Connecticut western news., 1920-04-29

it ali almost un-eartLly."
 "May I be allowed to express my sincerest gratitude to you and the Litchfield County Choral union for your wonderful collective work in furthering the possibilities of ad- vancment in the ranks of American composers and writers in the art of music. I feel deeply honored having been made an honorary member of this splendid organization and would like you to kindly convey to the union my respect and acknowledge ments."
 "The festival seemed to me like an enchanted place where one for gets all unpleasant things. I was truly sorry to have heard only one evening, that of Tuesday, which was simply perfect and with the rehear- sals I had before going home how ed that I could have made my ar engagements to stay through the en- tire festival. From what saw of it almost made me wish that had not come at all as it made me feel so badly to have to leave at so early stage in the rich musical treat. May God in His mercy bless you both abundantly for your consecrated lives and for the uplift of humanity" "I do not think I shall ever be able to tell you what profound and delightful impression the concerts made upon me. Somehow or other Norfolk seems consecrated to the rites of Apollo. It seems fine to get away from the commercial side of musical performances. have had impressions of lovliness from art and nature that I do not want to efface for a long time by anything new. On the whole what good weather we had for our visitl Your native Berkshires never looked love Her. How impossible war and car mage seem when you look on such peace and beauty. felt all the time as do at mass-assisting at beau tfful ceremonial for a noble end" | Our Conductors
 The fees demanded by soloists and orchestral plyers have become great CT with each year and a number of choral societies have been obliged to go out of existence on account of the additional expenses incurred and even more by the difficulty of find ing a first-class conductor. In the United States men of this stamp can now be counted on the fingers of one hand and it is indeed matter of congratulation that the Litch- field ounty Choral union has again been able to secure the services of Arthur Mees. There is no one in this country today who has had larger experience in drilling choral and orchestral forces than Mir. Mees and the noble results which he has achie- | we'd have made him one of the few leading figures in the history of mus I ic ib America. We may well feel l complimented that Mir. Mees, who | has had a number of offers to con- l duct choral and orchestral societies, has declined all other engagements and has even resigned from some of his other societies in order to give the greater part of his valuable time to the work of, the union. When a man of his consummate ability takes this course and is willing to give uI his work in large cities and to come to Litchfield county during the rigors N of our winter months we can only show our gratitude by as strict ar fattendance as possible at the rehear. ssls and by giving him the best work of which we are capable.
 Frank Kasschau, who has been the assistant of MT. Mees for several years, will again act in this capacity and we may be assured that the re suits which this able conductor achieves will not only be renewed this season but will be even better on the part of the chorus. MT Kasschau is giving us his best worl and is most anxious for the success, of his societies which will be certain if the members Loyalty help by at tendance at rehearsals and strict attention to his valuable instruction n Horatie Parker
 Al the time of his death HoratiS Parker was our oldest honorary member. He Accepted the honor with gratitude in 1902 and from that time until the day of his deatf he was a staunch supporter anc admirer of the work of the union
 He enriched our catalogue of orig
 inal works in the larger forms by the cantata, "King Gorm," fol chorus and orchestra; a Collegiate
 Overture" for orchestra and male chorus, and "The Dream of Mary
 for chorus, soloists and orchestra
 MT. Parker was a constant attendant of our festivals with the exception
 of last year when he was kept away by illness. He had watcher oul musical progress from 1898 up tc