Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-04-07
MUSIC NEWS CRITIC.
STRONGLY PRAISES
THE ELIJAH CHORUS.
EXPERT WHO HEARD MENDELS
SOHN'S ORATORiO WRITES
lAUOATORY ARTICLE HIGHLY
COMMUNICATING GETAWAYS MU.
SiCAL GENtUSES.

Under the signature of Charles f.
Watt, is critic, the Music News 81
April ,, Il weekly magazine. contained
an Interesting article on the Ottawa
High school orchestra and the per
Torrance of Elijah recently given
by IA chorus Of 300 under the direction
of John Hotf. The article was writ
ten after Mr.. Watt, who came to o.
tawa to hear the recital, and occupies
two full pages and contained photo
graphs of the orchestra, with the cast
of "The Messiah" and Of Mr., Hof. In
addition to the criticism of the or
ohestra, an editorial comment on
Elijah" was made as follows:
AT Ottawa here was found "A high
school building which for size, beauty
and equiv ment has but few counter
parts in Chicago and where the
achievements are such as the city
school cannot accomplish.
For instance, a performance of
Elijah with chorus Of $50 we'll
trained voices (recruited from high
school and community, a complete
dents, with the exception OF thgec OF
four Of the most unusual instruments.
And best OF all, sold out house at
good prices, thus providing ample
funds TO pay for the special lnstru-
ments from Chicago, as also harp
and boy soprano from Mr.. Wili's
choir at Grace church here.
The article. which shows that the
orchestra has come to be recognized
as an organization of merit in the mn-
steal world, follows in part:
Not even the binding rainstorm OF
last Thursday evening could entirely
obscure the cleanliness. symmetry
and beauty of Ottawa. H., as d city.
nor could it dampen the ardor OF en-
thusiasm which attended the gala per
Torrance of Elijah given at the OF
tawa Township High School audito-
rum under the direction Of John l.
Hoff.
For the success of this enterprise,
as well as for the general remarkable
development of the Ottawa High
School in musical, as we'll as all other
lines, much credit is due not alone to
Mr.. Hoff, who is in special charge of
music throughout the schools, but
also to he sympathetic and altogether
intelligent principal, Charles II King
man, and to Marie Waller, the domcs-
tic science teacher Of the high school,
as we'll as most interested helper in !
everything pertaining to the social
life of the institution.
The other members Of the high I
school faculty are. doubtless, also on
tirely an rapport along these lines. I
for no such results as those Witnessed /
on last Thursday could possibly be at I
tanned short of entire cooperation
The high school building is 4
model of beauty. appropriateness and .
in equipment where the auditorium is .
as fine as is to be found in any high
school ever visited by this writer.
This beautiful building was dedi
Gated in 1916. at which time there was
~ a general program with an ad
dress by DR.. John II. Finley; GU a re
Ctal by the late Maud Powell. CD a
performance of The Messiah with
orchestra and chorus, as shown in the
picture with this article, under the di-
rection OF Mr.. tIoif. the soloists being
Mrs Clara G. Trimblc, Mrs. {. r.
Hook, Fred G.. BEEN and Justin
Jaeger "a a comedy entitled The
Private Secretary by high school
students and alumni, under direction
Of Mr.. Kineman, and % football
Island teams
After which is printed a complete
program OF a number of the annual
concert given by the Orche Stra. The /
article then concludes:
But to return to the Eliza" tNon.
as heard last Thursday even
ing. Il,
THE audience entirely filled The
aree auditorium and was eager and
cordial in its attitude displaying also
IN acumen which must have result ed
rom hearing many other fine perform
lnces of good music.
The chorus comprised something
ike three hundred voices. and was "A
and thoroughly depend
BILE body of singers
Mr.. HOf is one of the most intense. t
rs we'll as logical of conductors ana
irects with skill and authority which !
ring splendid results '
mo more brilliant readings of the 6
zig numbers have ever been heard
rom any amateur organization. and
here was an amazing amount OF fin.
sse and of style also
THE performance was a very com
lete one, and mum err of chorus mum
ers which ere generally omitted has
cen restored by Mr.. Hof, with the re.
ut that there was an added novelty I
nd interest in the performance '
THE orchestra, slightly Augmented &
y professionals from Chicago prov ,
d to be one OF absolute dependa bill !
Y, IN so far as musicianship is con,
erned, and to contain also great +
ealth of good musical material :,
Each choir seemed complete, tie ,
susual instruments were. in every
ise, well played and the violin body
as . particularly dependable and
usical one"