Connecticut western news., 1916-06-15
ECHOES FROM THE MUSIC SHED
Norfolk Concert Harmonies Linger
 Sill Among the Hills.


 As the festival at Norfolk drew to its close, one felt like Browning, when he expressed his longing for some way to seize and hold fast the fieeting beauty of music. The desire to finger pos- sessed the true musician, who was in tune with all that had been heard, and it seemed as if the very rocks and hills, whose creation had been so wonder. fully described in the oratorio of Wednesday night, must echo the heavenly strains, and every nook and corner of the vine and verdure clad Stoeckel domain seemed redolent of music.
 The Creation" was in direct con. trast to the Requiem of Tuesday night, and gave both conductor and chorus an opportunity to exhibit their versatility; and the wonderful results achieved by the chorus, and the intel lectual feeling and esthetic sense dis. played by Dr. Mees, elicited exclama- tions of praise on every side. The attacks were precise, climaxes stirring and certain finer nuances we'll outlined. The orchestral work in the Creation" was splendidly performed. The Ga. naan Choral Society studied this work under the able direction of N. H. Allen whose personality and fund of musical knowledge have won for him the con. fidence and esteem or every member of the chorus. The proficiency to which they had attained under Mir. Aliens direction, was recognized by Dr. Mees, Ina concert, said to a Canaan man, with evidence of genuine sincerity, "I am proud of the Canaan chorus, and wish you would tell the chorus so."
 Elusive was the tribute to Fritz Kreisler's manhood as we'll as his art, as he appeared for the Beethoven Con certo." The virtuoso seemed to feel deeply the message he had come to bear, and during the entire rendering of the great work, one felt the impres. sion of the intense suffering through which he had passed.
 The orchestral conductor for the Kreisler number and also of the Leonora Overture, No. 8, was Henry Schmitt, who for many years has been concert master. His work was most finished and artistic, and he is a valuable ac. quisition to the conductors of the Litchfield County Choral Union.
 The opening number of Thursday evening was Tschaikowsky's Sym. phonv, No. 5, an orchestral work, which was conducted in the most polished manner by Henry Hadley. The modern orchestra is the highest development of the art of music, and the wonderful effects produced under the leadership of the various conductors of the Norfolk concerts were nothing less than inspiring.
 The announcement of the illness of Pasquale Amato, the famous barytone, was the cause of many expressions of disappointment, but when MT. Arthur Middleton began to sing all present felt that those in charge of the affair had provided a most acceptable substitute. The singer was superbly dramatic and there was no mumbling of words. He was mOmentarIly conscious of each word and tone as it flowed from his lips, and his full, rich voice was heard to great advantage in the aria from "The Barber of Seville
 It goes without saying that the feature of the evening was Percy Grainger and his suite for orchestra and pianoforte, entitled "In a Nut She'll" The shell was demolished and the fruit given out in unstinted quan titles, but even that was not enough to satisfy the hungry audience and tine player was obliged to give them second supply of "Cornstalks. '
 MT. Grainger's exuberant vitality and splendid magnetic force swept audience and orchestra along with him, and won for hIm long and insistent applause. The conductor, Dr. Mees, and his orchestra caught the spirit and seemed as excited as MT Grainger himself. He is keyboard hero, and the combination of such brilliant technique and variety of tone quality revealed clever craftsmanship.
 The festival closed with singing of America by the soloists, chorus and audience accompanied by the orchestra, and conducted by Henry Hadley. It is to be hoped that those persons who started off singing America on their own time and tune, will before another l year at least learn to read the instruc. tions on the program and wait for the | signal of the conductor. J. E. k.