The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-03-18
1.-THE cR- ATOM" GIVEN AGAIN.
(By P. Caspar Harvey.)


eph Haydn, was presented by the de-
partment OF music Of the Fort HAYS
Kansas Normal School in the Normal
Auditorium on Thursday, March the
9th, and on Friday, March the 10th.
Thursday evening it was given for the
people of Hays and for the students
and faculty of the Normal School. Up
on Friday evening it was given twice,
once at seven o'clock and again at nine
O'Clock complimentary to the teachers
Of the Golden Belt Educational Associa-
ton, the editors of the Golden Belt Ed
itorial Conference and the members of
the Kansas Manual Arts Association.
Henry Edward Malloy, director of
the department of music of the Normal
School, was director The chorus COM
prised 1913 voices. The soloists were
Miss Pearl Sidenius, soprano, professor
of public school music of the Normal
School, as Gabriel; Mr.. Gustaf Holm
quist, bass, of Chicago, as Raphael; and
Mr.. Archibald G. Todd, tenor, of Kan
~sas City. The orchestra was composed
of thirty pieces
To present an oratorio, where in the
near past roamed buffaloes and Indians,
is in itself ambitious and to Henry Ed
ward Malloy must go the credit for
making possible this type of music on
the plains of Western Kansas. This
second rendition of the Creation has
a peculiar interest in that a great many
people of Western Kansas were not
sure of their support of such music last
year, in its initial presentation. Mr..
Malloy has won the approval of many
of last years doubling Thomases this
year. He is of course, responsible for
the improvement in both the orchestra
and the chorus.
Music as it is presented in oratorios,
represents the highest achievement.
The standard of its excellence may be
illustrated from literature by mention
ing the name of Shakespeare. An ora
torio is correct as to its musical form
and inspired as to its content. And if
is because of this that the rendition of
1.-The Creation has meant so much
this year and will mean more each year.
To sing the oratorio is distinctly an
activity in which every person in a
community can take part; in fact, it is
the only musical activity in which every
one can be a part. An oratorio is a
community enterprise To illustrate it
in Hays, Mr.. Malloy was forced to
eliminate forty voices because of mad
equate stage facilities. The boys and
girls of Western Kansas and the school
teachers of Western Kansas who are
now and will be trained at the Fort
Hays Kansas Normal School will be in
spired by 1.-THE Creation and will 90
out into their home communities and be
instrumental in establishing local choral
societies. In this half of the state mu-
sic cannot be superimposed by skilled
musicians who are imported for the
purpose. Music must come from with
in a community itself It is this great
service to Western Kansas that the ora
tor1o and Henry Edward Malloy are
rendering. It's workings are so uncon-
scious and its effects so subtitle that both
are often overlooked in the busy rush
of Western Kansas life.
The Creation" perhaps is one of the
three great popular oratorios. The
other two are Mendelssohn's Elijah
and HandePs 1.-The Messiah 1.-The
Creation" of course represents a relig-
iOus theme. 1t is a description of the
days of creation. 1t represents the ac-
complishment of each days work as
God created the earth. The second
part portrays the rejoicing over the ac-
complishment of this creation. To hear
an orchestra and soloists supported by 4
Z magnificent chorus describe such an /
event, is more than thrilling, it is in
spring If the writer may be permit (
led to illustrate this idea, he has only .
20 point out the physical thrill which
everyone experiences when Mr. Holm .
Iuist arose for the first recitative and
n which he put his entire soul into the
,ne word God. If the reader will
Just recall the effect of that first SEN
.enee, he viii have concrete exzmple
If the effect of the whole oratorio only
multiplied many times by the voices of
'AAC OLA4C1 SOlOlSISs NlS u the
.hestra and the voices of the chorus.
Miss Pearl Sidenius, soprano, who re-
presented the character, Gabrisl, sang
solo part in an oratorio for the first
ime in her experience as singer. She
possessed unusual presence of mind and
Iuiet self possession and this is indeed
emarkable. Miss Sidenius possessesa
rood quality OF voice and a good style
or oratorio singing. The writer wishes
o predict for her brilliant future in
he coming renditions of 1.-THE Creation
s presented by the department of mu-
ic here.
Mr.. Archibald G. Todd, tenor, of 3O1
'ellefontaiHe Ave, Kansas City, Mo-,
the character of Uriel. Mr..
odd has voice of real tenor quality.
lie has an unusual amount of tone In
is low notes for one who can sing with
ase the higher notes. His voice is not
hin and hoe r41rc,7oI -zz3,v,EE 60 ~