Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-02-08
PLEA FOR A FREE
SCHOOL OF music
Lecture Musical Is Given
by DR.. Alma Webster
Powell.

A simple, human need was never
more vividly presented, nor could the
manner of it's presentation have been
more graceful than was expressed
through the medium of lecture must
cal by Dr. Alma Webster Powell,
prima donna soprano, who addressed
an audience which filled the auditorium
of the Congregational church to the
doors last night. The recital was
given under the auspices of the Co
lumbar club. The lecture which pre-
coded the musical was a plea for ma
tional free schools of music. The
theme selected by the distinguished
woman lecturer was Music Is HUI
man Need. Increasing and Decreasing
with Social Pressure and the master
ly method by which this position was
maintained was convincingly clear.
Music as a remedy in nerve disturb
ances was successfully proved, and it
was also shown that music is a pre-
server of the faculties and a re-estab-
Usher of normal rhythmic motion in
the human body. Music and the war
spirit were treated with intelligence as
was the question of music and child
education.
Music Human Need.
so palpably evident by the time the
brilliant prima donna lecturer had been
unwillingly released by her ardently
appreciative audience, there was no
room or disposition left for argument
When the lecturer entered into the
domain of music and poured forth the
beauty of her voice in song it is not
too much to say that her audience was
entranced.
So completely in earnest with her
mission is DR.. Powell, that her very
soul seems to speak in her songs.
Opening with the Hungarian music,
which expresses strong individuation,
the Erzebet aria from Hunyadi Lazlo,
(ErkeD gave her hearers an oppor-
tunity to hear DR.. Powell in her best
vein. Schuberts "Du Dist die Rub
was called for at the invitation of the
singer, who spoke of the popularity of
this composer and the simplicity of his
text.
Returning to the Italian type DR..
Powell gave various examples of the
aextravagances of grand opera, her hu-
.morous conception of the distortions In
that style of the musical art provoking
ripples of mirth. The caricatures of a
few famous operas. Carmen" for in
stance, were irresistible; but the prima
donna acknowledged that after all these
old operas are favorites, even now, AND
that silver moon with crinkles' and
paper trees" are forgotten in the
beauty of the music and the play OF
emotion. Then, with exquisite senti-
.sment, Puccinis TN bel di Nedremi,
from Madame Butterfly" held her au-
dience in rapt attention as every note
of her glorious voice was folded away
in its common heart as common
treasure to be recalled long after.
1.-THE Lost Chord"
The singer invited her audience t.
join her in singing 1.-The Lost Chord,
characterizing it as one of the mos
beautiful things in the English Ian
guage, but only a few responded, thu
local singers preferring to listen to th'
sweet, strong notes of the singer o
the evening, only. ITS a good thing,
said Dr. Powell. Learn the gooC
things. They are rare"
Baby" by Mallinson, was called fo
and DR.. Powell said the baby" SOM
occupied a prominent place in Englisf
literature. 1t was sung with almos
motherly tenderness and yet with jus
touch OF archness which made /
most appealing.
In her explanatory remarks abou
the beautiful. heartess coquette, Mig
non, Thomas has treated it in a per
fectly sane manner" said DR.. Powell
and the light. sparkling notes fell Xix
a shower of jewels on the ear. Thel
tho singer stated she would sing some
thing which would not be liked, bu
which was the kind of music the com
poser whose music she sang, liked best
The whole tone scale from the school o
the new-old French. This she sal
sis the thing Debussy likes" Hi
other compositions are concessions t
the public and his managers. Gnci
dentally there were those in DIR. Pow
ellis audience who liked the Debuss
number better than any other selectio
heard from the composer) In Berlir
before the war, III Trovatore' was
great favorite, always drawing
crowded house. "How they love the oil
things" cried the singer in her must
cal speaking voice.
The northern numbers, Norwegian
Danish. Russian, are all like the Ger
man-just a repetition OF the Germa
music. The Spanish music is elegap
dainty, sweet like their secluded ladie
The Indian melodies are significar
of their lives among themselves-mil
and plaintive An Indian melody wa
beautifully sung and "She Is Song b
request, the music composed by d
Powell herself.
Asking for a preference in ballad