Ashland weekly tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1919-1924, 1919-12-10
Syncopated Orchestra
Presents Rare Music

! ira and Singers which appeared at
| the Armory last evening under the
auspices of the Chautauqua associa-
tion and Company B Of the National
Guards will go down in history as
one of the greatest musical enter
! tainments ever presented here. NO
matter what the individual taste in
music, whether of high classical ap-
probation, or "ja2" addicts or low
ers of Just tune, the Syncopated Or
chestra and Singers were there with
a feast, from which no one could
80 away hungry.
Through an unfortunate circum-
stance the train bearing the musi-
| clans into Ashland last night was
| over four hours late, and the mem
| bers did not get into the city until
1915. The news of the delay in
/ the train had reached a large num-
| ber of the audience, who allowed for
the lateness of the hour and did not
come out to the Armory until the
close of the stated time of its ap-
pearance. but many had come at the
appointed time, and on being ap-
prised of the delay good-naturedly
voted to remain.
In order to while away the tedium
of waiting Prof. I. f. Vining very
considerably diverted the audience
with a skillfully arranged talk wide
ly ranging from historical tales and
/ folk lore of Western Oregon to cur
rent topics and amusing stories.
/ President Fuller. left no stone un-
turned to get line on the entertain
ers as to the exact moment of their
arrival, and when the train reached
Siskiyou he telephoned the leader
who responded that they would be in
about 1915 and would surely give
concert. AS the musicians were
travelling in their private car they
were ready to appear rs soon as they
left the train, and therefore lost nc
time in getting to the Armory and
were greeted by a large audience
which had gathered Ivy that time.
American music raised to the nth
degree Of perfection presented only
as the music-lovine colored man can
give il, with the rhythm and swing
handed down to him from his fore
bears as an inherent gift, was the
presentation given to the Ashland
audience by these singers and play
ers last night. A nicely adjusted
| balance" gave all music-lovers just
what they wanted. A hair-raising
shoulder-joint loosening "jazz" that
set the ieet of the younger set to
tapping, and made the blood tingle
in youthful veins, would be immedi-
ately followed by a selection with as
fine a tone and in as delicate man
ner as can be heard by any symphony
orchestra.
The two quartets were among the
unusual and highly pleasing features
The folk k-lore songs with their ap'
pealing strains of negro spirituals
and plantation melodies originating
in the southern cotton fields were
particularly true to type. The ap'
pealing plaintiveness has been pre-
served and these up to the minute
artists have brought them back in a
program OF perfect melodic har'
mOny.
The solo work, both instrumental
and vocal, was exceptional, bringing
lout the wonderful skill OF professional
players and singers aided by the ma
tive harmony of this music-loving
people. Their music was an exhibit
ton of what technical skill could
produce coming from the sheer beau
/ ty and spontaneous joy these people
get from the mere doing. This was
expressed in the exquisite violin so.
los by Clarence Lee, the marvellous
! trombone soloist, William Dover; the
whirlwind drum soloist, William Ber-
trand, and the haunting sweetness OF
the tenor soloist, James A. Lillard
On account of the unavoidable de-
lay of last night the management
of the musical aggre egation has ar
ranged TO stay over tonight and will
again present concert in the ar
mory. This will be a complete
change OF program but one equally
as good as that presented last night
with the tedious wait eliminated and
every one will be in better trim to
respond TO the wonderful music that
will be provided.
Hillah Temple Of the order OF the
| Mystic Shrine held their annual cleo
tion of officers at the meeting last
Friday night, who were afterwards
| INSTALLED The officers who will