Connecticut western news., 1918-05-09
NORFOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL
WILL BE HELD JUNE ass
Striking Example Of American Music
to be Feature of the 38th to 10th
Annual Concerts.

The 38th, seth and 4Oth annual
meetings and concerts of the union
will be held at Norfolk, in the Music
shed, on the evening of Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday, June 4, 5
and 6. On the first evening will be
sung "The Dream of Mary" by Hora-
ito Parker, a work written In the COM
posers most exquisite and spiritual
vein. In its presentation the union
will have the assistance of Mabel Gar
rison three boy soloists and baritone,
as we'll as q choir of 40 boys from
Winsted trained by Miss Ruth Pease.
A distinguished actress will recite
such of the text that is not to be sung.
The com poser will be present to hear
the initial rendition of mis- work and
with him will be the author of the
text, John J. Chapman.
At the same concert will be given a
new symphony under the direction of
the composer, David Stanley Smith,
one of the younger of our native wri
teys who is filling large place in the
musical life Of our country.
George W. Chadwick, who is proud
to be rated as an honorary citizen of
Litchfield county and is affectionately
known as the "dean Of American COM
posers'', has made a new and stirring
patriotic ode for the closing selection
of the first concert. This work is writ
ten for chorus orchestra and audience
and is entitled "Land of Our Hearts"
and dedicated to "Our Country" by
the poet John Ingham, who will be
present with the composer.
The second concert will be opened
by the singing of "The Star Spangled
Banner by the chorus and audience,
accompanied by the orchestra. The
new "Red Gross Hymn, words by
John Finley and music by Horatio
Parker, is to be sung next by Sophie
Braslan, with orchestral accompani-
ment for the first time, under the
direction of the composer.
To honor the memory of the officers.
soldiers and sailors who have fallen in
the service of their country, and for
the preservation of universal liberty,
the Requiem Mass by Verdi will be
sung by ,415 voices from the union,
assisted by Florence Hinkle Wither-
spoon, soprano; Sophie Braslau con-
tralto; Lambert Murphy, tenor, and
Herbert Witherspoon, bass. The orches-
ira will be reinforced by 10 extra brass
players in the "Dies Irae' of the mass
and in "The Star Spangled Banner"
for which new orchestration prepared
and authorized by the government of
the United States will be u! ed. This
tower of strength among orchestral
and choral conductors, Arthur Mees,
will direct the principal works on the
first and second evenings.
The orchestra of rs players selected
by Henry P. Schmitt from the best
forces in the Philharmonic society and
the Metropolitan opera house Of New
York will be the prominent feature of
the third concert, the program of
which is selected entirely from tine
works of the composers who have
written in the past and present for the
Norfolk concerts. Henry Hadley will
conduct his American symphony,
+'North, East South, West" which
was written for the festival of 1911.
George W. Chadwick will perform a
similar duty for his "Tam DISTANT.
err, first produced at the festival of
1915. Henry P. Schmitt VIII direct
compositions by Oolebridge- Taylor,
Sibelius, Villiers Stanford and Victor
Herbert, from whose beautiful roman.
tic Irish opera, Eileen, two selee.
lions will be sung by Mabel Garrison
and Lambert Murphy. Nine. Maud
Powell has arranged a number of
American negro and Indian melodies,
which will be played for the first time
by her, on the violin, with orchestra.
tion specially arranged for this con-
cert.
Sir Charles Villiers Stanford has
sent over from England for initial
rendition a new orchestral composition
entitled "Verdun" in two movements,
the first Solemn March,, the sec
ond "Heroic Epilogue'. This is a
remarkable work and is dedicated to
our allies, the French people, whose
national air, "The Marseillaise'' is
worked up into splendid climax in
the second movement.
ALI the soloists taking part in the
festival of 1918 are American born,
Florence dinkle Witherspoon, Sophie
Braslau. Lambert Murphy, Mabel
Garrison and Maud Powell. All of the
conductors, Arthur Mees, Henry P.
Schmitt, George W. Chadwick, Hora.
ito Parker, Henry Hadley and David
Stanley Smith, were born in the
United States. In this festival we
shall hear not only what American
creative art has brought forth in
music, but also the executive side as
we'll. To hear and see these two in.
teresting groups of our own men and
women will be marked feature of
the festival.
DR.. and Mrs. Irving Barnes who
spent the past week at Henry Barnes !,