Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-27
ST. CECILIA CHORUS
RENDERS FINE CONCERT
shows remarkable Development
Since Its Appearance
Last Winter.
HAHkER Is HIGHLN PRAISED
Patient aud Thorough, Instruction OF
Director Results in Program OF
Uncommon intcrcst-Is Well Re.
ccived by Audience.
u, DOUGLAS COUPON.

Less than ono year after it's first APP
p"arancc In public, the 81. Cecilia,
Chorus indicated. by its concert in
the jefferson Auditorium lust night.
the prediction" as TO its ucvclonnlcnt
made last February. AZ that time. It's
efforts were confined chiefly Ia the
presentation OF simple part-s"ngs. hut
II sang them SO we'll that i, was APP
parent that more difficult work would
soon lie within its compass Much
more difficult work mas been assigned
20 II this season. and Its performances
OF last night was in many respects IL
remarkable achievements
II is to be understood. of course. that
any reference To tho chorus necessarily
includes II" organizer and director. T..
i'laNinstom IIarkcr. tho distinguish cd
composer who is now organist and
choirmaatcr OF ST. raul's Episcopal
church, Within the comparatively
short time he has been resident in
ftcnm"nd. MIR. llarkcr has become"
what nc is "nincmtly uualincd 10 be-
very potent factor in the real musical
life aud progress Of tho city. And in
founding and trimming tho -. CcCi!i.
chorus he has been engaged in a work
OF large value to the community. What
was musical he has helped TO foster.
what was not musical he has helped 10
teach.
tnucr his patient md thorovSli in
sifuction this chorus of young Won
en--some forty. perhaps. in number--
was enabled to present a program. OF
uncommon interest and II" little diH
Guilty In manner that no; only save
a great deal OF pleasure. both 10 those
who only know wha, thcy like and I"
those who ~ least think they know
what is worth liking. but redounjcd
greatly To the credit OF the members
Of the chorus and to him. Even as
"arlr as last season. the chorus had
IL
notable accuracy: las. nigh; IL showed
that. though these more or less me-
chanical requirements OF good choral
singing had not been neglected. IL had
learned considerably more OF what
constitutes the finer points II MI sing
inS-whcthcr ensemble or solo-it was
confdcnt enough of tho mere intervals
and tho time TO sing with closer ;"gard
for what cannot we'll he iudicat ted in
the written music.
Opportunity TO display this result OF
broadening and deepening III. quality
OF ITS work was given the director and
chorus by Mr. iIarkcr's admirably Sc
lectcd program. Except for TWO more
or less Elcc-like songs. tn" choir's part
of the concert was devoted To Russian
part-SonGs and to suite Of Mr. tIar-
ker's own. Among Tie former was
the Prayer from MousSor:sky's
Boris Godunow''--thc first time any
Of that has been done here. according
To this rccord-and Eacimaninoff
number called Glorious Forever" both
Of which were extremely we'll sung,
the latter in particular being remark
able for the soft singing Mr. Harker
enforced. y Rim SIX y Is orSakow song
was done less smoothly than any piece
on The program. but tho following
Spring" OF Sokoiow. fully redeemed
the two-sonC numtcr. and was re-
,,eated for encore.
Mr. JInrECr'S S,,;,a
songs. inscripc" t" the -. Cecilia
chorus. brought tn. "oa,clt to - close
This suite is wholly charming. Loth in
rs voic" parts and its aCcompa uinynt
ana IN" chorus entered into II with
spirit; OF the constituent songs. the
hrst. Lament" l. i rare ri,"" Of work,
so lovely in its appeal that it nigh,
well he placed last tn tho suite, uu-
less Mr.. Hsrker'S good ;uGgment sat-
shes MIN that the steady beating OF
: al" mat sounds ia tn, .ccompani-
mont is not the happiesc thought to
leave with an audience. throughout
this cutie as for iha rest OF the
chorus numbers. Mta. Flora !. VAR
.tper provided admirable and mu-
Slc'anly accompa which was
also Il decided support
Marcus kc!leiiIanu. bass ba rltone.
the assistaIs; soloisr. sang valentines
'raNer' from Faust ia French; two
German songs which h. prcfaced win
an explanation. an! group OF three
English songs. responding Tor crc.rc
TO ;h: last with IIawlcy'S lin = car
den. Mr.. kellermaNu'S pcrformInco
"hirh Was marked by a certain d,l-
ihatic intensity ana more freedom! of
gesture than il common in coucer,
was warmly received ana ncartiI,. an
piauded. Shepherd Webb acconpnr,ied
VII" S"iol3t WIFE ais accustomed SIN
paih!, and surmountcd in lin. for,, The
diiicultics caused ny M kollcri,aun.s
many liberties with tAmri