Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-11-07
THE MUSIC FOR THE
BROMLEY AMPA|GN
Rev. Arthur Metcaf Writes Inter.
estingly of Prof. Myers, the
Big Chorus, Etc.

EQS. Freeman rlUuue: May
break into print on matter of great
public Importance? The Bromley
meetings got a good start Sunday
upon the entire community. Sun
days program assures the public
that the preaching will be good, the
appeal reasonable and effective, the
evangelistic party in trim for team
work, the churches stand together
for the revival, and that the local
ministers will loyalty support the
workers from abroad. This cam
paign will long be remembered, but
beyond the excellence of all these
things I suspect that the thing that
will last longest in the public
memory when the campaign is end
ed will be the singing and the happy
associations of those who become
members of the big chorus.
Musically the campaign begins
we'll. The song-book in use contains
many most excellent revival num-
bers which appeal amazingly to the
musical ear as well as serve their
immediate evangelistic purpose. AL
ready the melodies and the choruses
are being heard hummed on the
street, and so music has begun the
fusing of public life which is part of
a revival of religion.
The Bromley party is strong in the
matter of music. The piano work of
Frank D. Harris is surprise and a
revelation. Mr. Harris is a musical
genius who will appeal to all lovers
of the best music as we'll as to those
who do not affect a classical taste.
His playing makes one think of Pad
erewski. Nobody suspected that the
piano at the church had in it such
exquisite brilliance, such surprising
arpeggios, such delicate filigree of
grace notes, such sudden and aston
fishing musical effects as Mr.. Harris
conjured out of the key board. Mr..
Harris playing is brilliant and
strong, and it creates a satisfying
background which sustains the Choir
us. 1t is thrilling in the extreme to
hear the piano above and among the
voices of the singing throng. Mr..
Harris numbers on every program
are of first class concert quality. Mr..
Harris home is Steubinville, Ohio,
and he is student OF various schools
and teachers of music in eastern
Ohio. Hundreds will be attracted to
the tabernacle meetings to enjoy the
exquisite quality of Mr.. Harris play
ing.
At some of the chorus rehearsals
Miss Gladys Ditzell has been at the
piano, and she, too, is master OF
the instrument. Although her work
lies chiefly among. the girls of the
community, whenever Miss Ditzell is
at the piano people will sit up and
take notice. And when it happens
that Miss Ditzell and Mr.. Harris
play four-hand number-then
things musical begin to happen.
Miss Ditzell has studied piano and
organ at Kansas City and Chicago,
and has had the advantage of first
class American and German teach
ers. Webster City people will warm
up to Miss Ditzell and her work.
But this communication is espec-
tally intended to call the attention
of the public to Prof. VIM. H. Myers
and his efficient chorus work. Prof
Meyers is a graduate of the Nebras-
ka school of Harmony and Voice, a
pupil of Charles M. Bliss who is a
relative of the famous P. P. Bliss.
He has done post graduate work in
New York City, and for twenty years
he has been teacher of music, in
Guiding voice, and director of Choir
uses. He was dean of York College
conservatory of music two years, and
the present is his eighth season as
director of music with the Bromley
party.
Prof. Myers is a master of his art.
With his own solos he leaves great
and lasting message. but it is as a
director and teacher of choruses that
his work counts most. He wins the
respect and the open admiration of
all in the chorus. His is absolute
genius. How he does get people to
sing! 1t may be suspected that he
could make a wooden Indian sing.
If so, his woodenship would have to
sing in tune and in time! 1t so hap
pens that the writer has had the
privilege of membership in large
choruses under able directors from
back in English days when the great
were often sung until the
present Bromley chorus, and he does
not remember a conductor more eff
fective or more musical, or one who
could get better musical effects out
of the democracy of talent at his
disposal. Everybody who wants to