The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-18
Programme of Unusual h. terest Is Rendered by
 Large Chorus
AUDIENCE TAKES PART AND JOINS IN SINGING
Soloists and Singing Clubs Were Given Big Reception and Were the Features of the
 Occasion

Between 5000 and 10000 men, women and children yesterday afternoon met at Capitol park and participated in the third Sunday programme of the com munity singing, under the direction of Prof. Robert Lawrence. The inter est exhibited by all was conclusive that the singlngs are becoming more popular the programme yesterday aft ernoon being a fair criterion of the unusual interest of Birmingham peo- nle in the first community meetings ever held in the city.
 The third Sunday found young and old eager to participate, and 1t Is the belief of the community chorus and Professor Lawrence that interest will grow from Sunday to Sunday. All seats were taken and hundreds were forced to stand and sit on the grass
 Very few persons failed to join in the singing yesterday afternoon" said MT. Lawrence after the programme had been rendered Young and old, men and women, all enjoyed the sing ing and also being able to sing with the thousands. There was unusual interest shown in the meeting, and l am of the opinion there will be still greater interest next Sunday and thereafter as long as the community chorus renders the programme each Sunday"
 FEATURES OF PROGRAMME Vociferous applause was given Miss Elizabeth Cunningham's soprano solo. Miss Rose Fabian's violin solo, the Five Points Methodist choir and the Arion club. These were easily the features of the afternoon programme, as evidenced by the applause The Community band. under the d. rection of William Nappi, rendered several beautiful selections, among them "The Beautiful Blue Danube" "Eleanor," "Coronation March" Mem- bers of the band include some of the most noted musicians in the city, and take quite an interest in the pro- gramme at the park.
 The meeting was not without the humorous side. the people having an opportunity for pleasure when Direc- tor Lawrence announced the audience would be divided into four sections ana would SlnS tue InTeo oAlhu Mice," an old song that is known by all people, young and old. The di- rector instructed one section to sing certain part of the song, while oth- CT sections were instructed to begin at another. Efforts of the audience to do as instructed brought laughter and amusement.
 In the audience old men could be seen singing, their first song in many years, possibly. After the rendition of the programme, an old man, nearly 80 years~o of age, told the director of the pleasure the singings each Sunday had brought him, stating that he had been able to sing for the first time in many years.
 Director Lawrence announced that he Is well pleased with the interest shown in the third Sunday of the com munity singing.
 q was well pleased with the begin- ming three Sundays ago and the sec ond Sunday much interest was shown" said Director Lawrence However, the event yesterday afternoon was better than I had expected and I am almost at a loss to express my sat isfaction that Birmingham people have found the community singing enjoya- ble and beneficial. Conditions were never better for the singing. The wind was blowing in the right direc- tion and everything seemed to favor the occasion"