The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-11-03
SPLENDID RECITAL IS
GIVEN BY BETHANY COLLEGE

lated on the splendid recital present
ed Thursday night in Normal hall by
three distinguished members of it's
faculty. In spite of the other attrac-
lions of the evening, the hall was
well filled, and the audience through
out the program showed it's appre-
citation by sustained and enthusiastic
applause. All three performers are
new in Mankato, having just this fall
become identified with Bethany col
lege. That the colIege mas been for
tunate in it's selection of instructors
for the departments of music and ora
tory to those who were privileged
with enjoying the performances of
Professor Herbert ]. Jenny, Miss
Bertha Phillips. and Miss Ada Gan
schoW.i sh7 toA
AS Mr.. Jenny sat atbthe piano in
his quiet self control and execution,
one felt the artist; and that he has
much 9toF give withiIlilis synthetic
grasp as we'll as his dynamic force,
was the opinion of all music lovers
that heard him Thursday night.
His numbers were unusual and de-
| lightfully : varied, beginning with
Grieg's Sonata in e Minor, where the
charming melody and the weird, sub
tie harmonies Of the poet of that in
tense, lonely, northern people were
finely interpreted and 'enthusiastical-
| ly encored 1t contrasted well with
the following exquisitely light, short
Debussey humber with it's futurist
note of the Maiden With the Nell
sande Hair ~ F'.s< -
The evenness. of the runs and
thrills Of the brilliant Chopin i'm
prolnptu iii sharp major as well as
his tonal effect in the most delicate
| pianeissinlo, sounded as clear and
sustained as the most intense fortis-
simo of his magnificent, broad strokes
of the finale in his mastery render
! ing of LISTS Legend, est. Francis
Walking On the Waves which grip
ped his hearers like the mighty surge
of the sea, and was more than tri-
umph of finger technic.
Miss Phillips voice is contralto
of unusual sorority, great range, and
residiency in all registers. Her COM
| mand of vocal technic is sucn as can
be acquired only IS through severe
| training. Her well placed tones, ex-
cellent breath control and conse-
quent intelligent phrasing made her
| interpretation complete.
The first group of songs, consist
! ing of Schumann's "Du Dist vie cine
Blume," Wagner's "Traeume," and
Strauss "Allerseelen" was presented
with an authoritative. Interpretation.
Miss Phillips rose to great heights in
the rendition of "Allerseelen." In the
second group Miss Phillips brought
forth Foote'S I'm Picardie," Goetz'
"Melisande," and Hastings "a Red
Red Rose" Her diction was excellent
at all times. The singing of the first
group in the original tongue was
highly commendable, for these truly
great songs suffer when sung in
translation because of the close re-
lation of words and music. 1t is hoped
that the people of Mankato will hear
more of Miss Phillips singing of
classical song. 1t is an education to
all who look upon music as cultural
study and an edification to all music
lovers.
Miss Ganschow delighted the audi
ence with very impressive render
ing of McCulley's selection entitled
1.-THE Song and the Man." in which
she skillfully impersonated two very
opposite characters, the desirable
and the undesirable foreigner; the
former seeing in this country haven
of freedom and a land OF opportun-
ity, and seeking to improve his con-
dition by honest toll; the latter, see
ing in the same country only an op-
portunity to exploit his own country
men and to enrich himself by dishonest
methods. She portrayed very wildly
how the former sought to become an
American and to Americanize.~ his
fellow workmef1 by teaching them 70
sing America" how his employer
tried to corrupt him; and his bitter
disappointment on learning that even
in the land of freedom he must sub
NIT to oppression. Her reading was
warmly appladded and she was
obliged to respond to an encore, rem
dering a brief, humorous selection.
The other performers also re-
sponded to encores1 in the course of
the program, and the audience
seemed reluctant to see the program
close.
cApcMcIJ DARTv cAR Mp