The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-11
||!||'|I|BDVc
] FEELING
Is MUSIC TREAT


\ was proved that tri-caty people
- appreciate shch9 treats q was
uyan last evening At Ausustans
gymnasium By the Handel Orstorio
society in the presentation Of THE
Messiah" There Is nothing more
beautiful than oratorio and when
they are sung by such . wonder
fully strong and perfectly trained
chorus a. the local society had got
ten together 1t II nothing short Of
wonderful.
4 The concert was made more Of .
aeroat by The accompaniment by the
Tri-City symphony orchestra with
the organ splendidly played by "A.
Cyril Graham, hea of the theory
and organ department Of Angus
tana CONSERVATORY. Much credit for
the success 81 the chorus belongs
| 70 Arid Samuelson, head Of the
college conservatory, the conductor.
HIS singers responded to his direct
ing perfectly, both in part and uni
son work unusually well for SO
large q chbrus---it numbered over
three hundred voices which blend
Cd beautifully and all parts were
well balanced.
In short, the singing OF the old
ioratorio. which was composed in
1.-THE year 1741. in celebration OF the
fl1st anniversary of the local So
ciety. was a musical event which
will not soon be forgotten by those
who heard it and who are capable
scf appreciating such concerts.
Beautiful Throughout.
SOlOists were all artists who
knew "The Messiah" ana who had
taken parts in the great oratorio
many times. Their recitatives and
tarias we're an impressive part Of
1.-The evenings concert. All were un-
iderstandingly given from the tenor
;recitative by Arthur Kraft OF Chi
cago, which followed the opening
overture by the orchestra, to the
final number by the quartet with
the chorus and the amens.
MIR. Kraft has sung here before,
and those who heard him last even
ing were much impressed with his
sympathetic rendition Of the tenor
parts. The bass soloist was Louis
Kreidler, late Of the Chicago opera
company and now connected with
the college conservatory. His sing
ing was best in the renditions which
required the feeling which Mr..
Kreidler is able to put into his
voice. His work was especially
well liked. Jennie F. w. johnson,
who is known throughout the coun-
try as a singer OF oratoriOs, took
the ,contralto parts. her work being
greatly appreciated. Ethel Bene-
dict sang for the fourth time here
in THE Messiah" Her soprano
aria, Come Unto Him." ana the
contralto aria, he Srsil Feed ! I,
: Flock Like Shepherd" sung u
the accompaniment of the muted
strings. will not soon be forgotten.
Auditorium ResOunds.
N The huge auditorium fairly re-
sounded with the magnificent Hal
y lelujah numbers as chorus. soloists
and orchestra Joined in the majestic
song.
Those who have not heard the
Tri-City symphony orchestra this
season were greatly impressed with
the pastoral symphony which was 9
part of the first part Of the oratorio
Many noticed something unusual
4 in last evenings program when
after the introduction to the bass
aria by Mr.. Kreidler. THE Trump
ct Shall Sound" Fred Phelps Of
{ Davenport. trumpeter with the Tri-
City symphony orchestra, played
the solo and accompaniment. Sci.
dom in the rendition of 1.-THE Mes.
s.ah" is this possible. for there are
few players Of this instrument who
are capable OF carrying the part
: "The Messiah" has been given by
some Of the largest organizations in
large, eastern cities with this part
omitted because OF the lack Of a
trumpeter. Mr.. Phelps did splen-
III l..