Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-06
ORPHEUS CLUBS
A LUSTY INFANT
First Concert. After Only Three
Months of Existence, Proves
Most Decided Success.

Nus,calIy. one must take off ones
hat 10 that Iisty infant, the Orphcus
club Organized only last November,
II yaye its first concert last night at the
Nrw Cnetury Club with an artistry
tbat would have done credit to an organ
,zation of very much greater age. This,
I'm itself shows most commendable
spirit of energy and ambition on the part
of the club, and demonstrates, besides,
that il has worked with vigor and intelli-
grnce Further, IL is an evidence how
strongly ensemble, chorus, community
singing call IL what you will has
taken root in this city.
Looking over tic personnel OF the club
one finds its members running from Young
men IN the early twentics to others with
whitcncd hair All seem thoroughly
eager to make their organization sue
cess. to he thoroughly loval to their
conductor and to obey his instant com
mand Such spirit cannot but make for
success and indicates that tie future of
the club will be a happy one.
PRAISE FOR RALPH KINDER.
TO the energies of Ralph Kinder, the
noted organist, choirmaster and con-
ducior of Holy Trinity Church, Phia-
dclphia. must hc given q large measure Of
credit for the success OF last night $
concert He has many good voicrs in
his ensemble. but chorus singing does not
dcpcnd entirely on good voices, and even
thcv must bc trained To chorus work
The club was greatly assisted by the
work ct Miss Mav Farley, soprano. and
Mrs Dorothv Johnstone Bascler harpist
both Philadelphia artists of much ability
Mrs. Basclcr is by no means unknown
here and her appearances are always
greeted with pleasure.
Her work last night stamped her rs
real artist. Not oulv did she play CXccp-
tlunally well ON that most rare but very
beautiful Of solo Instruments which IS
her medium of musical expression but III
an emergency that arose through delay
in Miss Farley's arrival through the
dsorganiEation OF the train service through
hcrsplf IN 10 the breach and 'hllCd in
until Miss Farley reached the hall. Thus
the program went ON without IntcITup-
ton.
HOW rHF CLUn SANG.
Possibly the best work Of the club
last night was done IN Suliyans good
Old The Lost Chord And this strange
h enough, too, hecausc 1t was done
capclla Singing IN ensemble without
accompaniment Is never an easy matter
and keeping the chorus on the key is
something that taxes the wits and the
ability Of the conductor
MIR kIndcr's own setting of The Battle
Hymn Of the Republic was also cxcep-
tlonslly well rendered Speaks setting
Ia kiplings classic. On the Road 10
Mandaiay, with the chorus backing j.
frank Huss. baritone, was we'll done
But nobody seems ever To have gwen
"Mandalay Just the right treatment to
brlng forth its spirit.
Al the beginning Of the second part Of
The program the club and the audience,
which completely filled the auditorium,
had little co{nmunity chorus sing
ahen they went over There's Long, |
long Trail, Over There and Keep ]
The Home Fires Burning And the |
audience sang witha will The program
wound up with second oil MIR. Kinder 5
compositions, Lord Of All Majesty,
with Frank r. Palmer, baritone, backed |
up Ivy the chorus
BY and large. the Orpheus Club is going
TO bc decided credit 10 the city. M.F.E. |