Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1917-03-08
Choral S%ociety's First
Public Rendition of
Handel's messiah"

For he first time in the history Of
! the city, a WATERFOWL audience heard
'The Messiah" by wholly local talent
Tuesday evening at the First Meth
odisl church.
1t was an audience that was highly
appreciative and fairly large-an at
tendance which must have been very
[, gratifying to the Watertown Choral
Society which presented Handel's
masterpiece.
1t was due to the splendid leader
, ship of Professor Dwight E. Cook
that local talent was able to acquit
itself so c%reditably, for, be it known,
, without competent leadership and
wise and tactful direction even good
musicians frequently fail to win en-
comiums.
Professor Cooks innate qualities as
a director need not be touched upon
here, for he has demonstrated in pre-
vious appearances that he is not only
a vocalist OF rare attachments but is
also a leader of superior ability.
This oratorio is regarded as one Of
the great, the very great, musical
compositions of all time. None but
trained voices are able to render it
in a manne deserving of especial
commendation.
The choruses We're sung with such
power and expression, with such pre-
cision and %phrasing, as to stamp the
Watertown singers taking part as
more than passing musicians. There
were about sixty voices participating.
The tenor solo parts we're sung by
Prof, Cook, the soprano parts by Mrs.
f. c. Hagman and Miss Miriam Fry
berger, the alto by Mrs. E. D. Lacy
and Miss lnez Spooner, and the bari
tone or bass by Professor Ralph To-
land of the Watertown Business Unf-
yersity.
OF Professors Cooks talent as a
soloist it is needless to speak: like
wise of Mrs. Hagman's pleasing and
cultured soprano; both having been
frequently heard in this city, and al
ways with delight to the auditors.
Nor need reference be made to Miss
F~ryberger's mezzo soprano of that
dramatic quality and sweetness OF ex-
preston which thrill, for she, too, has
sung in public for the past few
months.
Mr.. Toland has rarely appeared in
public in Watertown, being among
the late acquisitions in musical cir
cles. but his powerful baritone indi-
Gates culture in a high degree. He
sang three numbers which were re-
ceived with great favor. 1t is OBJ
vious that he has a high conception
OF the beauties of music.
Mrs. Lacy's voice was heard for the
first time by the musical critic Of
The Saturday News. 1t is an alto of
surprising charm-pure, sweet, app
pealing and soulful. Added to and
heightening the effect of this artistic
voice is the charming personality of
its possessor.
1t was the first appearance Of Miss
Inez Spooner in music Of the recitative
class, so far as this critic is con-
cerned. Hers is a contralto Of wide
range. 1t is rich and full, rare and
expressive, and appeals to her audit
ors through he soul OF one who pos
sesses the ability to become an artist.
During a brief intermission Judge 1.
H. Myers addressed the audience, ex.
tending the Choral Society's thanks
for the liberal attendance and in
formally defining music in its broad
sense. He also paid a merited trib-
ute to the leadership OF Professor
Cook.
AS a closing scene, Professor Cook
led in applause for the pianist, Miss
Slocum, who, he said, had been d
whole orchestra during the evening,
and the pipe organist, Miss Bertha
Taecker, who rendered an organ pre-
lude and who played the accompani-
ment for the Halleluiah chorus.
# Is a subject for congratulation
that Watertown has such a splendid
musical organization.
The president of the Indiana board
OF health announces that Hoosiers are
living nine year longer than they
did fifteen years ago The improve
ment seems to date from the time
when Indiana ceased to be a pork
center and began to be a literary CEN
ters-CIeveland Plain Dealer.
White Lake Standard: From u
reading and observation we should
guess that II all the able. bodied men
RI the central west that are clamor-
ing Tor war with Germany should be
drafted into the service therewould
not be enough Of them 10 man 3 doz-
en- rods Of trench.