Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-31
MUSIC STANDARD
IS HIGH IN CITY
Rock Island Musical Club and Tri.(lty
Musical Association Do Part In
Promoting Art.
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Is ASSET
Many Programs OF Unusual Merit Are
Given and Receive support and
Liberal Patronage.

pretty sure barometer or the culture
of the people inhabiting it and the
character of entertainment provided
is quite sure TO indicate the class of
the people In the last several years
there has undoubtedly been created
a real musical atmosphere in the three
cities and people OF all Glasses are be-
ing educated to the real appreciation
of the best that can be procured along
these lines. Mediocre performances
are no longer tolerated and few but
first class entertainers are accept
ed. The Tri-City Symphony orchestra
has filled a long felt want in the
community, providing as it does pro-
grams of the highest merit every
month, alternating in presenting them
in the three cities. The orchestra
since its organization has been directed
by Ludwig Becker, formerly concert
master with the Chicago symphony
orchestra. He has under him body
of 50 players selected after rigid tests
from the best musicians of the three
cities The director has used PAINS
taking care in rounding the organiza-
ton into perfect unit and the result
has been q splendid orchestra and one
of which the tri-city community is
Justly proud Special artists take part
in each program and during the sea-
son of 1917 there have appeared: Miss
Lucille Stevenson, soprano; Aurelio
Giorni. pianist pasquale Tallarico.
pianist; Jean Vincent Cooper con-
tralto twice.; Arthur Middleton,
baritone; Frances Nash, pianist; Cor
nelius Van Vliet, cellist Three of the
series of eight concerts have already
been given this fall and the patron
age at each emphasizes the fact that
the people Of the community want
good music and will encourage and
support all efforts along these lines
The big musical treat of the year
was the concert given by the colature
I soprano. Galli-Curci, in Augustana
gymnasium auditorium, which has
| proved an unequalled concert hail.
The building, with seating capacity
Of close to 5000 people was taxed to
/ its capacity on the night of the ap-
/ pearance Of this newest star in the
musical armament, and she was
given an ovation seldom seen in this
( city. She was assisted by Manuel
! Berenguer. flutist, and Homer Sam
uels, pianist, and appeared as the first
attraction in the May Festival .con-
Quoted annually by the Tri-City Musi-
/ cal association. The second number in
the festival was the rendition of the
/ oratorio, Israel in Egypt" by the
/ combined choirs of the three cities
under the direction of the late Dr.
Charles Alum of Chicago, with Mabel
I Sharp Herdien, soprano; Arthur
Kraft, tenor; Mrs. Henry Wheeloek,
alto and Ruth Catherine Benkert,
/ messo soprano
/ The Tri-City Musical association.
/ Mrs. ]. j. Dorgan, president, is
/ strong factor in the promotion of good
music in the community and it has
done much TO unite the various must
cal bodies into one harmonious whole
in the interest of the best music.
The Rock Island Musical club, Mrs.
]. r Tuckis, president, which organ
ization is responsible for excellent
foundation work in the creating of a
musical atmosphere. has undertaken
nothing big during the past season
/ because of the fact that the Tri-City
/ Musical association has sponsored the
more elaborate productions. The club
has, however, maintained high repu-
tati0n for the eXcellency of its pro-
grams and its adherence to the effort
for the uplift Of music in the COM
munity Meeting once month in the
Rock Island club, programs of merit
~
sistance of other talent. It's object is
to create good musical taste and 1t is
fulfilling that mission with credit to
its membership. 1t has within It a
strong and growing student depart
ment from which material is drawn
year after year for the making of the
/ club as q whole Aside from the
monthly programs the club provided
but one complimentary attraction for
the year and that was given by Mrs.
Marx E. Oberndorfer of Chicago, who
lectured on the orchestra and its in
Istruments.
Good Music at College.
Augustana conservatory of music
has sponsored an exceptionally fine
line of musical entertainments
throughout the year. Its director. ]
Victor Bergquist, a., composer of ma
tional reputation, in the late spring
conducted an oratorio Of his own
com position, collaborating with Z. W
Olson of this city who wrote the text,
in the production Of the Reformation
cantata. The concert was given with
much success June Is in the college
gymnasium, assisted by the Tri-City
Symphony orchestra, Mrs. Leonora
Allen-Lindquist soprano; Albert
Lindquist, tenor: Gustav Holmquist
bass. During the year 1917 total oi
81 recitSls, musical lectures and con
certs have been given under the direc-
tion of the conservatory. Included in
these are recitais by J. V. Bergquist
organ; Arvld Samueison, piano; Iyal
Shougaard, bass: Winifred Lamp o.
Chicago, piano, Leo Ornstein OF New
York, the futurist composer and play
er. the Schumann quintet. Miss EIsi.
: Baker Of New York. grand opera con
.ralto, and as a fitting climax to thu
: seasons concerts was the production
{ of THE Messiah by a chorus of Isl
! voices chosen from the choirs of tn,
+ three cities assisted by the scolleg,
: orchestra; Mrs Benedict. soprano
Miss Althea Brown, alto; Adolf Eng
S .sfrom, tenor. and War Skougaafd
= bass; Miss Esther Fryxell, piano. I.e
r roy Carlson, organ; Albert Anker. di
$ rector of orchestra and ]. v. Berg
. Quist,i director.
I, Individual church societies, tn
e villa de Chantal, private and publ
e schools, lodges, etc, have sponsore,