The daily Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1916-1917, 1916-12-15
AUDIENCE APPROVAL
OF TANNING SINCERE
Baritone Showed Dramatic
Ability and Absence of
Self-ConsciOusneSs.
HE GAVE SIX ENCORES
Noted Singer Presents Own
Composition, "The Bend
in the Road"
BY JOHN H. MUELLER.

Holding his audience keyed to the
highest interest for two hours. Cecil
Tanning last night presented what
was probably the most enjoyable
concert given in the University Audi
torium since the appearance of Nine
Schumann-Heink. II there is one term
by which one could characterize his
singing it is the word dramatic. "
Tanning skillfully combines the dra-
matte and the lyric, rendering not
only the finer emotional element-for
which mere language is Inadequate
but adding that interest which can
arise only from the physical acting
out of the ideas involved in the, poem.
The graceful poise of his body, the
abandon with which he renders the
selections, the fine facial expressions.
all contribute toward revealing every
possible beauty in poem or music and
toward bringing about personal
equation between audience and per-
former. In the more intensely dra-
matte passages he would sacrifice-if
indeed it could be called a sacrifice
true musical pitch for the more tell
ing effect of a signing tone and oc-
casionally the pitch of the spoken
language Such artistic liberties were
especially evident in the thrilling rem
dition of Loewe's "Erlkoenig" and in
Schumann's "Aufraege"
The program was varied and ap-
parently designed to satisfy the
tastes of the less educated music
lovers, but at the same time it Of
fered a splendid treat to the more
critically inclined. His selections rang
ed from Monteverde to our own Will
son G. Smith, and from the sweetest
lyrics and the .plaintively beautiful
Heart Sorrow" to the highly dramat-
ic Der Erlkoenig." The latter. al
though comparatively seldom met with
on programs. is still to my mind a
more faithful Interpretation of the
spirit of the poem than is the setting
of Schubert. AS Mr.. Turpin expressed
himself after the concert: Il always
like to play this song. We grow tired
of Schubert's version but never of
Loewe's." In its rendition one al
most lost the attention to the form;
the interest was rather directed upon
the content That marked a magnifi-
cent success of Mr.. Tanning.
Something unique was introduced
when Tanning presented his own ex-
quisitely beautiful poem, "The Bend
in the Road" 1t was rendered with
the same ease in manner of express
sion as were the two French folk
songs Tanning is a master. He is
all feeling; the whole soul is in the
Of the content of the
poem. There is an utter absence of
selfconsciousness. That is something
perhaps unlocked for in a man. But
his bearing off stage is also a trifie
feminine. This makes him peculiarly
fitted for the roles he essays.
A review of the program would by
no means be complete without due
mention of the musicicianly accom-
paniments. The supreme accord with
which Mr.. Tanning and Mr.. Turpin
performed was proof of due sym
pathy between them. Can the result
not be attributed to the fact that Mr..
Turpin was the teacher of Mr.. Fam
ming? The high regard in which this
teacher holds his pupil is seen in the
fact that he has given up his profess
sion in order to accompany the solo
LIST.
Mr.. Tanning was especially gener-
Gus with his encores, rendering no
less than six. The applause was
never boisterous but always sincere
and appreciative. Mr.. Fanning's sue
cess was complete.
The largest audience which has
heard number of the Phi Mu Alpha
series this year attended last nights
concert. The number of persons was
exceptional. The next concert of the
Phi Mu Alpha series will be given in
January by Maude Powell, the famous
woman violinist.
TANNING LIKES HIS AUDIENCE