Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-05
By HENRIETTA M. REEFS,

ITS editorial upon the Civic
III Music association of Chi
cago. We wrote of its gen.
Itx&QJ eral scheme of fostering
z ~ community music, of its
ideals and purposes, and
something of its success,
But we did not touch upon the work
of Mr.. Thomas J. Kelly in connection
with it, and this is one of the most
interesting parts of the whole story.
Mr. Kelly is conductor of the COM
munity music held under the auspices
OF the city on the Municipal Pier last
summer, and which will be held in
Fullerton hall in the Fine Arts build
ing this winter. This is an important
part of the work Of the Civic Music
associations work. and has met with
remarkable success. During his stay
of several days here last week Mr.,
Kelly spoke enthusiastically OF the
way in which the association is work
ing out its ideals practically, and said
, that the greatest credit is due to Miss
Frances Brundage, the superintendent,
a wonder at accomplishing things, and
untiring in her efforts toward even
greater successes. AT the recent din
4 ner given by the Chicago Civic Music
I league every speaker there spoke OF
cher remarkable achievements, and |
have since heard, though he did not
tell me, they also said that one of her
greatest achievements was in getting
Mr.. Kelly to conduct this municipal
chorus. This is not like directing
body of trained voices, for here every
body is welcome. No voice test or
previous knowledge of music is re-
CURED. 1t is different proposition
to gain results under these conditions.
When l asked Mr.. Kelly about his
work he handed over almost enough
press notices describing it to fill a
page by themselves, saying they
would tell the story and each one was
so interesting that | should like to
use them all.
The first ones speak of "goodly
number of people" and chorus of
four or five hundred, the latter ones
of a thousand or more Chicagoans,
representing every walk OF life, sing
ing Justify for an hour and half, in
spite of chilly weather. Mr.. Kelly said
in this connection that at the first few
rehearsals people seemed to be NOV
ing all the time. They would come in,
stay awhile and they go out, but after
that they came and stayed until the
singing was over, and, what was more
to the point, joined in. Herman
Devries in the Chicago American de-
scribes an evening at the pier as fol-
flows: 10y
"Grav-haired hoary-bearded men,
stalwart strinlines. mothers with
nretty babes in their arms, bright
eyed Girls. mature matrons Of undeni-
able PROSPERITY little children all ina
row The simple liyers and the worldly
wise literally brushed elbows and
gigeled like school children at the
amusing quips Of the genial director,
well-known vocal teacher of great in
telligence, possesses all the qualities
of magnetism, humor, energy and
knowledge necessary to awaken and
sustain the interest and diligence OF
this composite chorus.
"And they really sing well. Every
one is drawn into tunefulness. First,
one looks about curiously. Smiling
faces greet one, lusty voices intone IA
miliar airs, then you begin to grin
sheepishly. Finally, you laugh out
right, capitulate and singl You have
just got to sing You cannot help 1t.
"And let me tell you, if you go into
the auditorium ignorant of diction and
dynamics and sustaining tone, you go
out informedp
Mr.. Devries then goes on to quote
few Kellyisms which "by shared
humor' draw the public to him, and
tells about the revised version OF lhe
Star-Spangled Banner" concluding:
"Chicagoans can thank Mr.. Kelly tor
teaching them the national anthem!
But that is only the beginning OF
series of joys"
49,
Karleton Hackett in the Post gives
\over a column to the community sing
inc at the pier and Mr.. Kellys work.
He speaks in the highest terms of Mr..
Kellv's directing, saying among other
things in regard to his skill in ham
ding the people, that he is evidently
live wire at this sort of thing" He
speaks of the shyness and wariness Of
the people at first, for fear there
might be some insidious political or
moral purpose hidden underneath the
pleasure which would all come out in
due time and make them mad clear
through. for Just the opportunity to
come together and enjoy good time
in singing for itself was much too
good to be true. He speaks of Mr..
kelly's success in overcoming this
feeI;no and also that self-conscious-