Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-02-11
CHORAL CONCERT
HAS TWO ARTISTS
Wednesday Club Program
PleaSes Large Audience in
FahneStock Hall

The usual large and appreciative
audience attended the midwinter con-
cert of the Wednesday Club at Fab
nestock Hall last evening. Upon a
tern-trimmed platform the club
chorus, under the able leadership of
Mrs. Wilbur L. Harris, gathered for
the opening numbers. "Fly, Singing
Bird, Fly and The Snow" by Elgar.
There was violin obligato accompani-
ment Dy Miss Sara Lemer and Sam
uel Bradshaw, of Steelton. 1t is in
this choral work that the effect of
the training and study during the
season Is best demonstrated to out
slders. The accurate blending and
shading of tone, the perfect time and
sympathy of Interpretation are full
evidence of painstaking care and
practice.
John Barnes Wells. tenor solo
list from the Madison Avenue Presby-
terian Church of New York city, was
the only out-of-town artist on the
program. lie gave n cycle of six
songs, Miss Martha Snavely accom-
panying him at the piano. Mr.. Wells
voice is full, rich and dominant. His
head tones were not particularly
pleasing, but il was in songs of dra-
matte power and action that he was
as his best such as III | Were King"
lCampbell-Tipton). Which begged for
an encore he sang a quaint old darky
lullaby. As the evening progressed
Mr.. Wells seemed to gain both in self
possession and voice control until in
the closing duet he was very forceful
and finished.
There followed several piano solos
by Newell Albright of which there
Is little need to speak, for all EIar-
rlSourS knows and is proud of this
talented young artist who has grown
up among us and whose promising
career has been watched with such
interest His best work last evening
! was in Saint-Saens. "Etude in the
/ Form of Waltz" and he willingly
acknowledged his applause with a
short encore.
The principal and most unusual fea-
ture of the program was a lyric tone
| poem "Undine,' by Harriet Ware:
words by Edwin Markham. The club
| chorus represented, respectively,
earth sprites and water nymphs who
called to the young ocean queen, I'm
dine, (sung by Mrs. Roy CoX) to re-
| turn to the safety of her watery home
away from the dangers and griefs of
| human love. The earth sprites urged
her to stay and listen to the pleading
/ of Prince Hildebrand (sung by Mr.
/ Wells) whose words are wise. lie
knows the path into Paradise" Poor
! Undine. taken from her home in the
sea when a little child and adopted
/ by human fisher folk is sadly torn be-
tween tilial love for the people of her
own race and the call of the all pow
ertul human emotion. Mrs. CoXs true
strong soprano rose above the mur-
murings of the water nymphs as
I undine finally made her choice and
human love rose triumphant over fear.
The words of the text were exquisite
in dainty delicacy of expression. The
call of the sea, from the pounding
breakers to the softest ripple of foam
upon the beach, spoke through the
arias and graduations of tone. The
effect was heightened by Mrs. Bent
! Weaver's wonderful piano accompani-
ment. From the first call of the wa
ter nymphs gradually onward and up
ward to Mr.. Wells eXullant mine, All
| Mine" as Prince Hildebrand claimed
his bride the selection was a thing of
wonderful beauty and power and be-
came yet another musical victory for
the Wednesday Club of which it can
be justly proud.
Anna IL. Wood.