River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1920-04-22
Many Enjoy
Grand Concert
The Allied Musical Organizations of
the Normal School Give An Excellent
Concert.

The students of the Normal school
and the people of River Falls had an
opportunity on last Thursday evening
of hearing something new and unique
ir the field of musical entertainments.
The Girls Glee Club, the Mems Glee
Club and the Orchestra, the three mu-
steal organizations of the school, und-
er Professor Powers, combined for an
evenings concert.
In past years we have had concerts
by the Mems Glee Club, and by the
orchestra and band; we hRe also
heard the Girls Glee Club at assemb-
lies and at Commencement time, but
not until this year has combination
Of the musical talent of these organ
izations been undertaken. The re-
suit clearly demonstrated the posi-
bilities in the new field, new to River
Falls, of large chorus led by full
orchestra accompaniment. The Choir
us of approximately sixty-fve voices,
resulting from Union of the clubs,
gave a balance of tone, and richness
of quality impossible to find in
semi-chorus, either of mems or wo-
mems voices. We hope this is only
the beginning, which will grow, in the
near future, into choral organization
that will attempt among other things
the best operettas and light operas
obtainable today. 1t is such enter
tainments as the one on Thursday
night that are destined to make work
in music as popular as that in any
other school activity. These young
people and their director deserve, for
such a piece of wolK, more recognl-
ton than we are inclined usually to
give to the musical organizations.
Only long hou.s Of practice, day af-
ter day, throughout the year (wisn
little or no applause from the stu
dents), can produce such results as
we see in an entertainment of this
kind. This year the task was espec-
tally difficult as the music clubs had
to be built up from new material. We
hope that these organizations, en-
couraged by the success of their first
appearance, may now become prom
inent factors in the school life, which
may result in putting RIVER Falls on
the map in music as well as in ath-
letics and other activities.
The program was opened by the
orchestra with the selection, Hail
America" by Drumm. This select
ion as well as the more pretentious
overture, Bohemian Life" by Berg
holtz, demonstrated the ability of the
orchestra to handle the best classical
orchestra music. The selection, "The
Mill n the Forest" was favorite
with the audience, who called enthus-
iastically for an encore. The orches-
ira responded by the familiar but
equally brilliant selection of Sousa's
'Stars and Stripes Forever direct,
ed by MIR. Clapp, who has had sever
al months experience in Sousa's band
at the Great Lakes Naval Training
Station.
The Mems Glee Club, in their num-
bers, "Over the Hills at Break OF
Day." and "The Americans Come"
showed splendid training and won a
hearty encore to each number. Many
of the audience, prejudiced toward
male voices, chose these numbers as
1yx.-. H.z,a~.+o ,,ooo1 Salao4iorc How
ever, the Girls Glee Club, composed
of forty-fve members, in the select
ion, Toward the Shores of Pellestri-
ma" by Offenbach, and the "Song at
Sunrise" by Nancy, were the equals
in every way of the male voices.
Their excellence in technique deserv-
es as hearty commentator as does
their excellence in tone quality.
The effect of the combination of
these two groups was bound to be
pleasing. The orchestral accompani-
ment, which contributed no mean
part to the effect, was the compost
ion of Professor Powers, the director.
The solo parts of ''The Miller's Woo
ing" sung by Miss Mcdonald and
Mr.. Olson, and that of the Song at
Sunrise" sung By Miss Webster were
pleasing.
Mr.. Christianson, in violin solo,
Mr.. Nelson in a double violin-cello
number and Miss Norseng in a piano
solo, lent variety to the program, and
contributed real part to the pleas
ing effect of the entertainment.
The large audience of $50 people
were supplied with an eight-page
folder program tied with red and
white ribbon containing the musical
numbers with full printing of all the
words of the vocal selections. Every
one was highly enthusiastic over the
delightful evenings entertainment.
e. Il