of 40 voices and show
ing painstaking drill under talented 3
leadership, the choir did itself proud
in seven choruses including a pro-
cessional which was by no means
the least beautiful feature OF the
program. +. ID. Lloyd.
r A. NJ, organist of the church.
arranged for the occasion a medley
Of old carols and chimes and the
choir. which entered from the rear
Of the church. was first heard sing
ing in the distance the strains OF
Silent Night" AS il marched 90
place 10 music which alternated be-
tween carols and chimes, the church
remained in darkness. but as the
choir assembled in the choir loft and
burst into the strains Of Joy 20
the World. the lights were flashed 4
on with impressive effect.
The choral numbers which were
by the choir as a part or
the oratorio were And the Glory Of
the Lord" And He Shall Purify,"
sFor unto US a Child is Born. " (.
GLORY TO God in the Highest"
"His Yoke is Easy. and Halle
Iujah". the most beautiful of which.
If a choice might be made. We're the
last three The organ and orchestra
overture. and the Pastoral SYM
phony'. played by the organ and I !
orchestra during the offert0ry are
deserving Of high commentator